Wise Ltd is a global technology firm specializing in financial technology with the mission to simplify and reduce the cost of international money transfers. Launched in 2011 as TransferWise by co-founders Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann, Wise has developed a platform enabling users and businesses to hold multiple currencies, move money across borders swiftly, and spend internationally with transparent fees. Its technology also powers payment systems for large companies and banks, with an overarching goal to create a borderless financial network that is fast, affordable, and clear.
Registered with the EU Transparency Register since June 2015, Wise Ltd engages in EU lobbying primarily to influence policies that affect cross-border payment systems and financial services. Their key focus is on increasing transparency in international payments so consumers understand the real costs associated with their money transfers. They target legislative files such as the Payment Services Directive & Regulation, Cross-Border Payments Regulation, Single European Payments Area (SEPA) Regulation, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Anti-Money Laundering Directives, Digital Single Market policies, Settlement Finality Directive, and Instant Payments Regulation.
Wise’s lobbying efforts emphasize regulatory frameworks that support the reduction of costs, enhance the speed and transparency of cross-border payments, and align digital financial services with secure, efficient EU standards. The firm spent between €100,000 and €199,999 in the financial year from April 2023 to March 2024, maintaining a team of 1.5 full-time equivalent lobbyists (two individuals), including one with European Parliament accreditation. Since registration, Wise Ltd has held about 20 high-level meetings with the European Commission, indicating active engagement with key EU institutions to shape policy aligning with its business objectives.
Wise’s EU office operates at The Tea Building in London, United Kingdom, complemented by Wise Europe SA in Brussels and Wise Assets Europe AS in Tallinn, providing a regional base for regulatory and supervisory compliance in the EU’s financial sector. The firm adheres to EU transparency requirements and the lobby register’s code of conduct, advancing its lobbying goals in a regulated and open manner.
