Fiserv Acquires Payfare to Expand Embedded Financial Services

Fiserv, a global leader in payments technology, has announced plans to acquire Payfare, a Canadian digital banking provider, in a move to strengthen its embedded banking, lending, and card management services. The acquisition comes after Fiserv secured a key partnership with DoorDash, displacing Payfare as the delivery company's card-issuing platform provider.

Payfare specializes in earned wage access, offering gig workers streamlined financial solutions like debit card payments. The company had previously managed DoorDash’s card-issuing services, but in October, Fiserv won the business, creating a challenging landscape for Payfare.

The transaction, valued at approximately $140 million according to financial analysts, highlights Fiserv's strategic focus on scaling services for modern workforce needs. Payfare CEO Marco Margiotta expressed optimism about the merger, citing Fiserv's resources and technology as a significant advantage for serving larger organizations and delivering cutting-edge digital experiences.

Pending shareholder and court approvals, the acquisition is expected to close in the first half of this year. This move positions Fiserv to lead the way in embedded financial solutions for the growing gig economy.

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