Money Travels

With 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees globally and 2.9 million in Colombia alone, the challenge of distributing humanitarian aid effectively is huge. Using cash is slow and risky, and lacks transparency, raising problems for NGOs and migrants alike. In this episode, we’re joined by the team from AAvance, a fintech working with Visa to tackle this problem head-on. We’ll explore how their digital wallet is replacing insecure cash with prepaid cards, giving dignity and financial freedom to migrants. We’ll hear the human stories behind AAvance’s work, and learn how it’s creating a pathway to economic independence for migrants across Colombia. And we’ll discover just why it matters so much to AAvance’s founders themselves John Herreño and Magreth Gutierrez Vargas.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

Money Travels Podcast Season 3, Episode 12For migrant workers sending remittances back home, cross-border payments can be slow, complex and expensive. It was this challenge Ambar Sur set out to solve when he left his telecom background and co-founded Terrapay in 2014. Inspired by telecom’s seamless global connectivity, Ambar set about building a robust network to enable instant, low-cost digital transactions, helping workers move more money more quickly across borders and increasing financial inclusion in the process. In this episode, we talk to Ambar about his Terrapay journey and how digital wallets are reshaping financial ecosystems to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. We discuss the power of interoperability, explore the real-world impact of digital wallets, and ask about the challenges still to be addressed in the quest for borderless financial connectivity.Learn more about Visa Direct: visa.com/visadirectConnect with Visa Direct on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/visa-direct/Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

As CEO at Paysend, Ben Chisell is revolutionising how money moves across borders. In this episode, we talk with Ben about his personal journey, his passion for improving financial inclusion, and the challenges faced by millions when it comes to sending and receiving money. We explore the inefficiencies in traditional systems, the impact of new technologies, and how Paysend’s secret recipe for settling international payments could solve “the single biggest problem in financial services” — to the benefit of businesses and individuals alike.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

With so many people struggling to manage their finances effectively, the financial services industry is steadily shifting its focus from increasing financial inclusion to improving financial health. For more than two decades, Jennifer Tescher has been pursuing this cause with the Financial Health Network, with the aim of ensuring a fair shake for the “little guy.” Now, with the emergence of agentic AI and open banking, Jennifer is helping to usher in a new era of personalised financial solutions, from AI-powered advisers that improve financial decision-making, to “self-driving wallets” that can take action on behalf of consumers. In this episode, Jennifer explains what consumers stand to gain from these advances, how banks will benefit too, and how the work being done now is laying the foundation for a more equitable financial future.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.

As the former Chief Architect of the SWIFT network, which is still used to handle $4 trillion in daily transfers, Kosta Peric helped to transform the global financial landscape. Now at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Kosta is helping to increase financial inclusion across the globe, building scalable, interoperable payments infrastructure to give unbanked populations access to secure financial services for the first time. In this episode, Kosta explains how these payment systems empower individuals, foster economic growth, and benefit businesses across the developing world, as progress accelerates toward the 2030 goal of full financial inclusion.Disclaimers:Visa Direct capability is enabled through a financial institution partner. Visa Direct product availability and functionality varies by market. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent. Visa neither makes any warranty or representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the information within this podcast, nor assumes any liability or responsibility that may result from reliance on such information and any information from third parties. The information contained in this podcast is not intended as investment or legal advice, and listeners are encouraged to seek the advice of a competent professional where such advice is required. All brand names, logos and/or trademarks are the property of their respective owners, and do not necessarily imply product endorsement or affiliation with Visa.