Volume Secures FCA Authorisation to Scale Open Banking Payments in the UK

Quick Summary

Volume Payments Limited has secured FCA authorisation as an Authorised Payment Institution (API). This milestone allows the fintech to provide independent payment services, including merchant acquiring and open banking transfers, directly to UK businesses, moving beyond its previous reliance on third-party regulated partners for distribution.

How Does Volume Payments Improve UK Merchant Acquiring?

Volume Payments Limited is shifting from a distributor model to a fully independent regulated entity in the United Kingdom. By securing its own FCA authorisation, the company can now offer a comprehensive suite of merchant acquiring services and payment accounts without intermediary friction. This direct regulatory oversight provides partners with enhanced compliance confidence and greater transparency in fund safeguarding.

• Direct Licensing: Operates under FCA firm reference number 1041206.
• Full Autonomy: No longer requires third-party regulated partners for UK distribution.
• Expanded Services: Includes Payouts and Account Information Services (AIS).

What Benefits Does One-Click Checkout Provide?

The FCA authorisation bolsters Volume's flagship One-Click Checkout solution, which utilizes Payment Initiation Services (PIS) to bypass traditional card rails. This technology allows consumers to pay directly via bank accounts, significantly reducing transaction costs for merchants while eliminating checkout friction for users. By removing the need for manual card entry, Volume delivers a secure real-time infrastructure that competes directly with legacy payment processors.

• Lower Costs: Reduces fees compared to traditional card-based infrastructure.
• Seamless UX: Single-action payments with no card details required.
• Real-Time Rails: Built specifically for global real-time payment growth.

"This authorisation is a defining moment for Volume," said Simone Martinelli, CEO of Volume. "It validates our business model, our commitment to compliance, and our vision for the future of global real-time payments. We are now able to offer our full suite of services to UK merchants directly, with the transparency and accountability that FCA regulation demands. This milestone represents an important step in the company’s long-term international strategy”

How Will Volume Scale Its International Strategy?

Securing the FCA authorisation is the cornerstone of Volume's long-term international strategy. While the new licence covers the UK market, the firm maintains its European distributor arrangements to ensure uninterrupted service across EU jurisdictions. This dual-layered approach allows Volume to scale financial infrastructure globally while maintaining the high compliance standards expected by top-tier regulators like the FCA.

"We have spent years building the operational and compliance foundations that the FCA rightly expects," added Simone Martinelli, CEO of Volume. "This authorisation is not just a regulatory checkbox, it is the infrastructure that will power our next phase of growth."

FF NEWS TAKE:

Securing FCA authorisation is a major power move for Volume. In a crowded open banking market, moving from a distributor to a fully licensed API signals maturity and financial stability. By owning the regulatory stack, Volume can innovate faster on One-Click Checkout and merchant acquiring. This definitely moves the needle, positioning them as a primary contender against established payment gateways in the UK's real-time payments landscape.