Tag: BIN Sponsorship

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Case studies Company News FinTech

Empowering Choices: Performance Bonus and B4B Payments Revolutionising Rewards

Unlocking Rewards for All

In a world where companies struggle to offer incentives that truly satisfy their employees and traditional benefits often miss the mark, a significant change is happening. Performance Bonus solves the pains of incentive and rewards scheme administration and delivery whilst also increasing companies’ Return On Investment(ROI).

Teaming up with B4B Payments since 2019, Performance Bonus specialises in delivering BONUS rewards through prepaid Visa / Mastercard products. These cards, accepted globally in over 30 million locations, comply with the UK’s taxation requirements.

David Burton, CEO of Performance Bonus Ltd, states, “Partnering with B4B Payments has created exactly the ‘win-win’ result we intended. For Performance Bonus, it has broadened our offering, already winning new clients, and for B4B Payments, it has opened up a ‘turn-key’ solution through us into the incentives and rewards market”.

To date, Performance Bonus has successfully administered over £20 million in rewards through various programs, including Business (B2B) promotions, in-house sales incentives, and staff recognition initiatives.

Physical and Digital Channels and Personalised Gifts

Experts in leveraging accessible digital channels, Performance Bonus ensures effective communication and delivery of incentive programs. This extends to embedding the reward payment solution into clients’ Intranets/Apps or their BONUSme Microsoft Azure Hosted application.

Clients can either outsource their complete programme fulfilment through Performance Bonus or have direct access and control of their brand solutions using their systems and support as required.

Building a Collaborative Culture: click as a team

The Performance Bonus success story includes helping a lead client dominate the motor finance incentive space for over a decade. This was achieved through a bespoke incentive solution that evolved to reward salespeople based on customer satisfaction and NPS score achievement via a branded prepaid card solution.

To achieve Performance Bonus’ potential, they found B4B’s flexibility, capability and approach enabled them to 

  • Create a core ‘non-cash’ compliant, contactless prepaid product in the Mastercard ecosystem. 
  • Future-proof their product for GooglePay/ApplePay (using B4B’s one-click adoption) 
  • Quickly and cost-effectively launch co-branded prepaid cards for their clients, featuring either the clients’ branding or an ‘off the shelf’ BONUS card.
  • Provide their clients with the choice of both eco-friendly plastic cards and/or virtual cards.
  • Use API access to build client-branded cardholder applications and incorporate them into our own Microsoft Azure-hosted Bonus Administrator app.

David Burton continued, “We had experienced a couple of ‘false starts’ with other possible partners, but the ‘can do’ attitude at B4B has made the creation of our joint offering a real pleasure to be involved with”.    

Conclusion: Paving the Future of Rewards

Together, Performance Bonus and B4B Payments have built the strategic asset that Performance Bonus sought by adding compliant prepaid capabilities alongside their performance measurement and rewards administration offerings.

Tim Robson, Account Director at B4B Payments, expresses optimism for the future, stating, “It’s really good to see the incentive and reward products we have created together working so well, and with much of the market turmoil of the last few years hopefully now behind us, we wish Performance Bonus every success in our partnership moving forward”.

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Case studies Company News Travel

Transforming Travel Finances: Acacia Africa’s Decade-Long Partnership with B4B Payments

Background

Initially recommended to B4B by a former supplier, Acacia is Africa, is a premier provider of diverse holiday experiences in Africa. They have partnered with B4B Payments and used their financial services for nearly a decade. Offering a range of tours, from professional camping overland adventures to small group safaris, Acacia Africa’s success story demonstrates the innovation of travel finances with Card and Payment Solutions.

Financial Flexibility and Risk Management:

The traditional challenges of tour guides carrying large sums of money were significantly mitigated by adopting B4B’s card and payment platform. This not only reduced operational risks but also enhanced accounting accuracy for Acacia Africa.

The expense cards allow Acacia Africa to quickly distribute funds to tour leaders out on the road. The cards facilitate seamless access to cash through local ATMs, card transactions, and online payments. The B4B platform is particularly helpful in mitigating risk. Cards can both be loaded and unloaded instantaneously, providing certainty and safety to both tour guides and the funds. 

In a recent incident, Acacia Africa withdrew funds from a card due to a tour leader’s unexpected illness. They quickly transferred the budget to the replacement leader.

Real-Time Monitoring and Control:

A pivotal aspect of Acacia Africa’s success with B4B Payments lies in the platform’s real-time monitoring capabilities. The ability to instantly track expenditures provides Acacia Africa with immediate insights into tour leaders’ spending. This newfound control eliminates the need to chase receipts weeks after a trip concludes, offering a more streamlined and accountable financial management process.

“It’s flexible, and it makes things far less risky. And it’s better for accounting because I can see when and where the money is spent, and that’s important,” Vivian McCarthy, the Director of Acacia Africa, says.

B4B’s Dedicated Account Management:

Acacia Africa also highlights the importance of having a dedicated account manager as a key component of successful partnerships with B4B Payments. The need for swift assistance, especially during critical situations. This collaboration aspect has proven crucial in ensuring effective communication and problem resolution. “Having a dedicated account manager who understands both the client and the client’s industry is a key value driver for B4B Payments,” says Tim Robson, B4B’s Director of Accounts.

Conclusion:

Acacia Africa’s case exemplifies the transformative impact of B4B Payments on travel finances. The seamless integration of innovative payment solutions has not only addressed traditional challenges but has also positioned Acacia Africa for sustained success in the dynamic landscape of African tourism. The partnership is a testament to the importance of real-time financial management and dedicated account support in the travel industry.

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Case studies Company News FinTech

Juni Accelerates Global E-commerce Growth Through B4B’s Bin Sponsorship

Background

Swedish startup Juni was listed as 2021’s fastest-growing fintech startup in Europe. With a goal of eliminating common challenges faced by e-commerce businesses, Juni provides a financial platform that gives them complete visibility and control over their cash flow with a unified view of multi-currency business accounts, corporate virtual cards and flexible credit with unparalleled insights and analytics – all in one place. 

Since 2022, Juni has leveraged B4B Payments’ BIN sponsorship service to power its prepaid Mastercard card proposition and make it easy for businesses to keep track of their finances across multiple platforms. By partnering with B4B, they can ensure compliance, strengthen our presence in the UK, and enhance scalability. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to empowering FinTech innovators and established players alike, fostering a more inclusive and efficient financial landscape for SMEs.

B4B: Full digital payment solutions within one provider

B4B Payments stands out by providing a full range of financial services as a regulated Electronic Money Institution (EMI) in the UK and Lithuania. As a Principal Member of Mastercard Europe and a partner of VISA Inc in the USA.

Following Brexit, many pan-European fintechs that operate in the UK have been impacted by the change in regulation. Therefore, teaming up with Banking-as-a-Service(BaaS) providers, like B4B, ensures they can still provide the unwavering compliance, security, and quality service we pride ourselves on.

Strategic partnerships take businesses to the next level.

The partnership between Juni and B4B Payments is a significant step towards achieving our mission of empowering businesses with practical and secure financial management solutions. By leveraging B4B Payments’ licensed capabilities in the UK, they can navigate the complexities of the post-Brexit regulatory environment while maintaining the highest security and compliance standards for their valued customers.

Samir El-Sabini, Co-founder and CEO of Juni, highlighted the benefits of partnering with B4B. 

“We have a long-standing partnership with B4B, primarily in the UK, that has enabled us to scale Juni and continue our fast-paced growth while, most importantly, giving our customers more value when using our platform. Through B4B, we’ve launched both new currencies and cards, and we’re looking forward to building out our offering in 2024.”

Paul Swinton, CEO of B4B Payments, also shared, 

“We’re delighted that we supported bringing the Juni prepaid Mastercard to market at its early stage and to see our payment solutions leveraged innovatively to empower e-commerce and digital marketing entrepreneurs. As an established fintech firm ourselves, we’re excited to be part of Juni’s continued success, and we look forward to working closely with them to achieve their ambitious roadmap.”   

Future: Power any idea to the global market:

Utilising BaaS, companies can seamlessly embed financial services from B4B’s Banking Stack and License, fostering innovation. This streamlined approach reduces operational costs, enhances the customer experience, and accelerates the development of the fragmented B2B FinTech Market. Startups can scale rapidly, delivering exceptional customer value and addressing underserved markets more effectively.

The partnership with Juni exemplifies B4B’s Bin Sponsorship, facilitating global growth post-Brexit, accelerating the development of the B2B FinTech market, and removing barriers and costs for unserved markets, allowing SMEs to grow quickly and at a low cost without compromising quality.

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BIN Sponsorship Company News Newsroom

Maximising Efficiency for Regulated EMIs with Scheme Permissions

Firstly, congratulations on navigating the complex process of acquiring your Electronic Money Institution(EMI)-regulated status and scheme permissions. It is a significant achievement in the FinTech sector, where many startups in the $245 billion industry are still struggling to reach. But what’s next?

You may feel overwhelmed at the thought of transitioning from using a BIN Sponsor to managing your own scheme memberships. New settlement processes and increasing demands on your resources can seem like a daunting challenge. Embracing your new status requires strategic planning and partnership. You’re poised to redefine your customer experience, increase autonomy, and drive growth. Yet, you must also consider the operational complexities this transition entails. How do you maintain continuity of service during the switch? How do you deal with new compliance requirements? These are critical questions to answer.

B4B Payments’ BIN Sponsorship 2.0 can seamlessly address these challenges. Our service can facilitate this transition, providing comprehensive support, industry expertise, and innovative solutions to set you on the path to success. Let’s explore how we can help your FinTech venture thrive.

Benefits of an EMI with Scheme Permissions

Your new status as a regulated EMI with scheme permissions brings several benefits, including enhanced security, increased compliance, and bolstered customer trust. 

Let’s take a look at those benefits in a little more detail

1. Increased security and compliance

As a regulated EMI, you’re under the strict supervision of financial authorities, which necessitates adherence to high standards of security and compliance. This brings a host of benefits, particularly in terms of corporate payments. For instance, under the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) allows you to issue e-money and provide associated payment services, such as transfers and foreign currency payments.

Your new status also fortifies your defence against fraudulent activities and reduces the likelihood of compliance violations. Thereby, it fosters a safer and more trustworthy business environment. It’s like having a shield that protects your business while enhancing its reputation in the market.

Additionally, as a FinTech startup, you’re now in a position to extend partnerships as a regulated EMI. This means you can help other businesses benefit from your expertise in maintaining secure and compliant payment infrastructures, further solidifying your standing in the industry.

2. Enhanced customer confidence and trust

As an EMI-regulated FinTech with scheme permissions, you’re in a position to enhance customer confidence and trust. By partnering with major issuers such as Mastercard and Visa, you can issue your own unique card numbers to cardholders. Coupled with branded cards, this strategy can supercharge customer loyalty and attract new business.

At B4B Payments, for instance, we offer our customers the ability to send payments via various channels like SWIFT, Faster Payments, CHAPS, SEPA, and local clearing in the USA (ACH) and DKK to over 20 different countries. This wide range of services offers freedom for businesses dealing overseas, or looking to grow overseas, to ensure that their needs are met efficiently and effectively.

We also leverage state-of-the-art security measures to protect cardholder information and transactions, ensuring peace of mind for users. Furthermore, our dynamic business model allows for scalable solutions that can adapt to your evolving business needs. We also provide customised reporting and analytics, offering insights into spending patterns that could optimise business operations. With B4B, businesses can not only streamline their payment procedures but also transform them into strategic tools for growth and development.

Leveraging B4B Payments to Stay Efficient

Whether you’ve used B4B’ BIN Sponsorship 2.0 to reach this point in your journey or are looking for additional support, we have a range of services that can offer significant benefits.

As an entity authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and holding an EMI licence, B4B is well-positioned to offer further support with compliance, security, settlement, and platform integration.

Our compliance and security measures are enable to protect businesses and their employees’ data and funds. As a regulated EMI with scheme permissions, you can continue (or begin to) offload your safeguarding requirements to us. It frees up internal time to concentrate on scalability and business growth. With 17 years of industry experience, we ensure that customer funds are held separately from your company’s other funds, and that you’re covered by the appropriate insurance policies that meet industry standards.

Our platform is also designed with compliance in mind. It ensures all transactions comply with regulations such as Payment Services Directive (PSD2) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML).

Furthermore, we offer a ‘Settlement Only’ package that allows you to leverage our issuing capabilities while you develop your own customer interface to manage client accounts.

B4B Payments – Your Partner in the Payments Journey

No matter where you are in your payments journey, B4B can help you strengthen your proposition. With our expertise and customer-centric services, we can optimise your operations and make the most of your new status as a regulated EMI with scheme permissions.

Explore more about B4B’s BIN Sponsorship 2.0 service, and our other payment services, including embedded cards, FX, and more. By partnering with us, you can maximise efficiency, ensure compliance, and bolster your business’ growth in the rapidly evolving FinTech landscape.

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