ChargeAfter is First Fintech to Launch Visa Installments in the U.S. and Signs Strategic Partnership to Integrate with Cybersource
Europe Open Finance

Visa to Acquire Open Banking Platform Tink

Visa announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tink, a European open banking platform that enables financial institutions, fintechs and merchants to build tailored financial management tools, products and services for European consumers and businesses based on their financial data. Visa will pay total financial consideration of 1.8 billion Euros, inclusive of cash and retention incentives, to acquire Tink.

Through a single API, Tink allows its customers to access aggregated financial data, use smart financial services such as risk insights and account verification and build personal finance management tools. Tink is integrated with more than 3,400 banks and financial institutions, reaching millions of bank customers across Europe. Tink will retain its brand and current management team, and its headquarters will remain in Stockholm, Sweden.

The combination of Visa’s proven infrastructure and sustained investment in resilience, cybersecurity and fraud prevention with Tink’s APIs, technology and customer relationships is expected to help accelerate the adoption of open banking in Europe by ensuring a secure, reliable platform for innovation. As a result, consumers can better control their financial experiences, including managing their money, financial data and financial goals. At the same time, businesses large and small will have a greater and more customised range of tools to operate digitally and securely, whether reconciling bank statements and accounts or enabling alternative financing.

“Visa is committed to doing all we can to foster innovation and empower consumers in support of Europe’s open banking goals,” said Al Kelly, CEO and Chairman of Visa. “By bringing together Visa’s network of networks and Tink’s open banking capabilities we will deliver increased value to European consumers and businesses with tools to make their financial lives more simple, reliable and secure.”

“For the past ten years we have worked relentlessly to build Tink into a leading open banking platform in Europe, and we are incredibly proud of what the whole team at Tink has created together. We have built something incredible and at the same time we have only scratched the surface. By joining Visa, we will be able to move faster and reach further than ever before. Visa is the perfect partner for the next stage of Tink’s journey, and we are incredibly excited about what this will bring to our employees, customers and for the future of financial services,” said Daniel Kjellén, CEO and Co-founder of Tink.

Charlotte Hogg, CEO of Visa Europe, added, “This acquisition is a sign of our commitment to Europe. In Tink, we have found a strong partner with whom we can accelerate innovation in open banking for the benefit of our collective clients and the citizens of the UK and the EU while investing in high-skill tech jobs on the continent.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Visa will fund the transaction from cash on hand and this transaction will have no impact on Visa’s previously announced stock buyback program or dividend policy.

Industry Reaction

Stefano Vaccino, CEO at Yapily “The Visa-Tink announcement sends a strong message to the market on how strategically important Open Banking is for the future of Financial Services.

“With the attempted acquisition of Plaid back in 2020, Visa has had their eyes on Open Banking for some time. This further cements the growth of the ecosystem and puts a focus on how hot the market actually is.

“With investments happening almost daily in fintech, we’re noticing a sizable shift with product teams across a myriad of industries putting Open Banking at the centre of their roadmap. For example, innovative companies such as Volt and BUX are raising investment to build products leveraging Open Banking technology.

“This is only the beginning and we expect to see even more consolidation in Europe in the coming months. At Yapily, we’re enjoying the journey and aim to remain independent, becoming the partner of choice for the market.”

Author

  • Polly is a journalist, content creator and general opinion holder from North Wales. She has written for a number of publications, usually hovering around the topics of fintech, tech, lifestyle and body positivity.

Related posts

Acuity Trading Partners with Crux Informatics for Further Data Processing Capabilites

Polly Jean Harrison

Forget Silicon Valley, the Future of AI Could Be in the Valleys of Wales

Polly Jean Harrison

British Business Hits Targets, Empowers SMEs But With Losses in 2022/23

The Fintech Times