Episode Six & Secupay partner to ease govt aid disbursal in Germany

By Gloria Methri

Episode Six (E6) has partnered with Secupay to provide asylum seekers with payment cards, enabling them access to financial support from the German Government.

By integrating E6’s enterprise-grade card issuance and transaction processing technology and supported by Visa Ready for Government Disbursements, Secupay can ensure the safe and convenient disbursement of government aid to around 1 million people over the next four years.

Access to government-to-citizen (G2C) payments can provide a safety net for those who need it most while supporting the alleviation of poverty and promoting financial inclusion through access to financial services. On a wider level, this can contribute to economic growth through fiscal stimulus programs that provide payments to citizens that incentivise socially beneficial behaviour.

The cards will enable asylum seekers taking refuge in Germany to purchase essentials such as food, clothing and transport while they await the response to their formal application for asylum. The cards will be rolled out in both physical and digital forms and available in a number of colours to avoid discrimination.

John Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder of Episode Six, said, “Not only does this partnership represent our first entry into the German market, but it is huge in terms of our long-term global efforts to progress financial inclusion. Together with Secupay and Visa Ready for Government Disbursements, we can ensure up to one million people have easy access to essentials like groceries, transport and clothing. By joining forces, we can provide safe, easy and reliable access to government disbursements to those who need it most.

Hans-Peter Weber, CEO at Secupay, said, “As a regulated payment institution, we needed a trusted partner to enable us access to the latest technology to ensure the fast and reliable processing of cards designated for vital supplies to refugees. E6 is the perfect partner as its technology is easy to configure and integrates seamlessly into our existing system, meaning we can make the cards available to many people at a pace.”

Greg Sheppard, Global Head of Government Disbursements at Visa Government Solutions, commented, “To deliver truly effective, next-generation government disbursement programs that meet the needs of governments, administrators and beneficiaries, collaboration among issuers and technology providers is essential. Visa Ready for Government Disbursements was created to develop and support such an ecosystem. Close collaboration among participants in this digital payments ecosystem is integral to its success – as demonstrated between Episode Six and Secupay.”