Payment and Banking Strategy – Why Asking a Few Simple Questions is Not Enough By Viktoria Soltesz   I recently came across various studies and recommendations (“12 questions to ask your payout provider” “Ask every online payment provider these questions” “10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Payment Service Provider”) which are being widely shared online as the “holy grail” of strategies in payment and banking. While I’m pleased to see increasing focus on this area and that people are trying to create frameworks to simplify the complexities around the subject, I still have serious concerns. Frameworks that are not comprehensive can cause more harm than good.   Differences in Approach There are various approaches when it comes to strategizing payment and banking flows. Merchants have an abundance of options from different payment and banking service providers, offering a range of benefits, fees, risks, and payment methods globally. Although it may seem that the industry is becoming more straightforward and user-friendly, behind the scenes, the complexities around this issue are increasing, making it more difficult to navigate. How do we know what approach is the right one? How can we be sure that our consultant is exerienced enough to recommend a holistic, long-term strategy that covers all aspects of a business’s payment and banking structure, instead of narrowly focusing only on choosing the right payment vendor? While all approaches that motivate merchants to strategize their payment and banking flows have their uses, it’s critical to evaluate the potential risks and damage that can arise from relying on “lightly” designed frameworks, especially for merchants with complex operations.   The Need for a Strong and Comprehensive Approach To have an overall, extensive payment and banking strategy, you need a very strong framework, such as the Soltesz Payment Framework. Only detailed frameworks that address every aspect of the operation from a payment and banking perspective—such as compliance, technology, data security, risk, budgeting and costing, alternative payment methods, etc.—can reveal the real potential and risks around the operation. Taking this task lightly and assuming that the simple task of choosing a vendor can be evaluated efficiently by asking a few questions is a mistake. Covering multiple dimensions of payment and banking strategies, including risk management, compliance, foreign exchange (FX) handling, operational efficiencies, and ongoing monitoring, is essential. Only robust payment and banking frameworks are built to address the entire financial ecosystem, offering a structure that is adaptable as a business evolves. Simply asking a few questions about vendor selection might help raise attention to the importance of banking and payment strategy, but its focus remains narrow—primarily limited to price, geographic reach, payment methods, settlement currencies, and customer experience. This creates a superficial layer of decision-making that can easily miss the broader picture of payment and banking strategy.   Risk Management and Strategic Depth The Soltesz Payment Framework includes a comprehensive risk management approach, addressing both operational and financial risks. It examines everything from the technological infrastructure of the payment providers to the compliance standards they meet and the security of transactions. Risk management in this framework also includes due diligence on providers, a detailed look into fees, foreign exchange hedging, and contingency planning for regulatory changes. This ensures that every angle is covered, protecting the merchant from costly mistakes that could arise from overlooked risks. Simply asking a few questions around vendor selection and assuming that this covers operational risk assessment for payments and banking flows is a mistake. A few questions will not provide an integrated risk management framework and can lead to poor decisions, which can be extremely costly in the future. Diving deeply into the broader operational, compliance, and financial risks businesses face is absolutely vital when determining an overall payment and banking strategy. Surface-level solutions focusing on individual pain points like fees and vendor selection, while ignoring the long-term risks of banking and payment strategy mismanagement, can expose businesses to serious vulnerabilities.   Potential Damage from Incomplete Solutions For merchants, relying on incomplete or superficial frameworks can lead to substantial financial risk, reputational damage, and operational inefficiencies. Financial Risk: Without a detailed examination of hidden fees, FX risks, and tax implications, businesses can end up overpaying for services, especially when operating internationally. If a banking and payment strategy does not provide tools for evaluating complex fee structures or negotiating better terms with banks and payment providers, this lack of insight can result in unexpected costs, draining the company’s resources over time. Furthermore, if currency fluctuations are not adequately hedged, a business may face losses due to exchange rate volatility, which is often ignored in simplistic vendor selection processes. Compliance and Legal Risk: Payment and banking operations are governed by strict regulations related to anti-money laundering (AML), Know Your Customer (KYC), and data protection laws. Failure to meet these compliance standards can result in severe legal penalties or even the loss of banking relationships. Having an extensive focus on compliance ensures businesses maintain legal alignment across all jurisdictions. It is absolutely vital to have an overall understanding of compliance risk, as businesses may otherwise be exposed to regulatory breaches and financial penalties. Reputation Risk: Poor payment and banking strategies can also have a significant impact on a business’s reputation. Payment delays, failed transactions, or security breaches can erode customer trust and lead to negative reviews or public backlash. In today’s competitive environment, businesses cannot afford reputation loss due to inadequate payment processes. Creating a smooth and reliable payment experience is essential, as overlooking important risks can lead to gaps that cause transaction failures and poor customer satisfaction. Operational Risk: Selecting vendors without a thorough assessment of their operational capacity—such as uptime, response times, and disaster recovery plans—can cause significant downtime and revenue loss. It is absolutely vital to fully address the operational intricacies of working with multiple payment vendors. Businesses that adopt a fragmented or lightly vetted vendor network risk operational inefficiencies and payment interruptions that can slow down growth and damage customer relationships. Technological Risks: It is crucial to

SabPaisa is an Indian fintech company that provides digital payment solutions. SabPaisa (SRS Live Technologies) is an RBI In-Principle Authorised Payment Aggregator. SabPaisa Payment Gateway seamlessly integrates payment collection, Payouts, and exclusive B2B solutions, simplifying transactions and facilitating payment collection through 10 Lac Cash Counters across India, redefining the business payment experience. Features: Payment Gateway: Facilitates online transactions securely through a payment gateway, allowing businesses to accept payments. Multi-Channel Payments: Supports payments through various channels, including web, mobile apps, and other digital platforms. Subscription Billing: Offers features for managing and processing recurring payments for subscription-based services. Customizable Checkout: Allows businesses to customize the checkout process to enhance user experience and align with branding. API Integration: Provides APIs for seamless integration with websites, applications, and other systems. Mobile Wallet Integration: Integrates with popular mobile wallets to offer diverse payment options for users. Multi-Currency Support: Facilitates transactions in different currencies, catering to businesses with international operations. Fraud Prevention: Implements security measures and fraud detection tools to protect against unauthorized transactions. Real-time Analytics: Offers reporting and analytics tools to provide insights into transaction data and user behavior. Refund Management: Allows businesses to efficiently process refunds when necessary, enhancing customer satisfaction. Benefits: Enhanced User Experience: SabPaisa aims to provide a seamless and user-friendly payment experience for both businesses and customers. Security and Compliance: Prioritizes security measures to ensure the protection of sensitive financial information and complies with industry standards. Cost-Effective Solutions: Offers cost-effective payment processing solutions, potentially with transparent fee structures. Increased Revenue Streams: By providing diverse payment options and a smooth checkout process, businesses may attract more customers and increase revenue. Customer Retention: Efficient payment processing and management contribute to positive customer experiences, fostering customer loyalty. Flexible Integration: The ability to integrate with various platforms and systems provides flexibility for businesses to adapt to their unique requirements. Global Reach: Supports businesses with international operations by facilitating multi-currency transactions and offering a global payment infrastructure. Innovation and Updates: Fintech companies often prioritize innovation, regularly updating their features to align with industry trends and technological advancements. Social Link

FIS has established itself as a trusted partner for financial institutions looking to enhance their digital capabilities and improve customer experiences. Their comprehensive suite of solutions includes core banking systems, mobile banking apps, fraud prevention tools, and more, all designed to streamline operations and drive growth. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and industry expertise, FIS empowers their clients to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to changing market demands. In the insurance sector, FIS is revolutionizing the way insurers manage policies, claims, and customer interactions. Their advanced software solutions enable insurers to automate processes, reduce costs, and deliver personalized services to policyholders. By embracing digital transformation, FIS is helping insurance companies stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape, where customer expectations are constantly evolving. Overall, FIS’s commitment to innovation and excellence has positioned them as a leader in the fintech and insurtech industries. With a focus on driving positive change and delivering value to their clients, FIS continues to shape the future of finance and insurance, paving the way for a more efficient, customer-centric, and technologically advanced industry. Year Founded: FIS (Fidelity Information Services) was founded in 1968. With over five decades of experience, they’ve been at the forefront of financial technology innovation. CEO: The current CEO of FIS is Gary Norcross. His leadership has been instrumental in driving FIS’s growth and impact in the industry. Headquarters: FIS’s global headquarters is located in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. However, they have a strong presence across various regions worldwide. Why choose FIS Global? Comprehensive Solutions: FIS offers a robust suite of services, including digital banking, lending, and insurance technology. Their tailored solutions address diverse needs across financial institutions. Innovation: FIS stays ahead of industry trends, ensuring clients benefit from cutting-edge technology. Whether it’s enhancing customer experiences or streamlining operations, FIS delivers. Global Reach: With a presence in multiple regions, FIS serves clients worldwide. Their global perspective enables them to address diverse challenges effectively. Security and Trust: FIS prioritizes security, providing reliable access to critical services. Clients trust FIS to safeguard their data and transactions. How to setup account? Registration: Visit the FISLink website. Locate the “CLIENT/CUSTOMER Registration” section and click the “register here” link. Fill in the required details, including your email address (entered twice), First Name, Last Name, and Password. Ensure your password meets the criteria (at least 1 uppercase, 1 lowercase, 1 number, and 1 non-alphanumeric character). Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Setup: If you previously selected “I do not wish to protect my account at this time,” you can manually activate 2-step verification: Log in to FISLink. Click your name in the upper right corner, then select “Edit Profile.” Choose “Protect account with 2 Step Verification” and set it to “Yes.” Select “Authentication App” as the verification method and click “Setup.” Social Link Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Yapstone platform is designed to provide secure, reliable, and scalable payment solutions for businesses of all sizes. We offer a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, e-checks, bank transfers, and digital wallets, to help businesses reach customers in over 190 countries. At Yapstone, we understand that payment processing can be a complex and time-consuming task for businesses. That’s why we offer a suite of tools and services to simplify the payment process, including fraud detection and prevention, chargeback management, and compliance with global regulations. Our mission is to empower businesses to grow and succeed in the global marketplace by providing them with the tools and support they need to accept payments from customers around the world. Risk Appetite Risk AppetiteLow Risk, Medium Risk ,RegulatedYes Features 3D Secure Processing,Payouts,Real Time Payments,Refunds Social Link LinkedIn

Our secure and reliable payment processing solutions are designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, from startups to established enterprises. We offer a range of payment options, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and more, to ensure that your customers can pay in the way that suits them best. With payabl., you can easily manage your payments from a single dashboard, giving you complete control over your finances. Our dashboard provides real-time insights into your transactions, allowing you to track your revenue, monitor your cash flow, and identify trends and opportunities for growth. We understand that every business is unique, which is why we offer customized payment solutions tailored to your specific needs. Our team of experts will work with you to understand your business requirements and recommend the best payment processing solutions to help you achieve your goals. At payabl., we are committed to providing exceptional customer service and support. Our team is available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide assistance whenever you need it. Join the thousands of businesses that trust payabl. for their payment processing needs. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services. Risk Appetite Risk AppetiteLow Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk ,License TypePayment Service Provider, Financial Institution, Acquiring Bank,PCI CompliantLevel 2 ,RegulatedYes ,Processing currenciesBTC, ETH, USDT, AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BRL, BSD, BTN, EUR, GBP, USD ,Settlement CurrenciesEUR, GBP, USD ,Settlement Cycle1 days,API DocsLink Features 3D Secure Processing,Cross Border Payments,Payment Link,Payouts,Real Time Payments,Recurring Payments,Refunds,Split Payments Solutions Card Issuing,Fraud Prevention,IBAN Account,Mobile Checkout,One-click Payment,Online Payments,Open Banking,Payment Gateway,Risk Management & Security,Smart Routing,Virtual Terminal Accepted Industries Adult,CBD,Crypto,E-commerce,Education,Financial Services,Gambling,Gaming,Hospitality,Marketplaces,Travel Payment Options 1Ali Pay,American Express,Apple Pay,Google Pay,Maestro,Mastercard,UnionPay,V pay,Visa,Visa Electron,WeChat Pay Social Link Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Interkassa provides a secure and reliable payment processing solution for businesses of all sizes. The platform is easy to integrate into existing websites or mobile apps, and offers a range of customization options to match the brand’s look and feel. With Interkassa, businesses can accept payments in multiple currencies, making it easy to expand into international markets. The platform also supports recurring payments, making it ideal for subscription-based businesses. Interkassa offers a range of fraud prevention tools to protect businesses and their customers from fraudulent transactions. The platform uses advanced security measures, such as SSL encryption and two-factor authentication, to ensure that payment data is kept safe. In addition to payment processing, Interkassa also provides a range of additional services, such as currency exchange, payment analytics, and customer support. The company offers 24/7 customer support in multiple languages, ensuring that businesses can get help whenever they need it .Overall, Interkassa is a comprehensive payment solution that offers businesses a wide range of payment options, advanced security features, and excellent customer support. Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, Interkassa can help streamline your payment process and improve the customer experience. Risk Appetite Risk AppetiteLow Risk, Medium Risk, High Risk ,PCI CompliantLevel 1 ,Live MID ETA8-14 days ,Processing currenciesBTC, ETH, USDT, AZN, CAD, CNY, EUR, INR, JPY, KZT, MYR, NGN, NOK, PHP, PLN, SEK, THB, TND, TRY, UAH, USD, UZS, VND ,Settlement CurrenciesUSDT ,MDRtrxvolume Features 3D Secure Processing,Cross Border Payments,Currency Conversion,Payment Link,Payouts,Delayed Capture,Real Time Payments,Recurring Payments,Refunds,Split Payments Solutions Acquiring,IBAN Account,Invoice Payments,Master Merchant Account,Monitoring & Reporting,Online Payments,Open Banking,Payment Gateway,Payment Tokenization,Risk Management & Security,Smart Routing,Virtual Terminal,Whitelabel Accepted Industries Crypto,E-commerce,Education,Financial Services,Gambling,Gaming Payment Options Apple Pay,Google Pay,Maestro,Mastercard,Visa Social Link Facebook LinkedIn Instagram