News

Fintech Galaxy Gains Approval To Pilot Open Banking In Jordan

The Central Bank has given the go-ahead to test fintech services through JoRegBox — Jordan’s regulatory sandbox for fintech innovation.

Published

5 months ago

January 31, 2025

Nour Nasir

fintech galaxy gains approval to pilot open banking in jordan

Fintech Galaxy has secured approval from the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) to join JoRegBox, the country’s regulatory sandbox for fintech innovation. The green light allows the company to test and implement Open Banking services within a controlled, real-world setting, and makes Fintech Galaxy the first Open Banking provider to gain regulatory backing in Jordan.

This move aligns with CBJ’s long term vision for financial innovation, introduced in August 2023 as part of the Economic Modernization Vision (2023–2025). The program’s purpose is to establish Jordan as a fintech hub, attracting investment in high-tech financial solutions. JoRegBox provides a supervised testing environment for fintech firms, in a bid to foster widespread financial inclusion and build more consumer-centric financial services.

Riyadh Al Zamil, Chairman of Fintech Galaxy’s Board of Directors, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are proud and honored to receive the Central Bank of Jordan’s approval to test and introduce Open Banking services to the country through the JoRegBox regulatory sandbox. This milestone underscores our commitment to fostering financial inclusion, enabling innovation, and empowering Jordan’s economy through Open Banking”.

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Mirna Sleiman, Founder and CEO of Fintech Galaxy, echoed the sentiment: “The Central Bank of Jordan’s approval is a testament to our shared vision of fostering innovation and inclusivity in the financial sector. By leveraging FINX Connect, we aim to empower financial institutions and third-party providers with data aggregation and payment initiation services, ultimately improving the lives of consumers across Jordan”.

Open Banking services allow banks and payment providers to share customer data securely with third-party providers (with their prior consent). Fintech Galaxy’s FINX Connect platform enables real-time bank account data aggregation and payment initiation, enhancing customer access to personalized financial services and simplifying payment processing.

To support its expansion, Fintech Galaxy has raised $9 million for platform development and market growth. The Jordanian arm, led by Zaid Khatib, will integrate with banks and financial institutions country-wide, focusing on Personal Finance Management (PFM) and Business Finance Management (BFM) applications.

News

Google Pay Launches In Lebanon With Support From Multiple Banks

Bank Audi, Neo Digital Bank, and Whish Money are all offering support for Mastercard and Visa cardholders.

Published

2 weeks ago

June 25, 2025

Nour Nasir

google pay launches in lebanon with support from multiple banks

neo Bank Audi

Google Pay has officially launched in Lebanon, allowing Android users to make secure, contactless payments via their smartphones. The rollout has been quickly supported by BLOM, BLF, Whish Money, Bank Audi, and its digital banking offshoot Neo Digital Bank. Customers of all three services can now add eligible Mastercard and Visa payment cards to their Google Wallets.

The integration enables in-store tap-to-pay transactions, as well as online and in-app purchases, using the same cards users already carry. For Bank Audi and Neo Digital Bank, the launch covers Mastercard products; for Whish Money, BLOM, and BLF it includes Visa cards. Payments are processed through the Google Pay platform, which maintains cardholder privacy while extending standard card protections.

To begin using the service, customers can download the Google Wallet app from Google Play, select “Add to Wallet,” and follow a short verification process. Once set up, payments can be made with a single tap — eliminating the need to carry physical cards or cash.

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“This launch represents a significant milestone in our commitment to digital innovation and customer convenience,” said Toufic Koussa, CEO at Whish Money. “By making Whish Visa Card available on Google Pay, we’re enabling our customers to make everyday transactions faster, more secure, and more inclusive. It’s about giving them the tools they need to transact seamlessly, wherever they are”.

The move follows the official activation of Google Pay in Lebanon on June 24, 2025, and marks a notable expansion of mobile payment options in a market where Apple Pay has yet to gain traction. Google’s entry is expected to increase digital wallet adoption among Android users and pave the way for further collaborations with regional financial institutions.