At a glance
Category restrictions limit the use of company cards to specific spending categories.
Admins can explicitly allow or block categories.
Transactions outside these rules are declined at the time of payment
Overview
With category restrictions, admins can control in which spending categories company cards can be used. Specific categories can be explicitly allowed or blocked.
Transactions that do not comply with the defined rules are declined directly at the time of payment.
This feature helps companies enforce spending policies before money is spent, reduce unwanted or non-compliant expenses, and scale the use of company cards in a controlled way.
If no category restrictions are configured, nothing changes.
How it works
Configuration
Admins can enable category restrictions and define the following settings:
Mode
Allow (default): Only selected categories are allowed
Block: Selected categories are blocked
Categories
Multi-select from a predefined list (provided by Pliant)
The selection remains when switching between modes
Scope
Category restrictions apply to:
Virtual cards
One-time virtual cards
Physical cards
The rules take effect immediately after card issuance or after saving changes.
Behavior at payment
Transactions that do not comply with the defined rules are declined directly at authorization.
Where can I configure category restrictions?
During card issuance
Category restrictions can be configured directly during the card creation process. The feature is disabled by default.
For existing cards
Category restrictions can be adjusted in the card overview for active cards. Changes take effect immediately.
Important
If the feature is activated without selecting categories, the configuration is automatically deactivated upon saving.
Settings always apply to the individual card.
Changes only affect future transactions.
Which categories can be restricted?
The following categories are available:
Advertising & Marketing
Computing & Software
Education & Training
Electronics & IT Equipment
Entertainment & Wellness
Food & Drinks
Gifts & Vouchers
Materials & Packaging
Office Supplies & Equipment
Services
Travel & Accommodation
Other
Note
These categories are predefined and cannot be customized.
What does not change
This feature has no impact on:
Expense submission
Approval workflows
Reimbursements
Additionally:
Card creation is not restricted
Past transactions remain unchanged
Frequently asked questions
Can categories be customized?
No, the categories are fixed.
What happens if a transaction is not allowed?
The payment is declined immediately.
Can rules be changed later?
Yes, changes apply immediately to future transactions.
Can cardholders bypass the restrictions?
No, the rules are enforced at the time of payment.
Why was a valid transaction declined?
The transaction may have been assigned to a different category.
Tip
Start with Block mode for clearly defined restrictions.
Use Allow mode only when stricter control is required.
Communicate the rules clearly within your company.
Monitor declined transactions after rolling out the feature
Do you still have questions?
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