‘Our infrastructure ensures scalability’: How Andaria is redefining Malta’s business payment landscape

Since its inception in 2019, Andaria has been on a mission to reshape how financial services are delivered. With a dual license and presence in Malta and the UK, the company has built a reputation for its deep regulatory expertise and smart, scalable infrastructure. For Ian Dingli, its Chief Product & Revenue Officer since 2023, the key to Andaria’s success lies in its adaptability.

By blending regulatory diligence with cutting-edge technology, the fintech firm is crafting bespoke payment solutions designed to meet the unique challenges of the local market. “To summarise it in a nutshell, it’s the scalability of it,” Mr Dingli begins, outlining the core of Andaria’s offering. The Andaria has meticulously built a vast network of payment rails and options, enabling it to manage a wide array of currencies and serve sectors with varying risk profiles. “What separates us from the rest, I think, is the ability to handle the amount of currencies and sectors that we can handle,” he adds.  

This capability allows Andaria to cater not only to businesses, but also to what Mr Dingli terms the “underserved” sectors, such as companies operating in iGaming and crypto.

Delving into the realities of navigating our unique market, it is apparent that Malta’s financial landscape presents a distinct set of challenges, shaped significantly by its recent past. Mr Dingli speaks candidly about the lingering perceptions following the country’s inclusion on the FATF grey list.

“To do business internationally from Malta has become a bit of an issue since the grey-listing, especially for digital segments,” he explains, yet it was precisely this challenge that catalysed Andaria’s strategy. Anticipating that this could be a long-term issue, the company proactively expanded its offerings, he maintains, noting, “we made the decision to expand on our offering and increase our suite of payment rails to be able to service our existing clients and any new clients that approach us.”

This foresight has allowed Andaria to provide robust solutions for businesses operating in cutting-edge verticals like blockchain and iGaming, which often require complex, multi-currency transactions that traditional institutions may be hesitant to facilitate.

In fact, one of the most striking aspects of Andaria’s operational model is its client-first approach, which champions transparency and collaboration, especially when dealing with complex international payments. Mr Dingli believes that this sets them apart from more conventional financial institutions.

This transparent partnership, involving weekly communications and proactive planning, allows Andaria to anticipate needs and pre-empt potential issues with its banking partners. For clients, this means smoother transactions and a trusted partner who understands their business. “If you know what’s going to happen, you can plan for what’s going to happen,” Dingli asserts.

And this bespoke service is underpinned by a powerful, custom-built technology infrastructure with a central ‘middle layer’ that intelligently routes payments, manages compliance checks, and integrates seamlessly with partner systems. This proprietary system provides two key advantages: performance and agility. “It ensures scalability,” Mr Dingli says. “Even if we triple or quadruple our volumes the next day, we can actually increase our infrastructure to handle that.”

Furthermore, it enables rapid integration with new partners, allowing Andaria to quickly establish payment corridors to new markets as client needs evolve. The onboarding process itself is managed by a dedicated team, ensuring new clients – from corporates using its API to non-financial companies leveraging its embedded finance solutions – experience a smooth and predictable integration.

Looking ahead, Andaria is not resting on its laurels. The company is preparing to launch several new products, with a focus on further embedding its services within the Maltese market. A corporate debit card is on the immediate horizon, the Chief Product & Revenue Officer affirms, and it will be designed to enhance the offering for its business clients.

Even more significantly, Andaria is venturing into the world of digital assets. “We are in the process of teaming up with a crypto company to offer crypto to our underlying clients also,” Mr Dingli reveals. “Crypto is becoming a major player within the payment space; it would be naive for us not to get on board and offer that.”

This forward-thinking strategy, combined with a deep-seated commitment to solving the real-world payment challenges of Maltese businesses certainly solidifies Andaria’s role as a service provider, while positioning the company as a vital partner for growth and innovation. In a complex financial world, their message of scalability, transparency, and tailored solutions is a welcome assurance.