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Money 20/20 | A Decade of Innovation

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.

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Empowering Disaster Recovery: Fintech Solutions for Efficient Aid Distribution

By Marchelle Becher, US Business Development Executive

Millions of people are impacted by natural disasters each year, facing financial challenges such as damage to homes, the need for temporary shelter, and the replacement of personal items and food. Increasingly, fintech solutions are becoming essential in addressing these urgent needs efficiently and effectively.

Over the past five years, the US has experienced an average of $18 billion annually in natural disaster-related damages. With increasingly extreme weather patterns, this trend is expected to worsen. In the first half of 2024 alone, the US has already experienced 11 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each, well ahead of the expected 5-year average.

Having attended several conferences dedicated to disaster aid and preparedness, it’s clear that private and public organizations are actively seeking viable solutions. Companies like B4B Payments are crucial in providing financial aid distribution and ongoing support for those affected by disasters, especially regarding financial inclusion.

Addressing Financial Vulnerability and Inclusion

Low-income households are disproportionately affected by disasters. Many do not qualify for disaster loans, and grants often fall short. Delays in relief efforts compound their financial vulnerability. However, changes are taking place to improve support for those impacted by these life-changing events.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overhauled its aid distribution methods earlier this year. One fundamental change, made effective March 22, addresses disaster victims’ economic challenges. FEMA’s Displacement Assistance program now provides money for shelter not only to those who had to leave their homes but also to those who were already homeless. As FEMA stated, this change is a “more equitable and efficient” approach, overcoming the challenge and addressing the disparity of helping only those who can pay their hotel bills upfront.

Additionally, FEMA has created the Serious Need Assistance program, providing $750 to individuals for severe or immediate needs such as water, food, first aid, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items, or fuel for transportation. This payment is in addition to aid for home repairs and other disaster-related needs.

In 2023, the United States experienced 28 separate weather or climate disasters that each resulted in at least $1 billion in damages. NOAA map by NCEI.

The Urgent Need for Preparedness Funds

With improved fund issuance, private and public agencies are stepping up efforts to work with companies like B4B Payments on “Preparedness Funds”—pre-arranged financial resources and distribution solutions that can be quickly activated in the event of a disaster. The “Preparedness Funds” approach improves financial inclusion, reduces the time needed to distribute funds, and eliminates the potential for theft and fraud with the self-service platform.

Supporting disaster preparedness and relief to ensure funds reach those in need is a critical focus for B4B Payments. Financial technology companies can simplify and expedite relief payments, ensuring a smooth customer experience and efficient distribution of funds, especially compared to manual or paper-based methods.

B4B Payments’ Comprehensive Solution

We offer a seamless prepaid card payout solution that considers the entire ecosystem, from funders to survivors, ensuring secure and efficient fund distribution. With our self-managed, instant issue platform, organizations and agencies can send physical and virtual prepaid cards to those in need, allowing for quick fund distribution while achieving full transparency, reporting capabilities, security, and guaranteed regulatory compliance.

Key benefits of working with B4B Payments include:

  • Instant issuing and delivery with activation timing control and funding flexibility, allowing agencies to choose when to activate cards, reload, and options to send either physical or virtual cards.
  • Secure, self-service platform offering full management and program control with the ability to set hierarchy-based access.
  • Real-time reporting capabilities to monitor programs, identify trends, and develop valuable insights, easing analysis access data within a specific time-period view transaction volume, merchant category spend, and ATM usage.
  • A simple mobile interface enables recipients to block their cards if they are lost or stolen and access accurate, real-time account information.

By leveraging our global payment solutions, our partners can better prepare for and respond to disasters, ultimately building stronger, more resilient communities.

B4B Payments’ Comprehensive Solution

B4B Payments is a proud member of Payments as a Lifeline (PaaL), and we are committed to transforming disaster relief efforts through innovative financial solutions. If your agency wants to improve its aid distribution methods and ensure rapid, secure, and transparent fund disbursement, we invite you to partner with us. Together, we can significantly impact the lives of those affected by natural disasters.


Visit our Disaster/Humanitarian Information Page for more information.



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B4B Payments Featured in Nordic Fintech Magazine: Unlocking Growth in the Nordics

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.

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Watch the highlights below…

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Company News Expense Management Newsroom Payroll & Payouts

Mastering Payment Management for Corporate Events: Simplified Solutions

By Susie Shyatt, US Business Development Executive

When it comes to corporate events, efficient financial management is critical. Whether you’re organizing a corporate retreat, an industry conference, or a large-scale public event, managing expenses smoothly and transparently is essential. Corporate-funded prepaid cards are transforming how companies handle event payments, making the process easier and more efficient.

The Pain Points of Traditional Payment Methods

The reality is that traditional payment methods like checks, ACH transfers, cash, and vouchers are riddled with challenges. Checks are costly, not just in terms of fees but also the time and resources required to process them. Someone has to be on-site to issue a check, and the recipient must have a bank account to access the funds.

ACH transfers, while more modern, still fall short. They’re slow, expensive, and offer no way to retract funds once they’re sent. Cash, on the other hand, brings its own headaches: manual handling, the risk of loss or theft, and high distribution fees.

Vouchers might sometimes work, but they’re limited in where they can be used and are often difficult to track. Issuing vouchers is usually a manual process, adding another layer of complexity to an already cumbersome system.

A Modern and Simple Solution

Corporate-funded prepaid cards offer a straightforward, effective solution to these issues. With these cards, you can load funds quickly and make them instantly available, simplifying the entire process of paying staff, covering event expenses, and distributing funds to attendees.

For example, when paying event crews or gig workers, self-issuing cards ensure that payments are secure and timely, eliminating the need for checks or cash. Managing expenses is equally simple. Staff can use the cards for rentals, deposits, transportation, per diems—whatever the event demands. And because every transaction is centrally recorded, budgeting for future events becomes much more manageable.

Attendees, such as members of President’s Clubs, can also benefit. They can receive cards to manage their own expenses without the limitations of traditional payment methods.

B4B Payments’ prepaid cards enable instant payouts, with funds immediately available. The platform is user-friendly, allowing you to manage all cards from a single dashboard, with features like freezing and reissuing lost or stolen cards. This doesn’t just save time; it provides peace of mind.

Additionally, these cards are inclusive, providing funds to underbanked or unbanked individuals and ensuring that everyone involved in your event is taken care of. Reloadable cards make recurring payments seamless, letting users meet their needs without disruption.

For companies with a global reach, our cards can be issued in multiple currencies, eliminating foreign exchange fees by transacting in local currencies. This global flexibility ensures your events run smoothly, no matter where they’re held.

Tailored Solutions for Key Stakeholders

Our solution isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s designed to meet the needs of all organizational roles involved in event management:

  • Event Operations: Simplify logistics and vendor coordination.
  • Finance: Streamline payments and budgeting while ensuring financial transparency.
  • Human Resources: Ensure smooth, timely payouts to employees and staff.

By adopting corporate-funded prepaid cards, you’re not just simplifying your event management process—you’re cutting costs and enhancing financial transparency. Our solution directly addresses the pain points of traditional payment methods, providing a modern, efficient alternative tailored to the needs of today’s corporate finance leaders.


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A Night of Growth and Innovation: Highlights from B4B Payments’ 3rd Annual Client Forum

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. 


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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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Case studies Company News

Innovating Employee Benefits: the postcode restriction payout card

Beyond Payment Solutions

ICP Transaction Solutions GmbH, a prominent player in electronic transaction solutions in Europe, specialising in the prepaid, lifestyle, and loyalty sectors, has evolved into an internationally recognised company since its founding in 2000. With a transaction volume exceeding €1 billion, ICP serves various industries and is a founding member of the German Prepaid Association. ICP is a company of Digital Reload Holding GmbH and operates under the umbrella brand Digital Reload. 

Partnering with B4B to support Tax-Free Benefits for employees

In 2019, recognising the potential of offering regional benefit cards/employee cards, ICP sought the expertise of B4B Payments. Lacking financial institution licenses, ICP collaborated with B4B to introduce personalised and geographically limited payout cards. B4B Payments guided ICP through compliance checks, set up accounts and clients in the portal, and managed the card ordering and shipping process. The partnership extended to top-notch customer service and effective partner management, allowing ICP to offer tax-free non-cash benefits to employees through branded payout cards.

The Innovation: Quick Response to Client Requests:

B4B’s diverse card types with customised designs cater to ICP’s clients’ needs. For example, one of ICP’s clients wanted the card to be eligible for a specific region in Germany to boost the local market. The B4B team developed bespoke postcode restrictions to fulfil this client’s particular request. ICP also successfully implemented a German portal via API mirroring B4B’s, further enhancing their value proposition and branding capabilities with clients. 

Future Goals and Collaboration:

B4B successfully onboarded a new client in Bavaria with 3000 employee cards this year. Building on this,  ICP plans to diversify its card offering, attract more clients, and use B4B’s expertise in different sectors to expand the partnership in Germany.

Alexandra Ruth, the Key Account Manager from ICP, says, “ICP highly recommends B4B Payments and acknowledges their professionalism, reliability, and product flexibility while maintaining high-security standards. We’re very happy with B4B’s account management support in helping us build the partnership, especially Tim and Zvez.”

In Summary:

The collaboration between ICP and B4B Payments has not only addressed a critical business need but has also paved the way for innovative employee benefit solutions, offering tax-free non-cash benefits seamlessly. This partnership proves to be a cornerstone for ICP’s growth and success in the electronic transaction landscape, highlighting the transformative impact of B4B’s payment solutions.

“I’m excited to be working with ICP,” says Tim Robson, B4B Account Director. “Their growth plans mirror our own; we both want to grow in the German market, and I look forward to expanding this collaboration across different sectors.”

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Company News Newsroom Uncategorised

B4B Payments Announces Strategic Expansion into U.S. Market

Digital payments company, B4B Payments, today announced a strategic collaboration with Visa in the United States. B4B Payments will leverage Visa’s proven scale, security and reach to grow in the U.S. market. The B4B payments program will be delivered on Visa Debit Cards and supported by Visa DPS for issuer processing services.

B4B Payments announces new collaboration with Visa in the U.S.

Digital payments company, B4B Payments, today announced a strategic collaboration with Visa in the United States. B4B Payments will leverage Visa’s proven scale, security and reach to grow in the U.S. market. The B4B payments program will be delivered on Visa Debit Cards and supported by Visa DPS for issuer processing services.

The move will see B4B Payments’ technology aiming to help companies facing challenges with outdated payment methods in the United States. Due to open its first U.S. office in Boston, Massachusetts in August 2020, this announcement marks a significant leap forward in capability for B4B Payments.

“Now is the right time for us to unleash our platform into the U.S. market and help companies free up their time from the sometimes-antiquated expense management processes in the same way we have in Europe. We are looking forward to achieving similar levels of success by collaborating with Visa to take our product forward.”

Paul Swinton Founder and CEO of B4B Payments

B4B Payments’ technology helps to streamline the payment process for organisations who had previously found difficulty managing issues that can be associated with traditional payment methods, such as employee expenses or third-party payments. The platform is entirely digital and can be used in conjunction with the B4B app to enable updates on the go, featuring automatic notifications of funds received, reminders for receipt input and freeing up the business to spend more time on other tasks. The technology allows for increased visibility and control over the expense payments that a company makes to its staff and suppliers. B4B Payments is particularly useful for agile digital companies without the resources to employ full-time administrative staff, or who employ gig economy workers and contractors, because payments can be tracked and made as needed without needing a central interface.

Kieran Draper, Head of B4B Payments (USA) Inc, comments, “We’re delighted to be able to announce the company’s expansion into the U.S. market, which has been a corporate ambition of ours for some time, and to transform the sometimes challenging process of business payments alongside a global brand like Visa is a great privilege.”

Our platform assists U.S. businesses facing challenges with purchasing and payments, in a world where the gig economy is growing massively. We hope to provide these businesses with a swift, secure and easy-to-use platform that gives them more time and effort to focus on their trade, rather than their administration.”

“We have successfully worked with fintech organizations across the globe to provide a clear path towards getting to market faster and more efficiently, leveraging Visa’s scale, security, reach and strong network of partners. By working with B4B payments on their expansion to the U.S., we are continuing our support for fintechs, with the goal of accelerating the growth of the payments industry and creating better ways to help move money everywhere.”

Terry Angelos, SVP and Global Head of Fintech, Visa

B4B Payments announces this exciting news off the back of an excellent 2019, which saw the company win Best Prepaid Product of the Year at the 2019 European Card & Payments Awards. With over 1,000 customers in Europe alone and several award wins under their belt, this expansion into North America represents a significant milestone for the company.