Episode 3: How AI is Transforming Cross-Border Payments | The IPR Podcast 

AI is transforming cross-border payments in real time. In Episode 3 of the IPR podcast, Dr. Senaka Fernando, a leading voice in digital transformation, reveals how AI agents can be the key to automating compliance, speeding up transactions, and even preventing fraud before it happens. From startups automating onboarding to banks upgrading systems without disruption. 

Want to see how your business can stay ahead in the AI-powered payments game? Watch the full episode for practical strategies and real-world insights you can start using today. 

At RemitONE, we’ve been developing new AI Agent tools designed to help you:

  • Automate KYC/AML processes
  • Expand payout infrastructure into new sending markets
  • Offer value-added services like airtime, top-ups, and utility bill payments

Want to see how this can boost revenue for your business? Book a free call with our team.

Money 20/20 Middle East Key Takeaways: Embracing AI and Strategic Partnerships 

Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the nation’s Vision 2030 initiative. With over 260 licensed fintech firms and $860 million in venture capital funding in the first half of 2025, the Kingdom is positioning itself as a regional leader in financial technology. 

It’s no surprise that Money20/20 Middle East 2025 drew thousands of innovators, investors, and financial leaders, sparking three days of collaboration. The event buzzed with new ideas, partnerships, and strategies that are shaping the future of finance in the region. 

Here’s what stood out. 

  1. Saudi Arabia: A Fintech Powerhouse 

Unlike other editions, this year’s conference was centered on the Saudi market, where cross-border payments are becoming a major focus. Global names like Visa, Amex, Worldpay, and Habib Bank Limited were present, signalling strong international interest. 

With robust investor backing and government support, fintechs in Saudi Arabia are driving change across payments, regtech, governance, and risk. This momentum cements the Kingdom as one of the most exciting and fast-moving fintech ecosystems worldwide. 

  1. AI Integration: Transforming Financial Services 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was a core topic of many panels. The financial sector is projected to invest $28.3 million in AI technologies, contributing $135.2 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030.  

Agentic AI was also highlighted as a technology revolutionising how financial institutions operate. A common challenge for many Money Service Businesses (MSBs) is upgrading systems to adopt AI without disrupting existing operations. We’ve resolved this issue with our new AI bolt-on tools, including Agentic AI, designed to grow revenue without system migration. 

👉 Explore how RemitONE’s AI bolt-ons can transform your operations. 

  1. Strategic Partnerships: Accelerating Growth 

Key partnerships are playing a huge role in accelerating fintech adoption in Saudi Arabia. This was clear at the event with several major collaborations: Visa expanded digital acceptance, Google Pay and Alipay teamed up with Saudi banks, and alliances like MoneyGram & D360 Bank and Thunes & Barq were taking cross-border payments to the next level. 

These collaborations are streamlining digital payments, expanding access to global wallets, and enabling real-time cross-border transactions across hundreds of corridors. For MSBs, these partnerships are golden opportunities to scale faster and reach new markets. 

Unlock the future of fintech in Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector is set for strong growth, fuelled by AI integration and strategic partnerships. With the market projected to reach $4.5 billion by 2033, MSBs must embrace innovation, leverage AI, and forge strategic partnerships. 

Our AI-powered tools make it simple to tap into Saudi Arabia’s fintech boom—unlock new revenue streams, scale your business, and stay ahead without operational disruption. 

👉 See how AI can fuel your growth – book a free call to find out how 

AI Agents in Cross-Border Payments: What They Mean for Money Service Businesses

AI in cross-border payments is moving past chatbots and predictive tools. The real leap is AI agents – systems that can perform tasks end-to-end, much like a human operator. For money service businesses (MSBs), this shift opens a path to automation that was once unthinkable. 

From Chatbots to AI Agents 

Chatbots are reactive. They answer queries, provide FAQs, and make customer service more efficient. Useful, yes — but limited. 

AI agents, however, are proactive digital workers. They don’t just respond, they execute. 

An AI agent in payments could: 

  • Verify documents and check expiry dates 
  • Screen payments against sanction lists 
  • Flag missing or suspicious details 
  • Update records across multiple systems 
  • Trigger transactions once all conditions are met 

These aren’t futuristic ideas. They’re already happening. 

Real-World Adoption 

Western Union has tested AI to cut back-office workloads. Goldman Sachs is exploring AI for regulatory checks. Other financial institutions are quietly building pilot projects. 

This tells us one thing: AI agents are no longer theory. They’re moving into real operations. 

For MSBs, this isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about survival. Manual processes eat into margins, slow down customer onboarding, and create bottlenecks. AI agents reduce costs, free up staff, and scale seamlessly. 

👉 Explore how RemitONE’s AI solutions automate compliance and onboarding. 

What This Means for MSBs 

Smaller providers often compete on agility. But manual compliance checks, document verification, and routine approvals limit that agility. 

AI agents can take on these repetitive but critical tasks — giving MSBs the bandwidth to grow without doubling headcount. 

Examples: 

  • Onboarding new customers in minutes, not hours. 
  • Running compliance checks automatically in the background. 
  • Reducing transaction delays caused by missing data. 

By adopting early, MSBs can compete with larger players on speed and scale. 

Where to Start 

Going “all in” on AI across every process is risky. The smarter approach is targeted integration. Start with repetitive, rule-based workflows where an AI agent can show immediate value. 

High-value starting points: 

  • Document verification 
  • Sanctions screening 
  • Customer onboarding 

Once proven, these workflows can be expanded to cover more complex tasks. 

👉 See how RemitONE’s AI bolt-ons integrate with existing systems. 

The Takeaway 

AI agents won’t replace people. They’ll supplement teams, taking on the heavy lifting so humans can focus on strategy and judgement. 

For MSBs, the choice is clear: either automate now and scale, or risk falling behind as competitors adopt AI-driven processes. 

Ready to cut compliance workloads and scale faster? 

Book a free strategy call to see how AI bolt-ons can fit your operations.