Boutique Payments & FinTech Advisory
Fin-Serv Advisors brings decades of hands-on operating experience at the senior levels of global payments and fintech — to solve your most complex challenges, from strategy through full delivery.
About FSA
FSA advisors haven't just advised on payments — they've built and run payments businesses. Former C-suite and executive roles at Visa, Mastercard, Paysafe, Global Payments, Merrick Bank, The Bancorp, and Payoneer mean our team has been in the room where the hard calls get made.
That operating depth is what sets us apart. We engage at the strategy phase and stay through execution — because that's where the complexity lives and where real value is created.
"Our advisors have held the roles our clients are navigating. That's not a differentiator — it's the whole point."
Where Clients Typically Engage Us
Whether you're expanding into new markets or building out new financial product lines, the complexity is real — and so is the cost of getting it wrong.
Breaking into a new market means navigating a different regulatory environment, building new banking and scheme relationships, and adapting your operating model — often simultaneously. We've done it across North America, Europe, APAC, and Latin America. We know what it takes and where the landmines are.
Adding payments, issuing, lending, or banking capabilities to an existing business is a completely different challenge than what most organizations have built for. We help clients design, structure, and launch new financial product lines — with the infrastructure, compliance framework, and banking relationships to support them from day one.
Who We Serve
We serve clients across the financial services spectrum — from incumbents seeking to modernize to challengers disrupting the status quo. Our advisors speak your language because they've held your roles.
Helping traditional FIs launch and optimize card acquiring, issuing, and sponsorship programs. Tier 1–3 banks, credit unions, challenger banks.
Acquiring · Issuing · SponsorshipGeographic expansion, compliant operating models, banking relationships, and regulatory frameworks for non-bank payment and fintech providers.
PSPs · PayFacs · e-WalletsAdvising software platforms, marketplaces, and e-commerce operators on building in-house payment capabilities and monetizing transactions.
PayFac · SaaS · Platform PaymentsReducing payment acceptance costs, optimizing interchange, and streamlining settlement operations for large-scale merchants and platforms.
Cost Optimization · SettlementGuiding fintechs from formation through scale — licensing, banking relationships, payment infrastructure, and M&A readiness.
BaaS · Lending · PaymentsProviding payments/fintech-specific due diligence, risk assessment, and post-acquisition integration support for sophisticated investors.
Due Diligence · IntegrationWhere We Add Value
We help navigate Visa/Mastercard licensing for acquiring and issuing — across the Americas, UK/Europe, and APAC — ISO, PayFac, and Program Manager models.
We source and structure Third Party Acquiring, Issuing, lending, and BaaS sponsorship relationships — enabling clients to operate without a banking license.
Full end-to-end implementation of PI, EMI, MSB/MTL, RPAA, and AFSL applications — from initial assessment through license issuance and ongoing compliance.
We design automated payment platforms covering settlement, dispute management, billing, and resolution — turning complex workflows into scalable infrastructure.
We run detailed, structured RFI/RFP processes to identify and select the right processors, card schemes, KYC/AML providers, fraud tools, and risk platforms.
We help build underwriting frameworks, ongoing monitoring systems, and risk/fraud controls that balance growth with exposure management.
Our Team
Every FSA advisor has held executive roles at leading payments and fintech organisations — bringing hard-won operational experience, not just theoretical frameworks.
Former EVP & COO at Optimal Payments (Paysafe) and EVP Core Payments at NEOVIA. 25+ years advising on global payments, market entry, banking sponsorship, licensing, and M&A.
Former SVP Acquiring at Merrick Bank, SVP Payment Acceptance at The Bancorp, and executive at Optimal Payments and EPX. 25+ years across acquiring, compliance, and banking.
Former Group CRO, AML Officer, and MLRO for international NBFIs. 20 years building client acceptance, risk monitoring, and compliance programmes.
Former Director of Global Back Office Operations at Paysafe and Innovation Partner at Visa Europe. 20+ years across payments operations and digital product development.
Former Solutions Architect and Director at leading financial services firms. Expert in payment platform architecture and IT technical due diligence for M&A transactions.
Regulatory attorney expert in AML/BSA/OFAC and multi-state MTL licensing across 47 US states. Admitted in New York and Georgia; qualified in Europe.
Former President of Global Payments Canada (NYSE:GPN). 25+ years in merchant acquiring; began career at American Express Canada. CCO at Dream Payments.
Former MD of Global Banking & Payment Infrastructure at Payoneer, managing the banking network across 190 countries. Cross-border payments specialist.
London-based strategist with 20+ years in payments product, strategy, and innovation. Multiple fintech startup exits. Specialist in UK and European markets.
Co-Founder and Managing Director of Fulcrum Payments. Background spanning Mastercard, Tangerine, and Grant Thornton. Expert in merchant acquiring and North American fintech.
Get in Touch
We work best when engaged early — whether you're planning a market entry, navigating a regulatory challenge, switching sponsors or vendors, or evaluating an acquisition.
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