# Keep your cards on file always up-to-date
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/automatic-billing-updater/product/automatic-billing-updater-abu/index.md

### Keep your payments running smoothly {#keep-your-payments-running-smoothly}

###### Reduce churn and increase revenues with Automatic Billing Updater {#reduce-churn-and-increase-revenues-with-automatic-billing-updater}

Consumers are storing their account information online in more ways via mobile and digital wallets. Mastercard Automatic Billing Updater (ABU) enables issuers and acquirers to securely communicate account changes for credential-on-file and recurring payments to merchants--- increasing approvals of card-not-present transactions and boosting customer satisfaction while reducing customer service demand.
![Real-time updates](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/automatic-billing-updater/uploads/real_time_updates_2.svg)

###### Real-time updates {#real-time-updates}

Mastercard ABU automatically updates card information in real-time, reducing declined transactions and enhancing customer satisfaction
![Improve customer retention](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/automatic-billing-updater/uploads/improve_customer_retention_2.svg)

###### Improve customer retention {#improve-customer-retention}

By ensuring seamless recurring payments, your customers will complete payments at a higher rate
![Reduce operational costs](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/automatic-billing-updater/uploads/reduce_operational_costs_2.svg)

###### Reduce operational costs {#reduce-operational-costs}

Minimize time and resources spent on manual account updates and payment-related customer service issues

### Use cases {#use-cases}

###### Providing key operational features that support a robust credential-on-file and recurring payment strategy {#providing-key-operational-features-that-support-a-robust-credential-on-file-and-recurring-payment-strategy}

PUSH MODEL

###### Be notified each time a cardholder's account is updated {#be-notified-each-time-a-cardholders-account-is-updated}

Merchants and acquirers automatically receive update notifications for cardholder accounts they have subscribed to.
PULL MODEL

###### Check for updates to a cardholder's account {#check-for-updates-to-a-cardholders-account}

Merchants and acquirers query ABU to retrieve account updates before making a card-not-present transaction on that account.

Don't see what you're looking for?

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Success Story

### Adyen {#adyen}

Adyen increases card-on-file (CoF) approval rates 2.5% by updating Mastercard accounts in real-time via the Automatic Billing Updater (ABU) API
Learn more ![Reduce operational costs](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/automatic-billing-updater/uploads/testin1.png)

#### Why use it {#why-use-it}

Involuntary churn occurs when you lose a customer due to technical issues, such as payment failures. Keep your consumers' payment profiles updated to avoid transaction failures caused by outdated account credentials.

### 40%

of cardholders replace their cards due to expiration, loss, or fraud annually
Worldline, Sep 2023

### 1 in 4

subscriptions lost are due to involuntary churn from payment declines
The 2024 State of Subscriptions, Recurly, Jan 2024

### 3.8x

higher transaction approvals when merchants use account credentials available from ABU
Mastercard transaction data, Dec 2024

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#### How it works {#how-it-works}

Add your merchants' stored payment credentials to Automatic Billing Updater to start tracking account lifecycle updates. ABU informs you whenever any payment account information changes, so you can keep your consumers' payment profiles updated all the time.

![How it works](https://static.developer.mastercard.com/content/automatic-billing-updater/uploads/howitworks.svg)

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QUICK START

### Build in minutes {#build-in-minutes}

Our sandbox allows developers to quickly see how our APIs work and discover what's possible.
Explore tutorial Create account

```bash
#!/usr/bin/env python3
## Check a stored card for updates
# import requests
import json
from api_key_util import getAuthHeader
BASE_URL = 'https://sandbox.api.mastercard.com/abu/accounts'
uri = f'{BASE_URL}/inquiries'
# The account inquiry (as a json string)
inquiry = json.dumps({"requestId": "323e304f-1cfc-4f0d-ac07-e6037ce09925", "customer": {"ica": "1111", "merchantId": "000000000002535"}, "account": {"accountNumber": "5573491171027315", "expiryDate": "1228"}})
# Create OAuth header for this request authHeader = getAuthHeader(uri, method='POST', payload=inquiry)
headerdict = {'Authorization' : authHeader, 'Content-Type': 'application/json'}
# Call the API response = requests.post(uri, headers=headerdict, data=inquiry)
print(f'response={response.status_code}')
```

### Resources {#resources}

Automatic Billing Updater (ABU)

Streamlining account lifecycle management for credential-on-file and recurring payments

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**Used By** Acquirers, Merchants, and Payment Service Providers **Regions** This API is available globally except for Cuba, India, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria **Supports** ![mastercard card](https://developer.mastercard.com/img/card_mastercard.svg)