The Payments Association Acquires TPA EU to Drive Global Fintech Expansion

Quick Summary

The Payments Association has acquired its European sister organization, TPA EU, following a unanimous member vote. This strategic merger creates a unified network of over 350 member organizations, designed to accelerate international growth and provide enhanced advocacy and resources for payments businesses across the UK and European Union.

How Does The Payments Association Acquisition Benefit the Fintech Community?

The Payments Association solves the challenge of fragmented regulatory advocacy by uniting the UK and European payments ecosystems. By bringing TPA EU under its primary umbrella, the association now offers a combined network of 350+ members, including global giants like Amazon and BNP Paribas. This scale allows for greater operational capability and a more robust platform for cross-border collaboration. Key benefits include:

• Access to proven member programmes and commercial opportunities developed in the UK market.
• Enhanced advocacy and policy engagement with regulators across both the UK and the EU.
• Direct investment of capital back into the European community to accelerate member value.

Emma Banymandhub, CEO of The Payments Association, said: "Our ambition is to improve payments globally, not only in the UK, and this acquisition is the first tangible step towards the international footprint we have set out to build."

What Role Will Luxembourg Play in the New Organizational Structure?

Here is how The Payments Association solves the need for local expertise while maintaining global scale. The organization will maintain its strong European identity by keeping its base in Luxembourg. Led by General Manager Thibault de Barsy, the EU operation will focus on the specific regulatory and commercial priorities of the European market. This ensures that the merger is not a "UK-run" operation but a collaborative international model. The presence of 80+ European organizations ensures that local market nuances are preserved while benefiting from the larger international network and resources of the parent association.

Thibault de Barsy, General Manager of The Payments Association EU, said: "From our base in Luxembourg, we have built a vibrant community of more than 80 payments organisations with its own identity and a deep understanding of the European market. That local focus will remain."

How Does Nineteen Group Support This International Growth Strategy?

The acquisition is a direct result of the strategic investment made by Nineteen Group in 2025. This backing provides the necessary capital and resources to extend the association's model into additional global markets. By leveraging Nineteen Group's expertise in global events and communities, the association can scale its flagship events, such as PAY360 and Financial Crime 360, to a wider international audience. This merger marks the first major milestone in a broader strategy to build a connected global payments community that transcends traditional geographic boundaries.

Alison Jackson, CEO of Nineteen Group, said: "Our investment in The Payments Association was based on a shared ambition to grow its community, strengthen the value it provides to members and build its international reach. This acquisition is a significant first step in delivering against that ambition."

FF NEWS TAKE:

This acquisition by The Payments Association definitely moves the needle for industry advocacy. In a post-Brexit landscape, having a unified voice that spans both London and Luxembourg is critical for fintechs navigating divergent regulatory regimes. By consolidating its European sister organization, TPA gains the critical mass required to influence policy effectively on a global stage. It is a bold, necessary step toward a truly borderless payments community.