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. 

The Next Step for African Central Banks: Technology-Enabled Compliance Solutions 

Across Africa, central banks are under increasing pressure to improve transparency and oversight in cross-border payments. As digital transactions grow, the need for real-time monitoring and reliable compliance tools has never been greater. 

Common Challenges Regulators Face 

Many regulators share similar problems:  

  • Limited visibility of FX rates applied by Money Transfer Operators 
  • Difficulty tracking USD and EUR inflows into the banking system 
  • Risks of structuring and smurfing in remittances 
  • Uncertainty around governing crypto-assets and stablecoins 
  • Pressure to adopt AI responsibly 
  • Balancing financial inclusion with strong compliance 

The Solution: Introducing Regulatory Compliance Manager  

Many central banks are now turning to technology to tackle these growing challenges. That’s why we at RemitONE developed our Regulatory Compliance Manager (RCOM™), empowering regulators and central banks to: 

  • Gain instant visibility of cross-border money movements and FX rates. 
  • Automate oversight with configurable compliance rules. 
  • Access actionable intelligence through advanced reporting and analytics. 

With RCOM™, regulators can make proactive, data-driven decisions — turning compliance into a strategic advantage. 

Those who move first are already seeing results. Find out how our solution can increase visibility for your central bank by booking a free call with Ababacar Seck, our Managing Director in Africa.  

RemitONE x LimitFlex: Powering Global Connectivity through eSIMs 

The global eSIM market is expected to reach approximately $11.98 billion in 2025, marking an 85% year-on-year growth as more operators and apps promote eSIMs as the go-to roaming alternative. By 2030, nearly 70% of all cellular devices shipped are forecast to be eSIM-capable. 

That’s why we’ve partnered with LimitFlex to introduce eSIM services, helping your customers stay connected wherever they travel. With instant access to local data plans, they can receive payment alerts in real time, manage their money transfers on the go, and communicate seamlessly without worrying about roaming costs or network issues.  

This opens new revenue streams while helping you strengthen customer loyalty and reduce customers from switching. 

If you want to stay one step ahead of competitors, reach out to activate the integration on your RemitONE Platform. 

New here? Book a free demo and discover how our platform can help your business keep up with today’s digital pace.  

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 

Meet RemitONE at Singapore Fintech Festival to Explore AI-Driven Cross-Border Payment Solutions  

We’re heading to the Singapore Fintech Festival, 12th – 14th November, to connect with businesses looking to scale. Oussama Kseibati, Head of Business Solutions, will be at the event to explore cross-border payment opportunities with our AI, open banking and blockchain solutions.  

Whether you’re expanding into sending markets like the UK and Europe, paying out in asian markets, or navigating complex compliance demands, our innovative solutions can help fuel your growth and unlock new revenue streams 

We provide the building blocks to future-proof your operations, even if cross-border payments aren’t your core offering, with solutions such as:  

  • White-label Money Transfer Software (online and app) 
  • RaaS (Remittance-as-a-Service) and AI-driven automation
  • Automated KYC/AML
  • Scalable payout infrastructure to new send and payout markets
  • AI-driven payment optimisation

To arrange a place and time, please email us at: marketing@remitone.com   

About RemitONE  

RemitONE is an award-winning, leading provider of money transfer software solutions for banks, telcos, and money transfer operators (MTOs) worldwide. With multi-channel access, including agent networks, online, and mobile, RemitONE empowers organisations to streamline and scale their remittance operations.

Episode 4: Central Banks & Remittances: How to Monitor Cross-Border Payment Flows in Real-Time | The IPR Podcast 

Africa’s remittance flows are bigger than you think, but most of it goes unseen. 

In many countries, remittances surpass foreign direct investment, yet central banks only track a fraction of what’s really coming in. The result? Lost reserves, unstable currencies, and limited financial visibility. 

But what if central banks could monitor every inflow in real time – enforcing official FX rates, ensuring compliance, and strengthening national reserves? 

In Episode 3 of the IPR Podcast, Aamer Abedi (CMO, RemitONE) and Ababacar Seck (Managing Director for Africa, RemitONE) unpack how technology, automation, and real-time data can help African regulators turn this vision into reality. From tracking settlements to integrating mobile money, this episode explores how digital transformation can redefine financial inclusion and empower central banks to lead confidently in the digital era. 

🎧 Watch the full episode to discover how real-time monitoring, big data, and automation are shaping the future of Africa’s remittance ecosystem. 

At RemitONE, we’re helping financial institutions and regulators achieve: 

✅ Real-time visibility across cross-border flows 
✅ Seamless FX rate enforcement and reporting 
✅ Stronger compliance and financial inclusion initiatives 

Want to see how our solutions can support your region’s remittance infrastructure? Book a free consultation with our team today. 

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. 

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: