The new partnership represents Paynetics UK’s first foray into BaaS in the UK
22 April, 2021, – LONDON, United Kingdom – ekko, the transformative app that turns the tide on climate change, has chosen fintech and regulated e-money services provider Paynetics AD to power the end-to-end banking service of its new climate friendly business.
ekko combines fintech, marketplace, open banking and retail into one transformative app that makes it effortless to make a tangible difference to climate change, without the consumer needing to do anything differently.
Customers can go about their daily lives as they usually would; shopping, buying a coffee or paying bills and their ‘good vibes’ will echo around the world. Using the ekko debit card, every five transactions a customer makes will pay for one plastic bottle to be collected before it enters our oceans and every 50 transactions will pay for a tree to be planted.
ekko customers can track their own personal forest, how many bottles they’ve collected and even monitor their own personalised carbon footprint in the ekko app. It also gives customers access to a curated list of sustainable partners, offering climate-friendly goods and services as part of the wider ‘enviroconomy’.
Paynetics’ latest partnership combines its own commitment to ‘fintech for good’ with its leading, all-in-one banking as a service (BaaS) proposition, enabling ekko to bring its innovative new app to market in record speed.
As the issuing bank, Paynetics will enable card issuing for Mastercard’s one card scheme; transactional processing in collaboration with partner Global Processing Services (GPS) and coordination with Thames Technology for a special grade of recycled plastic card production.
The launch of ekko is a success story for industry collaboration, as the culmination of a joint effort between ekko, Paynetics, Mastercard, GPS and Thames Technology, to create a groundbreaking solution that makes it effortless for customers to make a real and tangible difference in tackling climate change.
The partnership with ekko, coinciding with the launch of Paynetics’ UK business, is an important milestone for Paynetics’ continued growth, demonstrating its ability to power and fulfil a powerful BaaS proposition for the market.
ekko will be launching in June on a first come, first served basis with an already growing waitlist.
Amanda Harrison VP, Head of Business Development, at Paynetics said: “We’re proud to be the issuing and banking partner of choice to power the ekko card programme. It’s an honour to support the launch of ekko as a pioneer in tackling climate change, which is the very essence of ‘fintech for good’.
“Harnessing our innovative payments infrastructure, and the expertise of our global technology partners Mastercard, GPS and Thames Card, we’re excited to help bring ekko to market with best-in-class programme management, payment processing and card issuing in the UK and advancing these services within Europe.”
Oli Cook, Co-founder and CEO of ekko, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Paynetics to power the fintech arm of ekko. It’s great to work with a business which has shared values in moving at pace whilst demonstrating its own desire to make a difference.
“It’s a testament to Paynetics and our partners in Mastercard, GPS and Thames Technology that we’ve been able to move so quickly to deliver what we think is a really exciting and positive change to the market.”
Scott Abrahams, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Mastercard UK & Ireland, added: “We are excited to be working with ekko to bring their innovative product to market and in welcoming them as the latest member of our Priceless Planet Coalition. At Mastercard we are focused on building a future that is both more inclusive and more sustainable, and for that reason are thrilled to be working with likeminded partners like ekko who are passionate about climate change.”
Neil Harris, Group Chief Commercial Officer of Global Processing Services (GPS), commented: “The purpose of fintech is to create positive impact. GPS is delighted and proud to play a role in powering ekko’s innovative solution that improves lives, alongside our long-standing partners Paynetics and Mastercard. Enabling users to manage their financial well-being, as well as giving them the opportunity to have a positive impact on our environment is the next evolution of fintech.”
-ENDS-
For media enquiries, please contact:
paynetics@hardnumbers.co.uk
press@enviroconomy.io
About Paynetics
Founded by financial sector veteran Ivo Gueorguiev and serial entrepreneur Valeri Valtchev, Paynetics is an e-money institution, providing end-to-end payment services across the EU. As a principal member of Mastercard, VISA, SWIFT and SEPA, the company is able to serve all payment needs of its clients, including card acceptance and issuance, account management and bank transfers, as well e-wallet solutions.
Please find more information at: paynetics.digital and linkedin.com/company/paynetics.
About ekko, www.ekko.earth
ekko is the transformative app that turns the tide on climate change by making it effortless for customers to have a meaningful and tangible impact on the world. Using the ekko debit card, every 5 transactions a customer makes will pay for one plastic bottle being collected before it enters our oceans and every 50 transactions will pay for a tree to be planted by the customer. Customers can track their own personal forest, how many bottles they’ve collected and even monitor their own personalised carbon footprint in the ekko app. ekko also gives customers access to a curated list of sustainable partners, offering climate-friendly goods and services as part of the wider ‘enviroconomy’.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and join us at www.ekko.earth
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
Follow us on Twitter @MastercardUK @MastercardUKBiz, and subscribe for the latest news on our newsroom.
About Global Processing Services (GPS)
Global Processing Services (GPS) is the trusted and proven go-to payments processing partner for today’s leading challenger brands, including Revolut, Starling Bank, and Curve.
Founded in 2007, GPS’ highly flexible and configurable platform places the control firmly in the hands of global fintechs, digital banks and e-wallets, enabling them to deliver rich functionality to the cardholder. GPS is certified by Visa and Mastercard to process and manage any credit, debit or prepaid card transaction globally, with offices in London, Newcastle, Singapore, Sydney and Dubai. It is equipped to meet the stringent standards required by Tier 1 banks and has integrated with more than 40 issuing banks and operates programmes for more than 180 clients in 60 countries, using over 150 currencies.
Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter, or visit our website on globalprocessing.com