Zai - merger creates a new force in Australian financial services
New brand launches forecasting processing volume growth of over 60% in 2021 as merger of Assembly Payments and CurrencyFair receives regulatory approval.The merger of Assembly Payments, whose platform automates complex payment workflows, and CurrencyFair, a global cross-border payments platform, has received regulatory approval and is now complete.With that, the company today launches its new brand - Zai (www.hellozai.com) - which replaces the Assembly Payments brand as the company moves beyond domestic and cross-border payments to provide a core suite of broader integrated financial services to businesses in Australia and beyond.Paul Byrne, CEO of Zai said: “Our vision with Zai is to boldly transform the future of financial services. The Australian market is very close to our hearts - both Assembly Payments and CurrencyFair were founded by Australian innovators.“We are ramping up our activity in Australia significantly - Zai was first to market with NPP and we expect to remain at the forefront of innovation. In mid-2022, we are launching ‘PayTo’, the new digital way for merchants and businesses to initiate real-time payments from their customers’ bank accounts. We’re already seeing the benefits of expansion as we forecast a second successive year of 60% growth in processing volume to US$6.5 billion in 2021.”Assembly Payments and CurrencyFair have been operating in the country since 2013 and 2010 respectively. Zai’s expansion plans are supported through an investment from SC Ventures, the innovation, ventures and fintech investments unit of Standard Chartered which was announced in April 2021. SC Ventures is doubling down on its commitment to the rapidly growing payments industry, following its initial investment in Assembly Payments in 2020.Byrne said that Zai would remain focussed on resolutely addressing businesses pain points: “Zai will continue our tradition of being customer-centric, solving problems and adding value around our five core capabilities – payments, global payment accounts, partner ecosystem, lending and settlement, and services – addressing the myriad growth opportunities in the US$2 trillion revenue market for payments.”The company is focusing its mid-market and enterprise-level offering initially on the Australian market, where its Assembly Payments customer base gives it a strong foothold, while in parallel ramping up its capability to launch in the UK, USA and Asia in 2022 and with the number of employees expected to grow from 170 currently to 450 by 2025.
Media contact:Brendan Murray - Zai / CurrencyFair+353 86 3057469brendanmurray@currencyfair.comHarrison Polites - The Media Accelerator+61 409 623 618harrison@themediaaccelerator.
About Zai
Zai was born from the April 2021 merger of Assembly Payments and CurrencyFair. We are boldly transforming the future of financial services and powering our customers with innovative products and services. Assembly Payments, founded in 2013, has been one of the fastest growing fintechs in Australia, with a presence in Singapore, India, Philippines and the US. Specialising in building automated payment workflows, with APIs, to reduce the complexity of running both traditional and digital-native businesses. CurrencyFair, founded in 2010 and with offices in Ireland, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore & Australia, is a global cross-border payments fintech that serves individuals and businesses with international payments and currency exchange through its proprietary global platform. Zai has over 170 employees, and is hiring as we expand our presence across APAC, Europe, the Middle-East, and North America. To find out more about the history of Zai visit the story of Zai.