EQ Bank signs international payments deal with TransferWise
EQ Bank, the digital subsidiary of Canada’s Equitable Bank, has signed a partnership agreement with TransferWise which will see the latter underpin EQ Bank’s international payments.
Kristo Käärmann, TransferWise co-founder and CEO
EQ Bank has integrated TransferWise’s API directly into their infrastructure. EQ Bank customers will be able to send money from their Savings Plus Account at “the real exchange rate”, paying a “small, transparent TransferWise charge”.
Kristo Käärmann, CEO and co-founder of TransferWise, says that Canadian consumers stand to lose a “staggering” $330 per person to hidden fees when exchanging currencies.
“This needs to stop,” he says. “We ultimately want to ensure that everyone has access to fast, cheap, and transparent international money exchange. We’re thrilled to have found a like-minded partner in EQ Bank.”
EQ Bank recently completed the move of its Temenos core banking system into the cloud. The digital bank utilises Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, using software hosted by HP.
Related: Paydesk partners with TransferWise
“From hidden mark-ups in the exchange rate, to paying multiple fees and lengthy delays, for too long Canadians haven’t been getting the best value for their dollar when sending money abroad,” says Andrew Moor, president and CEO of Equitable Bank.
“At EQ Bank we continually seek ways to remove unnecessary complexities and fees from outdated banking structures to put more money back in the hands of our customers. As TransferWise shares these important values, they are the perfect partner to help us achieve our goal.”
