Money Travels

With 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees globally and 2.9 million in Colombia alone, the challenge of distributing humanitarian aid effectively is huge. Using cash is slow and risky, and lacks transparency, raising problems for NGOs and migrants alike. In this episode, we’re joined by the team from AAvance, a fintech working with Visa to tackle this problem head-on. We’ll explore how their digital wallet is replacing insecure cash with prepaid cards, giving dignity and financial freedom to migrants. We’ll hear the human stories behind AAvance’s work, and learn how it’s creating a pathway to economic independence for migrants across Colombia. And we’ll discover just why it matters so much to AAvance’s founders themselves John Herreño and Magreth Gutierrez Vargas.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

Money Travels Podcast Season 3, Episode 12For migrant workers sending remittances back home, cross-border payments can be slow, complex and expensive. It was this challenge Ambar Sur set out to solve when he left his telecom background and co-founded Terrapay in 2014. Inspired by telecom’s seamless global connectivity, Ambar set about building a robust network to enable instant, low-cost digital transactions, helping workers move more money more quickly across borders and increasing financial inclusion in the process. In this episode, we talk to Ambar about his Terrapay journey and how digital wallets are reshaping financial ecosystems to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. We discuss the power of interoperability, explore the real-world impact of digital wallets, and ask about the challenges still to be addressed in the quest for borderless financial connectivity.Learn more about Visa Direct: visa.com/visadirectConnect with Visa Direct on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/visa-direct/Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

As CEO at Paysend, Ben Chisell is revolutionising how money moves across borders. In this episode, we talk with Ben about his personal journey, his passion for improving financial inclusion, and the challenges faced by millions when it comes to sending and receiving money. We explore the inefficiencies in traditional systems, the impact of new technologies, and how Paysend’s secret recipe for settling international payments could solve “the single biggest problem in financial services” — to the benefit of businesses and individuals alike.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

With so many people struggling to manage their finances effectively, the financial services industry is steadily shifting its focus from increasing financial inclusion to improving financial health. For more than two decades, Jennifer Tescher has been pursuing this cause with the Financial Health Network, with the aim of ensuring a fair shake for the “little guy.” Now, with the emergence of agentic AI and open banking, Jennifer is helping to usher in a new era of personalised financial solutions, from AI-powered advisers that improve financial decision-making, to “self-driving wallets” that can take action on behalf of consumers. In this episode, Jennifer explains what consumers stand to gain from these advances, how banks will benefit too, and how the work being done now is laying the foundation for a more equitable financial future.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

As the former Chief Architect of the SWIFT network, which is still used to handle $4 trillion in daily transfers, Kosta Peric helped to transform the global financial landscape. Now at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kosta is helping to increase financial inclusion across the globe, building scalable, interoperable payments infrastructure to give unbanked populations access to secure financial services for the first time. In this episode, Kosta explains how these payment systems empower individuals, foster economic growth, and benefit businesses across the developing world, as progress accelerates toward the 2030 goal of full financial inclusion.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

The mobile revolution of the 2000s didn’t just redefine the way we communicate, it fueled innovation, redefined industries, and transformed our lives in ways few could have predicted. Working in mobile at the time, Checkout.com CMO Rory O’Neill sensed a similar transformation was about to grip the payments industry – and made it his mission to become a part of it. In this episode, we speak to Rory about his journey from mobile tech to payments, and how the current wave of innovations are once again helping to shape the way the world lives and works. We’ll hear about the new challenges emerging in step with the rapid spread of ecommerce, and the work Checkout.com is doing to keep pace. We’ll also explore Rory’s vision for the future of agentic commerce — and what the industry must do to ensure no one is left behind.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

Back in 2011, Colin and Samir's decision to build a YouTube business creating Lacrosse videos seemed risky, baffling friends and family alike. But by building a loyal community and learning to monetize their content, they soon turned their passion into a thriving business, selling their Lacrosse Network in 2014. Their journey wasn’t without hurdles. Financial uncertainty gave way to creative doubts. All the while, Colin and Samir struggled to access support from banks that didn’t recognize creators as legitimate businesses. Fast forward to today, and Colin and Samir have found a new niche – and a new audience – as two of the most respective voices on the creator economy.In this episode, we speak to Colin and Samir about their inspiring rise and the lessons they’ve learned. We’ll hear how they built two successful ventures from scratch, we’ll learn the principles of building a creator business, and we’ll discover the importance of building an audience. We’ll also ask why creators face so many logistical challenges—and what the financial services industry can do to support them.Learn more about Visa Direct: visa.com/visadirectConnect with Visa Direct on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/visa-direct/Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

Since WWII, America’s two-week pay cycle has seen ordinary workers having to wait for their paycheque to pay their bills, put food on the table, and cover any expenses. With anywhere from 30-77% of Americans living paycheque to paycheque, this antiquated model has seen many go into debt, with others struggling to maintain healthy finances. Earned wage access has changed all that. Now, workers can access the money they have already earned whenever they want it. Leading this change is DailyPay, whose platform of financial health products underpins its mission to improve financial wellness for ordinary workers. In today’s episode, DailyPay’s Chief Commercial Officer Ryan Mang explains the innovations behind this transformation and the impact it's having on employees, employers, and the wider economy – both in America and beyond.Learn more about Visa Direct:visa.com/visadirectConnect with Visa Direct on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/visa-direct/Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

In Asia’s fragmented payments landscape, cross-border trade can be challenging for small businesses. As CEO of the Emerging Payments Association Asia, Camilla Bullock is on a mission to change that. Using what she calls “the network effect”, Camilla brings together regulators, thought leaders, and innovators to find solutions to enable seamless cross-border payments and empower small businesses to trade more freely. In today’s episode, Camilla explains why data is both the key to progress and one of the biggest hurdles in payments, why diversity is essential for better innovation, and how an emerging technology could hold the key to unlocking smoother payments for businesses across the region.Disclaimers: Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

In March 2020, as the world braced for a global pandemic, Jaco Veldsman gave up his comfortable career in finance to go it alone with the launch of Paytron, the cross-border payments platform. Three years later, Paytron’s mission to transform global payments for its customers was turbo-charged with the company’s acquisition by global payments powerhouse OFX. Now Global Head of Non-FX Revenue at OFX, today’s guest Jaco shares his motivations for striking out alone, the customer challenges he’s working to solve, and how his thirst for innovation and desire to simplify payments for all still drive him to this day.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

With its unique approach to public-private partnership and obsessive focus on innovation, Singapore has established itself as a global fintech hub. Helping to drive that innovation is Varun Mittal, whose work as founder of Fintech Nation, has given him extraordinary insight into the country’s fintech sector and how it is shaping the future of global finance. In this episode, Varun shares his experiences as an innovator, along with his views on the consumer challenges fintech has solved successfully and the work the industry still has to do to give customers what they really need.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner.Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required.All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

In the highly diverse economies of South East Asia, Singapore stands out as an economic powerhouse. This success has paved the way for the explosive growth of the country’s fintech sector, with a combination of Singapore’s unique history and central government initiatives helping to make it the world’s fourth most innovative economy. Instrumental in driving that growth is today’s guest Reuben Lim, whose work as CEO of the Singapore Fintech Association is helping fintech companies meet the varied needs of consumers across South East Asia, from the well-banked of Singapore to the hard-to-reach communities of rural Thailand, Indonesia and beyond.Learn more about Visa Direct: visa.com/visadirectDisclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner.Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required.All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

Money Travels Podcast Season 3, Episode 1In 2007, the release of the first iPhone helped trigger a major shift in what customers expect from the finance industry. Established banks quickly found their traditional model was no longer working – and that other companies were better placed to give customers what they wanted.At the vanguard of these changes, today’s guest JP Nicols helped pull his established bank from the centre to the edge of money, to meet customers where they were. He pioneered innovations to give customers what they wanted, redefining the bank-customer relationship and transforming the banking industry in the process. 18 years on, he’s still at it, helping established banks and fintechs work together to meet the ever-growing expectations of the consumer.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner.Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required.All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

We're back with Season 3 of the Money Travels podcast. Follow along as we explore the stories and people behind the extraordinary innovations that are transforming digital finance and examine the impact they’re having on our lives and on economies across the world.New Hosts: Maxime Guirauton and Richard ArundelSubscribe so you don't miss a single episode of the Money Travels podcast!

Welcome to the final episode of Money Travels season 2. Small and mid-size businesses are among the main drivers of employment growth and change, especially in parts of the world that involve developing countries. There, their economies are mainly powered by SMBs, and SMBs are often the catalysts for innovation. So, what are their unique needs in the money movement space, and how is Visa Direct meeting those needs? In this episode we talk to Jaspreet Singh, head of Consumer Funded Flows at Visa Direct, and we'll also give you a recap of the highlights of the season. To get the perspective of a small business we speak with Clove Bakery's co-founder, Beth Beji, to hear about the challenges that SMBs face.Follow Us:Website⁠ https://www.visa.com/visadirect⁠LinkedIn⁠ @Visa Direct

In this episode, we explore the state of the gaming industry and where it's headed by talking to Brad Foxhoven, CEO of EverGame Media, and Matt Story, VP  @Visa  Global Brand Partnerships & Advocacy. This conversation gets into how creators are engaging in the online gaming space and how online gaming platforms are providing opportunities for individuals to turn their gaming efforts into viable side hustles and even core businesses. Traditionally, gaming has been a closed walled system with only a small proportion of transactions being micro and the majority of earnings going to the game developers. But games like  @Roblox  are changing the landscape with an open source system that allows creators, gamers, and developers to become future SMBs, using their skills and followers to enhance experiences for other gamers and earning significant income in the process.Follow Us:Website⁠ https://www.visa.com/visadirect⁠LinkedIn⁠ @Visa Direct

Timing when to exchange money from one currency to another is something we've probably all experienced. Domestic payments are getting faster and cheaper in many countries. The challenge now is to link those systems together and make cross-border payments as fast and as seamless as the best domestic systems to meet customer expectations for fast money movement no matter where it's being sent. So how does this infrastructure impact currency exchange? To get a better sense of all this, we talk to Piers Marais, who oversees product strategy for Visa Cross-Border Solutions and Currencyclouds client base. He draws on his extensive background in payments to ensure that Visa Cross-border solutions and Currencycloud are continually at the forefront of the latest payment innovations. We also speak to Kathy Lien whose expertise is an on-the-ground FX trader will help us see the use cases and the benefits of the tools that have been revolutionizing currency trading.Follow Us:Website https://www.visa.com/visadirectLinkedIn @Visa Direct

In this episode we explore the creator economy which continues to grow rapidly. This growth represents an opportunity for money movement businesses, but it also presents some unique challenges. To take us into this rapidly evolving landscape, we'll talk to Eric Wei and Will Kim co-founders at Karat Financial, a bank built for the creator economy. We'll also hear from Brian McMullin, head of product and customer experience at SamCart, an innovative e-commerce platform for digital sellers, creators and business owners. Listen now.Follow us:Website https://www.visa.com/visadirectLinkedIn @Visa Direct

Welcome to Money Travels, presented by Visa. Years into the FinTech revolution, many people still struggle with money management and learning how to use all these new tools at their fingertips and with money going digital in many instances, how do we teach our kids who really benefit from a tangible environment, financial literacy? In this episode, we're going to explore some ways to bridge the gap in knowledge for kids and adults alike. We're going to talk to Louise Hill the CEO of GoHenry, whose goal is to make every kid smart with money. The app introduces financial knowledge and helps shape kids' behaviors in positive ways, making it easy for their parents to guide them in the process GoHenry shares this mission of financial literacy with Visa. GoHenry's new parent company, Acorns has products that can help improve financial literacy for adults too. It has features that allow adults to save and with educational features along the way, and that's where Kennedy Reynolds, Acorn's chief education officer comes in to show us how their mission aligns with this larger goal of global financial inclusion. Listen now.Website https://www.visa.com/visadirectLinkedIn @Visa Direct

In this episode we explore the explosion of the online platforms for gaming, and the challenges and opportunities that they present for money movement. From dealing with evolving regulations to the vast differences and payout amounts, and the critical importance of speed, the online gaming space is a hotbed of innovation and growth. To explore this space, we're going to talk to Warren Tristram from Nuvei, a payments powerhouse, Mickael Marceau, director of payments at Kindred Group, and Christian Reinheimer from LeoVegas. Listen now.Follow Us:Website https://www.visa.com/visadirectLinkedIn @Visa Direct