SINGAPORE - Banking Circle, a prominent Luxembourg-based provider of financial infrastructure, is poised to significantly expand its payment capabilities in Southeast Asia. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, BC Payments Singapore, has been granted In-Principle Approval (IPA) for a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marking a crucial step towards full operational authorization.

The IPA signifies that BC Payments Singapore has met the MAS's initial requirements and is in the final stages of the licensing process. Once the full license is issued, BC Payments Singapore will be empowered to broaden its services within the region, including the acquisition of merchants, the processing of diverse payment transactions, and the issuance of electronic money. This development positions the company for substantial growth in Singapore's dynamic financial landscape.

Mishal Ruparel, Chief Executive Officer of BC Payments Singapore, highlighted the company's increasing commitment to the Singapore market. "We have been strategically building our presence in Singapore since January 2022," Ruparel stated. Looking ahead, he revealed ambitious plans to "double the team size in our Singapore office within the next year," indicating a strong belief in the region's potential.

The regulatory nod for Banking Circle follows a similar approval granted by the MAS to Brazilian payment platform Ebanx just last month, underscoring Singapore's attractiveness as a hub for innovative payment solutions.

This positive news for Banking Circle comes on the heels of its recent acquisition of Australian Settlements Limited in January. The Australian entity is a deposit-taking institution specializing in essential clearing, processing, and settlement services for domestic banks and payment firms. While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed and are subject to regulatory clearance, the move is strategically aimed at bolstering Banking Circle's foothold in the Australian market, where it initially established a presence in 2023 through its BC Payments subsidiary.

Together, these developments signal a period of significant expansion and strategic growth for Banking Circle in the Asia-Pacific region, with the Singapore MPI license poised to be a key enabler for its ambitions in Southeast Asia.