The Weekly Wrap: all you need to know by Friday COB | April 11th

By Puja Sharma

The Weekly Wrap is published every Friday and recaps the week’s main stories and deals, as well as upcoming events and announcements for Prime subscribers only.

The Big Story

Fiserv’s acquisition of Australia-based Pinch Payments highlights a rising trend of FinTech giants consolidating specialised capabilities to serve the fast-evolving needs of software-driven businesses. Pinch brings advanced PayFac enablement tools and a payment orchestration platform, giving Fiserv the agility to support ISVs, BPSPs, ISOs, and enterprises looking to embed and manage payments more efficiently. This move enhances Fiserv’s offering beyond traditional processing, positioning it as a comprehensive enabler in the embedded finance ecosystem.

More broadly, the deal reflects the growing importance of payment orchestration and embedded payments as key infrastructure trends. As software platforms increasingly look to offer seamless financial experiences, large incumbents are acquiring nimble players with deep regional and technical expertise. Expanding in the Asia-Pacific region through local FinTechs also signals that global firms are betting on high-growth, digitally mature markets outside the U.S. The industry is clearly shifting toward platform-first, API-friendly models that prioritise flexibility and scale.

Deals of the week

• Mondu expands B2B BNPL reach in Europe with Payin3 & Lemonway
• Germany’s Hawk secures $56m to combat financial crime with AI
• Easebuzz raises $30m in Series A to scale offline payments and SaaS offering
• Pakistan’s Haball bags $52m for Shariah SME push, GCC expansion
• FNZ raises $500m to drive long-term WealthTech innovation
• Tata Capital prepares for IPO listing, eyes $1.81bn raise
• ClearBank expands banking services for Kraken’s UK operations
• FinTech Scapia lands $40m in Series B led by Peak XV Partners
• Plaid raises $575m in funding led by Franklin Templeton
• Juspay secures $60m in Series D led by Kedaara Capital
• Diebold Nixdorf and Wells Fargo deploy new ATMs in Antarctica

Be on the lookout for

The “Building a Future-Ready Bank” event, organised by Cedar-IBSi, will take place on May 14, 2025, in Kuwait. This summit aims to bring together leaders and innovators in the banking and financial technology sectors to discuss and showcase advancements in banking technology. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, providing a platform for FinTech companies to demonstrate their innovations, build strategic partnerships, and position themselves as industry leaders.

Attendees will have the chance to engage with experts and peers, gaining insights into the future of banking and the role of technology in driving transformation. The event promises to be a significant gathering for those looking to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving banking landscape.