Viva Wallet

Viva Wallet operates as a European cloud-based neobank, providing payment solutions across 24 countries. The company's journey began in 2000 when Haris Karonis founded Realize SA, a software house that developed systems for banking and telecommunications. In 2011, Karonis, along with Makis Antypas, established Viva Payments, leveraging their collective background in technology and large-scale transaction systems to address inefficiencies in the payments sector. A pivotal moment for the company occurred in December 2022 when J.P. Morgan acquired a 48.5% stake, a deal that recognized Viva Wallet as Greece's first fintech unicorn.

Serving a diverse client base from small and medium-sized businesses to larger enterprises, Viva Wallet's business model centers on transaction fees from its payment processing services. The company provides a comprehensive suite of payment solutions, including online payment gateways and in-person point-of-sale (POS) systems. A key aspect of its revenue strategy involves a 0% commission model for merchants who utilize both its card acceptance services and their Viva Wallet business debit card for corporate expenses. The company holds a banking license, allowing it to offer services like merchant cash advances.

Viva Wallet's offerings are built on a proprietary, cloud-based infrastructure hosted on Microsoft Azure. This platform enables the company to provide a range of services, including the "Tap to Pay on iPhone" and "Tap on Phone" solutions, which turn smartphones into card terminals without needing extra hardware. For e-commerce, its "Smart Checkout" feature is designed to increase conversion rates by localizing language, currency, and payment methods. The company supports over 30 payment methods, encompassing major cards, digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and local payment options. Beyond payment processing, Viva Wallet offers business accounts with local IBANs and corporate debit cards.

Keywords: payment processing, neobank, fintech, point-of-sale, POS solutions, merchant services, e-commerce payments, Tap to Pay, cloud-based payments, European fintech, merchant account, business debit card, online payment gateway, card acceptance, Viva Wallet, J.P. Morgan, Haris Karonis, Makis Antypas, contactless payments, small business payments