Crown Agents Bank and Visa collaborate on ‘last mile’ payments

By Gloria Methri

CAB Payments, through its operating company, Crown Agents Bank (CAB), has collaborated with Visa to enable fast payments and FX, especially across the ‘last mile’ (the final, complex stage in the payment process).

CAB is a UK-regulated bank specialising in FX and cross-border payments for hard-to-reach markets. Visa has historically used CAB to provide FX liquidity in the settlement of high-value payments – such as bank-to-bank transfers or payments between large institutions – in certain jurisdictions.

The newly announced collaboration will see CAB’s network, which covers 100+ currencies across 700+ currency pairs, connect via API with Visa Direct. Visa Direct is a payment capability that helps people and businesses send money to eligible cards, accounts and wallets around the world. The partnership will enable CAB customers to move much lower-value payments across emerging markets cost-effectively and settle those payments directly into an eligible card, account or wallet of that customer’s choosing.

For example, NGOs could more easily disburse funds and aid directly to recipients. Remittance companies could more efficiently move money for their customers across hard-to-reach markets. Businesses could reduce the cost of making smaller value payments to creators and freelancers.

Neeraj Kapur, CAB’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “This collaboration is hugely significant for our clients. Our combined capabilities and expertise mean we’re able to reduce the cost and friction associated with moving money across hard-to-reach markets, getting more funds delivered more efficiently to those who need it the most.”

Rajiv Garodia, Head of Visa Government Solutions, said, “Visa’s mission is to be the best way to pay and be paid – and that goes for everyone. It is as true for your everyday consumer card payment as it is for paying remittances to a family member abroad or for an NGO sending humanitarian aid to someone in need. This collaboration with Crown Agents Bank is an important step towards us achieving that mission.”