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.