Upcoming Webinar: How Remittance Providers Can Unlock More Value From Every Transaction
Remittances is no longer just about sending money.
Today’s remittance providers are under pressure to do more with every transaction, move faster, open new corridors, and deliver added value to customers, all without increasing risk or operational complexity.
In this 30-minute webinar, we’ll explore how value can be unlocked at every stage of the remittance journey:
- Faster account-to-account payment initiation using open banking.
- Prepaid cards that give receivers faster access to funds and greater flexibility for everyday and online spend.
- Simple, convenience-led services such as travel eSIMs that strengthen customer loyalty.
- Broader and more reliable payout options across key corridors.
The discussion will highlight practical, real-world use cases and show how these can be implemented through a single, existing software with minimal disruption to your current operations.
Discover where hidden value lives within your remittance flow.
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1e53507a-5998-4bf2-b7bd-f68aec69a4db@36d5614f-f651-4945-9632-7053acdae73a/registration
What the UK’s Fast-Track Licence Means for Fintechs Expanding Cross-Border
Expansion is a present-day requirement for banks and fintechs, but the routes to market are not one-size-fits-all.
Fast-track or provisional licences can offer a direct path into new corridors, yet they come with operational demands, regulatory ownership, and long-term obligations that may not suit every business model. At the same time, alternative approaches to expansion are gaining attention.
We’ll compare fast-track licensing and Remittance-as-a-Service (RaaS) so you can be more confident in choosing the option best suited to your needs and goals.
Why RaaS is Gaining Momentum
RaaS has been gaining more of an uptake by banks and fintechs because it allows them to:
- Grow new revenue: capture customers rapidly on the send side without losing time to regulatory delays
- Move faster to market: start offering cross-border services immediately, without waiting for provisional or full licences.
- Reduce internal strain: compliance, onboarding, and transaction flows are handled by the RaaS provider, freeing internal teams to focus on strategy and growth.
- Test and scale strategically: test new corridors without committing to long-term infrastructure or licensing obligations.
RaaS vs Fast-Track Licensing
The UK’s provisional licence is designed to help early stage fintechs get to market sooner, but it comes with limits:
- Time-bound operations (up to 18 months)
- Internal compliance and operational demands still remain
- Limited flexibility to test new markets or scale quickly
RaaS complements and even accelerates this process. In short, it gives you options and flexibility that a provisional licence alone cannot provide.
What This Means for Your Money Service Business (MSB)
For banks and fintechs looking to grow cross-border without unnecessary risk or delay, RaaS offers a practical path forward:
- Unlock revenue from existing customers more efficiently
- Free internal teams from operational bottlenecks
- Expand strategically while staying fully compliant
- Test new markets before committing long-term
Choosing the Right RaaS Provider
Not all RaaS providers are created equal, and the right partner can make a real difference to your speed, compliance, and strategic flexibility. When evaluating options, you should consider:
- Regulatory coverage: Ensure the provider understands your key markets and can manage compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
- Platform maturity: Look for a solution that’s proven, reliable, and capable of handling the scale and complexity of your operations.
- Operational support: A strong provider will manage onboarding, transaction flows, and reporting, reducing internal strain.
- Value-added services: eSIMs, airtime, open banking are just some examples of how you can generate more revenue around the transaction whilst providing more benefits to your customer.
- Long-term partnership mindset: Beyond technology, the best providers work with you strategically, helping you test, scale, and optimise your cross-border operations.
At RemitONE, we’ve built our RaaS solution with these principles in mind. It’s designed to help banks and fintechs move quickly into new markets while keeping compliance front of mind, simplifying onboarding, and providing full transparency across transactions.
More than just a solution, you gain a partner who understands both the operational and strategic challenges, helping you navigate complexity with confidence.
Our RaaS is available for sending markets across the UK, Europe, and the US.
Next Steps
The remittance market is moving fast, and the right approach can help you enter new corridors with speed and confidence.
If you’d like to explore how RaaS could fit with your growth plans, book a free call with our team.
Episode 5: Your 2026 Headstart – Trends, Predictions & Insights Shaping Cross-Border Payments
2026 is shaping up to be a year of rapid change, and standing still is no longer an option. The question is: how will your business not just keep up, but grow on top?
In Episode 5 of the RemitONE podcast, Natalie Perkins sits down with Aamer Abedi (CMO) and Oussama Kseibati (Head of Business Solutions) to break down the trends shaping the year—AI-driven automation, evolving fraud patterns, shifting customer behaviour, and early Web 3.0 use cases—and what they mean for your business.
Those who act early will be best placed to grow, protect margins, and stay ahead. If you want to discover the forces redefining cross-border payments and turn them into opportunities, this episode is your roadmap.
You’ll uncover:
• How agile MSBs are outpacing larger incumbents across key corridors
• The product areas creating meaningful new revenue channels
• A fast-growing opportunity expanding 85% year-on-year
• What the convergence of remittances and payments means for long-term strategy
• The early indicators pointing to next year’s competitive advantage
Watch the full episode below:
2026 won’t slow down. Adapt, diversify, and seize the tools that will put your business ahead of the competition. Book a free call with our team, and we’ll walk you through a solution tailored to your needs.
Faster, Smarter, Cheaper – How AI is Transforming Cross-Border Transactions
Speed and cost have always been the sticking points in cross-border payments. Customers expect instant, low-cost transfers. Yet Money Service Businesses (MSBs) and fintechs are often held back by long settlement chains, high fees, and operational inefficiencies.
AI is changing that.
By processing massive datasets in real time, AI is unlocking faster, smarter, and cheaper ways to move money across borders.
Why Cross-Border Payments Lag Behind
A single remittance can pass through several intermediaries. Each one takes time. Each one adds a fee.
The result:
- Transfers can take days
- Costs remain stubbornly high
- Customers grow frustrated and switch providers
The World Bank estimates the global average remittance cost is 6.49%. For a competitive industry, that number is simply too high.
How AI Optimises Payments
AI isn’t just about automation. It’s about intelligence.
Applied correctly, AI can:
- Identify the fastest and cheapest payment routes instantly
- Predict potential delays and re-route transactions before they fail
- Monitor liquidity across multiple accounts and currencies
- Optimise foreign exchange rates in real time
This doesn’t just reduce costs. It improves reliability, which is just as critical for customer trust.
👉 See how RemitONE’s AI modules optimise routing and FX for MSBs.
Industry Momentum
We’re already seeing the results:
- SWIFT reports that 90% of wholesale payments now reach beneficiaries within one hour.
- Fintech startups are using AI tools to forecast liquidity and cut operational overheads.
The technology is moving quickly from pilots into production.
For MSBs, this means the tools are not just for global banks — they’re accessible now, at an affordable level.
Why This Matters for MSBs
Customers expect fast payments at competitive rates. Providers that can’t deliver both risk losing business to rivals who can.
AI makes it possible to:
- Reduce transaction costs
- Offer faster settlement times
- Compete with larger players on efficiency
This is particularly powerful for smaller MSBs, who often lack the economies of scale that global banks enjoy.
👉 Explore how our AI bolt-ons give MSBs enterprise-grade payment intelligence.
Where to Start
The best entry points for AI in payments are:
- Routing optimisation (reduce failures and delays)
- FX rate monitoring (improve margins without manual effort)
- Liquidity forecasting (stay ahead of cash flow risks)
Each of these can be deployed as a modular upgrade, without disrupting existing systems.
The Takeaway
AI is levelling the playing field in cross-border payments. What once required massive infrastructure is now available through targeted, affordable solutions.
For MSBs and fintechs, adopting AI in payment routing and FX is no longer optional — it’s a competitive necessity.
Want to cut costs and speed up settlement times?
Book a free strategy call to explore how AI bolt-ons can transform your payment flows.
Upcoming Webinar: AI in Cross-Border Payments – Winning Customer Loyalty and Cutting Fraud
Only 16% of cross-border payment customers stay loyal to the same provider.
That means most are just one bad experience away from switching, often due to slow transfers, fraud scares, or compliance headaches.
In this 30-minute RemitONE webinar, you’ll explore how AI is transforming cross-border payments by helping you tackle these challenges head-on.
You’ll discover how to:
💡 Use AI to retain customers and personalise payment experiences
🛡️ Detect and prevent fraud without slowing transactions
⚙️ Apply practical AI frameworks to boost compliance and efficiency
Plus, catch a live demo of our AI-powered loyalty use case in action.
📅 Tuesday 11 November 2025
🕒 15:00–15:30 GMT
Bring your questions, we’ll be answering them live!
Secure your seat now, as spaces are limited: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3acd679a-a6a8-4182-9388-09b9403ff629@36d5614f-f651-4945-9632-7053acdae73a
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Expand Your Money Service Business in Europe without Local Licences or Bank Setup
Most Banks and Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) that handle payouts rely on international partners to send them transactions. But what if you could manage both sides of the corridor and keep more margin?
Watch the short video to find out how:
Oussama breaks down how our Remittance-as-a-Service model lets you:
- Launch send operations from the UK and Europe in weeks
- Avoid waiting months for licences or bank approvals
- Get a white-labelled app and website
- Tap into ~€130B in remittances sent from Europe and ~£20B from the UK alone
Looking to grow across borders without the heavy costs? This could be the missing piece to help you do that.
Book a free call with our expert Oussama to explore how this can work for your business:
Episode 2: How to Start a Money Transfer Business – A Practical Guide for Founders | The IPR Podcast
The global cross-border payments industry continues to evolve, presenting new opportunities for remittance startups and financial institutions. But what does it really take to launch or expand a money transfer business in today’s landscape shaped by complex regulations, rising compliance expectations, and rapidly advancing technology?
In Episode 2 of The IPR Podcast RemitONE’s CMO Aamer Abedi sits down with Oussama Kseibati, Head of Business Solutions, to provide a clear, actionable roadmap for anyone looking to enter the cross-border payments space. Drawing from over 15 years of industry experience, Oussama outlines a five-step framework that founders can follow to build a compliant, scalable, and competitive Money Service Business (MSB).
Whether you’re launching from scratch or expanding into a new region, this episode offers foundational guidance to help you navigate the journey.
Understanding the Five Core Steps
Step 1: Research, Market Fit, and Business Planning
Every successful business begins with research. In the case of remittances, this means understanding your target corridors, your competition, your potential client base, and the unique value you aim to deliver. Oussama recommends starting small, focusing on one or two corridors you’re familiar with, perhaps tied to your own community or existing business network. This strategic focus allows you to manage cash flow, compliance, and relationships more efficiently before gradually expanding to new regions or services.
A well-structured business plan plays a key role in setting up for success. It should include realistic forecasting, cost structures, and clearly defined revenue streams, particularly understanding how FX margins and payout partnerships will contribute to your profit.
Step 2: Software That Meets Regulatory Needs
Technology is at the heart of modern money service businesses. From onboarding and identity verification to compliance screening and transaction processing, a reliable software infrastructure is essential. A robust platform should not only support regulatory needs (e.g. OFAC, UN, MAS, and HM Treasury checks) but also provide a seamless user experience for customers.
Oussama points out that choosing the right software provider can also give founders access to built-in integrations with payout partners, payment gateways, and compliance tools. Opting for an end-to-end platform such as RemitONE can reduce development time, streamline operations, and help ensure your system is aligned with regulatory requirements from day one.
Step 3: Apply for the Appropriate Licence
Depending on your jurisdiction and the nature of your services, you’ll need to apply for a financial licence, commonly known as an EMI (Electronic Money Institution) licence in the UK/EU, or equivalent.
Founders should consider their service model carefully:
- Do you intend to hold client funds in wallets?
- Are your transaction volumes expected to grow rapidly?
- Will you operate in a single country or multiple regions?
For many, a Small Payment Institution (SPI) licence offers a more accessible entry point. It allows you to operate legally while building up transaction history and operational credibility, which can later support applications for higher-tier licences like API or EMI.
Step 4: Secure a Client Bank Account
Opening a bank account for safeguarding client funds can be one of the more challenging steps, especially in regions where traditional banks view remittance providers as high-risk. This has led to a wave of “de-risking,” where financial institutions have withdrawn services from MSBs altogether.
However, there are solutions. Letters of intent from banks, demonstrating willingness to provide an account once licensed, can support your application with regulators. Additionally, new digital-first banks and fintech-focused institutions are becoming more open to MSB clients, especially those operating with transparency and good controls in place.
The client account ensures that funds remain protected until the transaction is completed, adding an extra layer of security for both regulators and customers.
Step 5: Partner with Reliable Payout Networks
Once you’ve established your business model, tech infrastructure, and licence, you’ll need to connect with payout partners such as banks, MTOs, or telcos in the payout country, who will complete the final end of the transaction.
Payout partners are critical for determining your transaction fees, exchange rates, and service reliability. In the early stages, pre-funding is common, meaning you’ll need to deposit funds in advance with these partners to enable instant payouts.
Here too, a well-connected technology provider can simplify the process by offering access to pre-integrated partners or facilitating introductions to established networks.
The Role of End-to-End Platforms in Supporting MSBs
Remittance businesses today require more than just a digital interface. A complete solution should connect every part of the remittance chain—from onboarding and KYC to payment gateways, FX providers, compliance systems, and settlement tools.
RemitONE’s platform, for example, supports founders throughout this journey by offering tools for transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, automated compliance, and built-in integrations with various payment partners. The goal is to give new entrants the ability to launch quickly, scale with confidence, and maintain compliance across jurisdictions.
Watch the full podcast for the complete insights and strategies.
YouTube: https://youtu.be/2GChfkdhaMg?si=aWj4NuQvRXl9Ly7W
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dAbpgiDWyKklj3Guteo2F?si=569b6d23ade94344
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-start-a-money-transfer-business/id1822769031?i=1000718661978
If you’re exploring the possibility of launching your own MSB or expanding into new corridors, speak to one of our consultants. Book a free session here: https://calendly.com/remitone-oussama/free-30min-consultation-website
For questions or guidance, reach out to sales@remitone.com.