viafintech

Established in 2011 by Sebastian Seifert, Achim Bönsch, and Florian Swoboda, viafintech GmbH has positioned itself as a significant payment infrastructure provider in Europe. The company, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, developed a platform that bridges the gap between digital banking and physical cash transactions, responding to the trend of declining bank branches and the rise of neobanks. In November 2021, viafintech was acquired by Paysafe (NYSE:PSFE), a specialized payments platform, in an all-cash transaction that integrated viafintech's team, including its managing directors, into Paysafe's eCash division. Prior to the acquisition, viafintech was backed by shareholders such as Glory Ltd., a global cash technology company, and GRENKE BANK AG, which has provided the company's German banking license since 2017.

The core of viafintech's business is a bank-independent payment network, known by the brand names Barzahlen/viacash in Germany and Austria, and viacash in several other European countries including Switzerland, Italy, Greece, and Spain. This network enables a "mobile ATM" concept, allowing consumers to use a barcode generated in their digital banking app to deposit or withdraw cash at the point of sale of over 20,000 retail partner stores. The service addresses the needs of customers of challenger banks and digital wallets, as well as individuals who are unbanked or prefer the security of using cash for online purchases. The business model hinges on integrating its API with partners in banking, e-commerce, and bill payments. This creates a cash-in/cash-out infrastructure used for a variety of transactions, including bill payments, credit payouts, and paying for online shopping with cash.

viafintech's platform offers a suite of services beyond basic cash transactions. Through its powerful API, it provides solutions for various industries such as utilities, telecommunications, insurance, and public authorities. Its product portfolio includes `viacash` for deposits, withdrawals, and bill payments; `viaprepaid` for gift cards; and other solutions for couponing and customer identity verification (KYC) at the point of sale. The process is straightforward for the end-user: they generate a barcode in their banking or partner app, which is then scanned at the checkout of a partner retailer like REWE, Rossmann, or dm to complete the cash transaction. This system offers convenience through the extended opening hours of retail stores and enhanced security as it does not require sharing sensitive financial data.

Keywords: payment infrastructure, cash-in/cash-out, mobile ATM, barcode payments, digital banking, eCash, point of sale payments, bill payment services, alternative payments, fintech, financial inclusion, neobank services, retail payment network, Paysafe, Barzahlen, viacash, API-based payments, cash management, challenger bank solutions, KYC at POS