Tag: Expense Management

At B4B Payments, our mission is to empower businesses with solutions that don’t just meet today’s needs but also scale with them for tomorrow. As a finalist in six categories at the Card & Payments Awards 2025, we are recognised for our achievements across different aspects of financial services, from customer service and product design to financial inclusion. This recognition highlights how our tailored payment solutions enable businesses across sectors to operate more efficiently, build lasting customer relationships, and innovate faster. Here’s a closer look at how B4B Payments drive real-world impact in the Financial Ecosystem.

Scaling Customer Success Through Exceptional Service

Our commitment to outstanding customer service isn’t just about responding to queries but building strong, scalable partnerships. We focus on understanding each client’s unique needs and providing proactive solutions that grow with their business. By offering personalised support, we ensure that every interaction adds value and fosters long-term success, making our partnerships more effective and enduring.

“We haven’t found another provider in the industry that supports us in developing the services we need quite like B4B Payments. What sets them apart is their approach—it’s not just an off-the-shelf solution. They genuinely listen to our needs and adapt their services and systems accordingly, which no other provider has been able to offer. We trust their judgement, and they’ve been instrumental in helping us grow our business.” said Alistair Crombie, Founder & Managing Director of One Research.

Enhancing Business Flexibility with Scalable Prepaid Solutions

Our prepaid products transform how businesses manage expenses, payroll, and rewards programs. These solutions enable companies to issue prepaid cards to employees, contractors, or customers, providing a seamless, cashless payment experience. Designed with flexibility in mind, our prepaid solutions quickly scale to meet the evolving needs of businesses as they grow or enter new markets. This adaptability has positioned B4B Payments as the go-to choice for companies seeking greater control and convenience in their payment operations.

Prioritising Design for Better User Experience and Increased Adoption

Good design is more than aesthetics; it’s about creating a user-friendly experience that increases adoption rates and improves overall customer satisfaction. Our product design focuses on intuitive functionality, allowing users to easily navigate and use our payment solutions. This design-first approach helps our client’s employees and customers interact seamlessly with our products, ultimately driving higher engagement and adoption as their operations expand. We ensure a seamless user experience while addressing the organisation’s unique needs by implementing features that provide precise control and flexibility

Enabling Seamless Operations with Integrated Technology

Businesses thrive when their operations run smoothly, and our technology integration capabilities ensure that. By incorporating advanced technology like API-driven integrations and real-time tracking, our payment solutions allow businesses to connect our tools with their existing systems effortlessly. This seamless integration saves time, reduces administrative overhead, and enables enterprises to scale their operations with minimal disruption. With B4B Payments, companies can expand without the complexities of reconfiguring or replacing their payment systems.

Explore more about our platform’s advanced capabilities here.

Engaging Audiences Through Strategic Marketing

Effective marketing is more than just visibility—creating lasting connections and driving meaningful engagement. We understand the power of a well-executed campaign to amplify our vision and strengthen relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders. 

Our recognition at the Card & Payments Awards 2025 underscores the success of our campaign in achieving significant milestones, from expanding our digital reach to fostering deep engagement across diverse audiences. Focusing on organic strategies, we demonstrated how a thoughtful marketing approach can generate tangible outcomes, including lead generation, meaningful conversions, and heightened brand presence.

Through initiatives like these, B4B Payments remains committed to advancing industry standards in marketing, effectively connecting with audiences, and empowering businesses to achieve their goals.

Partner with B4B Payments to Achieve Scalable Business Success

Financial inclusion is at the heart of many businesses’ missions, especially those seeking to serve diverse customer bases. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in solutions accessible to underbanked populations and adaptable to various financial needs. 

Our recognition at the Card & Payments Awards 2025 highlights our solutions’ influential role in enabling businesses to scale efficiently, innovate confidently, and expand their customer base like never before. As we continue to drive advancements in payment technology, we remain focused on creating value and empowering businesses to achieve their goals.

Discover how B4B Payments can help scale your business with solutions designed for growth.

Focus on travel trends and how B4B Payments expense management tools help minimise risks and control expenditures for tour operators and business travellers alike.

Here at B4B Payments we’re interested in the travel industry because our clients are interested in travelling. On a macro scale, 2024 has shown a continued bounce back in travel since the pandemic though at a decelerating rate as spend reverts back to the mean, a study by UN Tourism Barometer.

For example, London Heathrow shows a healthy 6% growth Jan-Nov 2024 over the same period in 2023, a total of 76.8M passenger movements. However, the same statistic for 2023 over 2022 was 30%.

A 6% growth in 2024 indicates that travel demand remains healthy but is stabilising rather than experiencing dramatic spikes. Original source

Continued growth will now depend more on product, price and innovation whilst still being subject to exogenous events such as conflicts or economic performance as well as a growing movement towards sustainability. 

Our clients can be divided into two when it comes to travel:

Firstly, those clients who are directly involved in the travel business themselves. 

Secondly – and more broadly – the day to day expenses of our business clients as they travel to see their own customers, colleagues and attend conferences. 

Let’s take the first group – direct travel clients.

We have a large – and increasing – portfolio of tour operators who use our payments services. The focus here tends to be on supporting group travel and our cards are perfect for tour directors to meet the on-the-road expenses involved with shepherding customers from one location to another.

Primarily our businesses have concentrated on the European market where tourists from the US and elsewhere want to hit the highlights of Europe; London, Paris, and the Southern Med for example.

Take Expat Explore who offer a multitude of tours to take in the sights of Europe. Customers get an experience of different cities, countries and cultures in a concentrated period of time. Our cards are used on the tours to help Expat minimise risk, control expenditure and make sure the right funds hit the right card at the correct time. 

But what we’ve noticed at B4B is an increasing shift from our travel clients towards more far flung destinations over the last couple of seasons. Japan’s hot right now, as is Vietnam, Korea and Australia. It seems travellers since the pandemic – moving away from revenge travel – have decided to value new experiences highly by travelling out of region. 

Business travel spend – i.e. spending by companies travelling to meet clients and attend conferences – is a more difficult trend to isolate and project into 2025. This is where economic sentiment and technology advances meet head to head.

Firstly, the economic environment. It’s well known that meeting clients and prospective clients is a good business strategy, a report by BSS Commerce. It increases sales and allows more interaction, formal and informal, with clients for the benefit of both. However, in an uncertain economic environment, the continual wrestling match between sales/marketing and finance really comes to a head. Travel and entertainment is a discretionary budget and is often the first item to be squeezed should the economy take a turn for the worse. 

Secondly, one lesson of COVID is that companies can conduct meetings online via Zoom, Teams, Google Meet etc. Ally this to a larger focus on corporates reducing their environmental imprint and potentially we have a nexus where the expedient meets the virtuous. A great deal will depend on the global economic outlook report by Mastercard– in the next 12 months which is uncertain, but is predicted to be similar to 2024.

Conclusion

Whether an industry professional or a company traveller, a decent expense management system helps manage costs, mitigate risks and understand spending patterns. At B4B, we have a long history of helping clients manage their expenses, helping them to maximise resources to focus on their primary business. 

But nothing stands still and, in 2025, B4B will be further investing in our expense management capabilities so our clients can continue to take advantage of our experience and services. There will be an aggressive roll out schedule across the year. We will be in touch but if you wish to understand our future developments – or wish to contribute ideas – please contact your account manager.

Tim Robson

Director of Accounts and Partnerships, Dec 2024

We are thrilled to share that B4B Payments has won the prestigious ‘Best Bank & FinTech Partnership’ award at the Banking Tech Awards 2024, hosted by FinTech Futures! This recognition celebrates the incredible collaboration between B4B Payments and our sister company, Banking Circle, as we continue to redefine innovation and excellence in the payments industry.

Addressing Key Pain Points in Financial Services.

By merging the agility of fintech with the stability of traditional banking, we’ve developed Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions that:

Simplify payments and eliminate inefficiencies in legacy banking systems.

Enable instant payouts to reduce delays and improve operational efficiency.

Offer compliance-ready tools that address increasing regulatory demands.

With operations spanning the UK, EU, and global markets, our scalable solutions empower businesses to operate confidently and efficiently in an ever-evolving financial ecosystem.

How B4B Payments is Redefining Collaboration in Fintech

In partnership with One Money Way, we provide small and emerging businesses (SEMs) with cost-effective financial tools, bridging the gap for those underserved by traditional banking. Our tailored Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) model offers SEMs access to affordable banking infrastructure, helping them streamline operations and scale their businesses globally.

Streamlining Insurance Operations- Our collaboration with IMG revolutionised insurance fund disbursement processes. By leveraging B4B Payments’ prepaid solutions, IMG simplified claims management, enabling instant payouts and eliminating delays often experienced with legacy systems. This innovation has enhanced customer satisfaction and operational efficiency, addressing a critical pain point in the insurance sector.

Driving Efficiency in Marine and Entertainment Industries- Our Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) model has demonstrated how seamless payment solutions can transform niche industries. By integrating our payment infrastructure, Voly ensures that complex transactions in marine and entertainment sectors—such as crew wages and vendor payments—are managed with ease, speed, and precision.

Leading the Way in Digital Payment Innovation

Businesses today demand payment solutions that are both robust and adaptable. B4B Payments offers an end-to-end digital payment platform that delivers:

• Multi-currency support for global operations.
• Real-time tracking for better financial control.
• Customisable solutions tailored to business needs.

Our commitment to innovation ensures businesses stay competitive by leveraging cutting-edge technology for seamless financial management.

Looking Forward: Celebrating Achievements and Building on Success

This award highlights the strength of our partnerships and the value of collaboration across fintech and banking. Together with Banking Circle, we’ve developed scalable, compliant, and forward-thinking solutions that address real-world business challenges. From multi-currency support to instant payouts and robust compliance frameworks, B4B Payments is reshaping the fintech landscape one solution at a time.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our teams, partners, and clients for their trust and collaboration. This win is a milestone in our journey, but it’s also a reminder of the work ahead. Our mission remains steadfast—to empower businesses worldwide through innovation, collaboration, and dedication.

As we celebrate this incredible achievement, we look forward to continuing to solve Payments pain points, drive transformation, and deliver value to the financial services industry. Together, we’re building the future of payments.

We are thrilled to announce that B4B Payments has received the International Payments Excellence Award at the prestigious Payments Awards by FStech 2024. This accolade underscores our commitment to delivering innovative and impactful payment solutions globally.

Our innovative payment solutions are designed to meet businesses’ needs and help them thrive in their respective industries. Fintech companies face complex challenges of cross-border payments, regulatory compliance, and scalability; we provide tailored solutions that address these pain points directly. By understanding our clients’ unique challenges in the global marketplace, we enable them to streamline their operations, scale efficiently, and deliver exceptional value to their customers.

Our commitment to creating impactful partnerships has allowed us to solve complex problems across different sectors. Notable collaborations include:

• AVEA LA POSTE: By integrating our international payment services, this French association offering summer camps for children and teenagers has streamlined its processes, enabling efficient reservations and bookings abroad.

ICP Transaction Solutions GmbH: Partnering with us, ICP introduced personalised, geographically restricted payout cards, providing tax-free non-cash benefits to employees and boosting local markets.

These partnerships exemplify our dedication to enhancing operational efficiency and employee satisfaction across diverse industries and showcase how our solutions are uniquely positioned to solve the pain points faced by fintech businesses when navigating international payments and local compliance challenges.

The Payments Awards ceremony by FStech was remarkable, celebrating excellence in the payments sector. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated team and valued clients for their trust and collaboration. This award fuels our enthusiasm to innovate and deliver exceptional payment solutions worldwide.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to achieving even greater heights together in the coming years.

As a transformative event in the world of payments, Money20/20 USA has long been a stage for innovation, connection, and insight. This year, B4B Payments continued its tradition of attending and contributing to the event, bringing our thought leaders to engage in critical industry conversations. Here’s a look at how our team experienced and participated in this year’s show.

Lori Breitzke’s Journey with Money20/20

Lori Breitzke, our Head of Channel Development and Strategy, has a history with Money20/20 that stretches back to its initial run in 2012. As a seasoned expert in the fintech industry, Lori Breitzke highlights the event’s growth and maturation over the years. She recalls her initial encounters with Money20/20, describing it as a transformative experience in a time when fintech was still finding its footing.

“Back then, it was all about discovering new possibilities and building connections in a rapidly evolving space. “Today, it’s inspiring to see how much deeper the conversations have become, with even more opportunities for collaboration and growth. The show has matured yet remains a hub of innovation and partnership.” Lori Breitzke, Head of Channel Development and Strategy.

For Lori, Money20/20 continues to inspire. It’s not only a place for trendsetting but also a meeting ground for building enduring partnerships and exploring long-term strategies. As she noted, this year’s show provided both emerging trends and established frameworks, proving that Money20/20 remains as dynamic as ever.

Jodie Taylor’s Marketing Perspective

Jodie Taylor, Head of Marketing (EU/UK) at B4B, has attended Money20/20 for the past five years, bringing a valuable marketing perspective to the event. Her experience has consistently centred on how Money20/20 provides an exceptional platform to gain industry insights, explore new marketing opportunities, and connect with fellow industry leaders. Like Lori, Jodie sees Money20/20 as a place where lasting connections are formed and forward-looking marketing strategies come to life.

Money20/20 was as incredible as ever, but this year held something truly special. I had the privilege of joining an engaging panel discussion at our booth with Betsy Samuel, CMO of Thredd, and Araminta Robertson, Managing Director of Mint Studios and founder of The Fintech Marketing Hub CIC. Together, we explored the intricacies of fintech marketing in the EU/UK versus the U.S., sharing actionable strategies and fresh ideas for fintech brands aiming to connect meaningfully with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. Jodie Taylor, Head of Marketing (EU/UK)

B4B Payments’ Contributions at Money20/20 2024

This year, B4B Payments took part in various activities aimed at showcasing our platform’s value and engaging in timely industry conversations. Our team presented a live demo, spotlighting B4B’s innovative approach to prepaid and expense management solutions. This hands-on demonstration showed attendees how our platform empowers businesses with real-time expense tracking, rapid fund distribution, and flexible, multi-currency capabilities.

We were also proud to be part of two impactful panel discussions. Lori Brietzke joined Dayo Okewale, Senior Advisor in the House of Lords (UK government), to discuss the significance of diversity in fintech leadership. They explored the critical role of inclusive financial services in shaping a more equitable and accessible industry. The conversation highlighted that while fintech is often seen as a hub of innovation and forward-thinking, the industry still struggles with fully understanding some of the markets it serves and unlocking real opportunities to innovate and drive meaningful change. Getting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) right is about more than just ethics; it’s about results.

The 2019 analysis report by McKinsey & Company on Diversity wins: How inclusion matters, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25 percent more likely to achieve above-average profitability compared to those in the fourth quartile, an increase from 21 percent in 2017 and 15 percent in 2014

Additionally, Jodie Taylor shared the stage with Betsy Samuel, CMO at Thredd, to delve into the differences between fintech marketing strategies in the UK and the US. This conversation highlighted the unique approaches and challenges in reaching audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.

Solving Industry Challenges: B4B Payments Featured in FinTech Magazine

 In FinTech Magazine’s November issue, B4B Payments USA CEO Kieran Draper shared insights during Money 20/20 USA, focusing on Driving fintech innovation with streamlined payment processes and advanced tech, the US market expansion strategies for scalable growth and Shaping the future of payments with tailored solutions for industry demands. This feature highlights B4B Payments’ commitment to solving industry challenges and driving innovation. Watch the live interview.

Addressing Industry Challenges: B4B Payments’ Brian Lawlor in The FinTech Times

At Money20/20 USA 2024, B4B Payments’ Group CCO, Brian Lawlor, shared insights with The FinTech Times on addressing industry pain points; addressing Embedded Finance as a Game-Changer for seamless integration of financial services to tackle inefficiencies and drive growth across industries. Through these advancements, B4B Payments is directly responding to industry demands for greater efficiency, transparency, and scalability. Watch the full interview here

As we look back on another successful year at Money20/20, we’re reminded of the power of collaboration and innovation in driving the fintech industry forward. If you’re interested in learning more about B4B Payments’ solutions or would like to connect. We’d love to discuss how we can support your business goals.

The Nordic region is fast emerging as a global Fintech powerhouse, and we’re thrilled to be featured in Nordic Fintech Magazine, highlighting the unique opportunities this market presents.

With a stable financial system and progressive regulations, the Nordics are becoming a launchpad for global Fintech expansion. Companies that navigate this highly competitive and technologically advanced landscape can leverage their expertise to expand internationally.

Brian Lawlor, Group Chief Commercial Officer at B4B Payments, shared his perspective: “Companies that succeed in this highly competitive and technologically advanced market can leverage their expertise and proven solutions to gain a foothold in other markets abroad.”

Read the full feature in the Nordic Fintech Magazine.

Watch the highlights below…

On 11 September 2024, B4B Payments hosted its 3rd Annual Client Forum at the prestigious One Moorgate Place Club in London. The event brought together clients, partners, and industry leaders for an evening filled with insightful presentations, product updates, and networking opportunities. This year’s forum was not just a celebration of B4B Payments’ achievements but also an exploration of the future of payment solutions and financial technology, highlighting developments such as Fusion Metal Cards and tailored financial solutions for the entertainment industry.

Business & Product Updates: A Glimpse into the Future

The evening kicked off with a compelling presentation by Account Director Tim Robson, who shared B4B Payments’ remarkable growth in 2024. Tim emphasised the importance of partnerships in driving B4B Payments’ success. He discussed how the travel sector remains a key growth area and shared insights into plans for expanding into new markets and verticals.
Tim’s presentation set the tone for the evening, underscoring B4B Payments’ commitment to continuous innovation and its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of clients and partners. The audience got a glimpse of the new developments on the horizon, indicating a promising year ahead for the company and its stakeholders.

Pioneering Payment Solutions with Thames Technology

Sustainability is a key driver for B4B. One of the standout moments of the forum was the engaging session by Andrew Toon, Head of Retail at Thames Technology. Andrew outlined the latest advancements in payment card technology, specifically focusing on sustainability within the card industry as well as highlighting the benefits of Fusion Metal Cards and Biometric Cards. These innovative cards represent a leap forward in card solutions, offering a blend of enhanced security, durability, and aesthetic appeal, making them an ideal choice for businesses looking to elevate their card experience.
Andrew’s presentation showcased how Thames Technology is at the forefront of transforming the card payment experience. The Biometric Cards not only enhance security features but also add a touch of sophistication to everyday transactions. This aligns perfectly with the future-forward ethos of B4B Payments, which is committed to offering cutting-edge payment features that cater to the evolving needs of clients. For businesses exploring premium payment options, the advantages of Biometric Cards were highlighted as a key differentiator in the market.

Inspiring Journeys: Stories from OneMoneyWay and Voly Entertainment

The forum featured inspiring guest speakers who shared their unique insights and visions for the future of payments. One speaker highlighted the challenges many businesses face with traditional banking models and explored how innovative solutions tailored for the SME sector are addressing these obstacles. Another speaker looked at how financial management is evolving in the entertainment industry, emphasising the importance of tailored payment platforms to support the complex financial operations of artists and professionals. The discussion underscored the critical role of flexible and dynamic payment solutions in empowering industries with specialised needs, paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative financial landscape.

Networking and Collaboration: New Ideas and Partnerships

Beyond the presentations, the Client Forum provided an atmosphere for attendees to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss the wider payments environment. Clients and partners talked about trends in the payment industry, whilst sharing ideas and feedback with the B4B team in a relaxed environment.
The forum not only provided a platform for showcasing new products but also acted as a catalyst for fostering partnerships that have the potential to drive industry-wide advancements. Discussions around cross-border payment challenges and the benefits of advanced payment card technology along with real-life stories about the many usages of B4B, sparked interest among attendees, opening up avenues for further partnerships and growth.

A Step Towards the Future

The 3rd Annual Client Forum was a testament to B4B Payments’ dedication to innovation, client success, and industry leadership. The evening encapsulated the spirit of progress and collaboration, from insightful business updates and pioneering product showcases to inspiring stories from industry leaders. As B4B Payments looks ahead to 2025, it does so from a strong foundation of growth, a commitment to excellence, and a community of partners and clients eager to embrace the future of payments. The forum highlighted B4B Payment’s role in shaping the future of payment solutions, offering innovative financial solutions across multiple verticals. Want to learn more about how B4B Payments are revolutionising the payment industry? Stay updated with our latest innovations and see how we can help your business navigate the future of payments, visit.