Wise plc, known commercially as Wise and listed on the London Stock Exchange as WISE (with an American depositary receipt trading on OTC markets under WIZEY), is a fintech company that provides low‑cost international money transfer and multi‑currency account services. Founded in 2011 by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann and headquartered in London, Wise built its business around transparent pricing and the use of mid‑market exchange rates to reduce the fees and markups traditionally associated with cross‑border payments.
The company’s core products include consumer and business international money transfers, a multi‑currency account that allows customers to hold, convert and manage dozens of currencies, and a debit card linked to that account for spending abroad. Wise also offers business-focused solutions such as mass payouts, batch payments, local account details in multiple currencies (enabling receipt of local bank transfers), and developer APIs that let platforms and financial institutions integrate Wise’s payments infrastructure into their own services.
Wise serves retail customers, small and medium‑sized enterprises, and larger corporate clients across a broad set of countries and currency corridors, operating globally with an emphasis on simplifying cross‑border payments and reducing costs. Over time the company has expanded beyond person‑to‑person transfers to become a broader payments platform for both individuals and businesses, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional banks for international banking needs.
Historically notable for its direct‑to‑consumer, tech‑first approach and strong emphasis on transparency, Wise has grown from a peer‑to‑peer money transfer startup to a publicly listed payments technology company. Its founders’ early experience with cross‑border communications and finance helped shape its product roadmap, and the company continues to invest in product features and partnerships that extend its global payments capabilities.
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