Sends and UnionPay International: UK Fintech Opens New Payment Corridors with Asia
UK-based fintech company Sends has officially announced a major strategic partnership with UnionPay International (UPI), marking a significant step forward in the expansion of its payment services. The collaboration will strengthen Sends’ capabilities across both card issuing and acquiring, opening up new opportunities for international transactions.
In practical terms, the partnership will enable customers to access UnionPay cards for international payments, while merchants operating within the Sends ecosystem will be able to accept UnionPay transactions more easily. The move is particularly relevant for businesses with strong ties to Asian markets, where access to reliable cross-border payment infrastructure is increasingly important. It also creates new opportunities for merchants to serve international customers, particularly those from Asia’s rapidly developing economies.
“Payments are becoming increasingly global, while customers and businesses expect the experience itself to remain simple. Our cooperation with UnionPay International is an important step towards building infrastructure that brings these two realities together,” said Alena Shevtsova, CEO of Sends. “By developing both issuing and acquiring capabilities, we are giving customers greater freedom of choice while enabling merchants to reach a vast international audience.”
The partnership fits into Sends’ broader strategy of building a comprehensive financial ecosystem rather than offering a collection of standalone fintech products. The company has recently expanded its services with a dedicated business offering designed to simplify and accelerate the opening of UK business accounts, alongside an integrated travel eSIM service available directly through the Sends mobile app.
Alongside its technological expansion, Sends and its CEO, Alena Shevtsova, are strengthening their presence in the international fintech community. The company is actively contributing to key industry discussions on the development of real-time cross-border payments, the evolution of digital wallets and the future of payment infrastructure in the UK and the Middle East.