Meet APS: The Quiet Giant in European EMI
While neobanks dominate headlines, Advanced Payment Solutions (APS) has steadily scaled its footprint across Europe by offering robust, secure, and user-friendly e-money services. From prepaid cards to tailored SEPA integration for small businesses, APS provides the infrastructure behind many digital finance experiences.
Interview with Richard Wagner, CEO of APS
Q: Richard, what sets APS apart in a competitive fintech market?
Richard Wagner: Our strength lies in our infrastructure and reliability. APS was founded to support underserved segments—particularly small businesses—by offering flexible, compliant alternatives to traditional banking. We don’t just build sleek apps; we deliver robust, end-to-end payment capabilities including SEPA, Faster Payments, and international IBANs.
Q: Can you break down what your typical merchant expects today?
Richard Wagner: Absolutely. Merchant expectations are grouped into key functional pillars:
- Financials: Daily/monthly/yearly stats, balance updates, rollback reserve visibility, invoices and payout breakdowns, and settlement account tracking.
- Integration: Hosted pages, Server-to-Server (S2S) models, and REST API—all compatible with major eCommerce platforms.
- Webhooks: Real-time notifications with retry and log features.
- Transaction Management: Friendly search with filters on email, name, custom fields, plus fraud scoring and risk location data.
- Alternative Payment Methods (APMs): Full support for third-party APMs.
- Support Access: Chat and ticket systems—no re-login required.
Q: How do you approach security and compliance, especially with SEPA and e-money licenses?
Richard Wagner: We’re a UK-regulated EMI and passported into multiple EU markets. Our KYC/AML stack is fully automated, and we have zero tolerance for compliance risks. Our SEPA architecture is designed to ensure real-time execution and reconciliation—critical for small businesses managing tight cash flows.
Q: What innovations are you most excited about in 2025?
Richard Wagner: We’re exploring open banking data overlays to give our merchants smart insights—think automated tax calculations, revenue forecasting, and fraud alerts. And of course, AI-powered customer onboarding is about to scale massively.
APS Core Products & Features
- Multi-currency e-wallets
- IBAN accounts for individuals and businesses
- SEPA & Faster Payments integration
- Prepaid business debit cards
- Merchant account services with instant payouts
Related Searches
- Best e-money institutions in Europe
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- APS vs Wise for SMEs
- UK-based EMI providers 2025
- How to integrate SEPA in your payment stack
FAQ
What is APS?
APS (Advanced Payment Solutions) is a UK-based EMI offering digital financial services to consumers and businesses across Europe.
Is APS safe for business use?
Yes, APS is fully licensed by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and compliant with PSD2 and SEPA requirements across Europe.
Does APS offer SEPA Instant?
APS offers SEPA Credit Transfers, and SEPA Instant is currently in beta testing with selected merchant partners.
