Expatica
2026
Why
Expand support for international migrants.
Wise Group plc
Cross-Border PaymentsFounded 2011- HQ today: London, United Kingdom
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Acquisitions
Wise Acquisitions
1
Major Deals Covered
What are Wise's biggest acquisitions?
This page covers 1 major deal, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.
- Major deals covered
- 1
- First deal
- 2026
- Most recent
- 2026
| Company | Year | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expatica | 2026 | Undisclosed | Expand support for international migrants. |
Wise Group plc's Growth & Acquisition Strategy
Wise is adding licenses and direct payment-system connections (FY2026 added South Africa, the UAE, and Thailand licenses and direct links in Brazil and Japan), signing more banks to Wise Platform (UniCredit, Raiffeisen Bank, MBSB Bank, and Capitec), and extending Assets, its product for earning a return on balances, to new markets such as Brazil.
How Wise Group plc Makes Money
Wise earns transaction revenue in two buckets. Cross-border revenue comes from the fees on international transfers and conversions; in FY2026 the average cross-border take rate was 0.52% of volume, down from 0.58% a year earlier because Wise passes scale savings back as lower prices. Card and other revenue comes mainly from spending on Wise debit cards, which reached $43.6 billion in FY2026. On top of transaction revenue, Wise earns interest on the customer balances it safeguards, net of interest it pays out to customers. The company's stated policy is to keep a capped share of interest income above the first 1% of yield and return the rest to customers over time, which is why its medium-term target margin (15-20% income before tax) is lower than what it currently reports.
Wise Acquisitions FAQ
What is Wise's corporate philosophy regarding acquisitions?
Unlike traditional financial firms that grow via expensive acquisitions, Wise prioritizes organic infrastructure development, writing clean software and securing direct payment licenses from central banks directly.
Has Wise acquired any major competitor companies?
No, Wise has deliberately avoided acquiring legacy remittance giants or competitor fintechs, avoiding outdated technology architectures, duplicate staffing, and incompatible compliance systems.
What types of targeted transactions has Wise completed?
Wise selectively executes small technology tuck-ins and acqui-hires to secure specialized engineering talent in distributed systems, real-time banking rails, and machine-learning compliance.
Why does Wise prefer obtaining regulatory licenses directly rather than through buyouts?
Acquiring licensed shell banks carries hidden regulatory baggage and legal liabilities; Wise prefers undergoing rigorous direct regulatory scrutiny in every jurisdiction to build trust with local central bankers.
How does the Wise Platform partner model replace the need for M&A?
Instead of acquiring retail banks in target countries to gain customers, Wise integrates its API into existing local banks (like Monzo or Shinhan Bank), scaling customer volume without acquiring capital assets.
Will Wise consider larger acquisitions in the future?
While management retains flexibility for opportunistic licensing or digital software buyouts, its stated roadmap remains focused on organic platform engineering and reinvesting surplus capital into lower customer fees.
How does Wise's organic growth compare to M&A-heavy competitors?
Competitors that relied on aggressive debt-funded acquisitions often struggle with fragmented legacy software stacks and high integration costs, whereas Wise operates a unified, global, low-cost code base.
How does Wise preserve its engineering culture without large corporate buyouts?
By growing organically, Wise maintains a consistent meritocratic culture of autonomous product squads, avoiding cultural clashes common in large-scale corporate fintech takeovers.
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