For fintech companies, payments are the backbone of seamless customer experiences and efficient operations. But when it comes to integrating payment capabilities, businesses face a crucial decision: should they build their own infrastructure, buy an off-the-shelf solution, or partner with a specialized provider? The right choice depends on speed to market, cost, scalability, and compliance complexity. Let’s break down the options with a focus on the solutions we offer.
Building a payment infrastructure: full control, maximum complexity
Building an in-house payment infrastructure means developing and maintaining everything from compliance to transaction monitoring, integrations, and user interfaces. While this allows for full customization, it comes with substantial costs and regulatory burdens. Companies that take this route must be prepared for:
- Licensing & compliance: Securing EMI licenses, adhering to AML, KYC, and PSD2 regulations.
- Infrastructure complexity: Setting up IBAN accounts, digital wallets, SEPA Instant, and SWIFT payments.
- Time & resources: Years of development before generating revenue.
- High risk: Requires ongoing regulatory updates and fraud prevention measures.
Buying a standard payment solution: quick start, limited flexibility
Purchasing a ready-made solution offers fast deployment but often comes with limitations. Businesses opting for this approach gain convenience but sacrifice adaptability.
Many solutions lack white-labeling options, making it difficult to fully integrate the brand experience. Additionally, scaling becomes a challenge when pre-built systems don’t align with evolving operational models. Another consideration is integration complexity—off-the-shelf solutions may require workarounds to fit seamlessly within existing tech stacks.
While this approach enables quick market entry, it may not provide the flexibility needed for long-term success.
Partnering: the best of both worlds
Partnering with a specialized provider offers the best balance of speed, flexibility, and compliance expertise without the burden of building from scratch. Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) model enables fintechs to integrate a full suite of payment solutions via a single API:
- IBAN accounts and digital wallets with multi-currency support.
- SEPA Instant and SWIFT payments for seamless cross-border transactions.
- Merchant services, including open banking payments and card acquiring.
- Recurring payments for subscription-based business models.
- White-label debit cards to enhance customer loyalty and branding.
This approach enables businesses to scale while maintaining full brand control and operational efficiency.
Compliance & risk management: a built-in advantage
Managing compliance is a major challenge in payments, but partnering with a BaaS provider who offers built-in compliance eliminates these complexities. Instead of dedicating time and resources to regulatory requirements, fintechs gain a partner that ensures ongoing compliance with KYC, AML, and PSD2 regulations. Also, fraud prevention and transaction monitoring systems provide real-time security, allowing businesses to focus on growth with confidence.
By leveraging our BaaS solution and Electronic Money Distributor (EMD) partnerships, fintechs can operate under a trusted EMI license without navigating complex legal frameworks. This means faster market entry, reduced operational risk, and seamless adherence to compliance standards—all essential for sustainable growth in the financial sector.
Seamless integration for growth
A common challenge for fintechs is ensuring that payment solutions integrate smoothly into their existing platforms. Our single API approach eliminates this complexity, enabling businesses to embed financial services effortlessly without disrupting their user experience. The result? A frictionless, scalable infrastructure that supports both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
With such intgration, fintechs can maintain brand consistency while expanding their payment capabilities. As business demands grow, our scalable architecture ensures there are no performance bottlenecks, allowing fintechs to stay agile and responsive in a competitive landscape.
Payments are more than just transactions—they shape customer trust, revenue, and long-term scalability. While building offers control and buying provides convenience, partnering delivers the best balance of flexibility, compliance, and cost-efficiency. Our solutions empower fintechs to scale payments effortlessly without the burden of regulatory complexity.
Ready to power your payments the smart way? Let’s talk.
