Westpac unzips B2B payments options
Westpac may adopt select business-to-business payment products (still works in progress) of zipMoney, a lively ASX listed fintech. The bank has invested more than $40 million in new shares in the company and has options to buy more.In a sign of one big Australian bank casting about for alternative pathways to modernise their payments offerings, zipMoney's current and future offerings may be used in consumer and business domains.The Westpac and zipMoney "strategic relationship" allows the parties to "explore the integration of Zip's products and services across" the bank's network, the pair said yesterday.They will also "explore … the provision of in development business to business products and services to Westpac."Zip said Westpac's investment "follows record quarterly results for Zip which saw users reach 665,000 and more than A$300 million in transaction volume processed on the platform" for its buy now, pay later consumer product.Westpac has invested more than $40 million into zipMoney, comprised of $40 million in cash upfront and more than $8 million in performance options, Zip said.In May, NAB provided a $260 million debt facility to Zip.