Lebanon’s financial system has faced extraordinary pressure in recent years. Yet within these challenges lies an unexpected opportunity: the rise of Lebanon fintech investment as a driver of inclusion and growth. Among the companies leading this shift is Whish Money, a digital-first platform serving more than 1.3 million users in 110 countries. In this exclusive Q&A, Toufic Koussa, Co-Founder and CEO, explains how Lebanon can position itself as a hub for fintech despite ongoing uncertainty.

Lebanon fintech investment appeal for global investors

Q: In Lebanon’s current economic climate, what factors can attract local and foreign fintech investment, and how is Whish Money positioned to benefit?

Toufic Koussa: Lebanon’s economy has created a surge in demand for secure, accessible, and compliant financial solutions. Investors now search for opportunities where technology fills urgent gaps. They want platforms that streamline payments, enable quick transfers, and promote financial literacy. Whish Money’s 1.3 million users across 110 countries show that fintech can scale locally and globally. Our commitment to trust and inclusivity makes us an attractive partner for Lebanon fintech investment.

Strategies sustaining Lebanon fintech investment growth

Q: What investment strategies and operational efficiencies have been key to sustaining Whish Money’s growth in an uncertain regulatory and economic environment?

Toufic Koussa: Growth in Lebanon could not depend on costly infrastructure. Instead, we focused on agility and smart resource allocation. Scalable digital rails and strong compliance frameworks gave us a solid base. We relied on strategic partnerships rather than trying to build everything in-house. This approach kept us flexible and efficient. At the same time, we co-created our roadmap with users. Services such as instant transfers and QR payments solved real problems. Each decision translated into adoption and sustainable growth—strengthening Lebanon’s fintech investment landscape.

Partnerships powering Lebanon’s fintech investment ecosystem

Q: How do partnerships with Visa, Mastercard, and TerraPay boost investor confidence and accelerate market expansion locally and abroad?

Toufic Koussa: Partnerships are central to our expansion. When Visa and Mastercard integrate with Whish, it confirms that our platform meets global standards. It also proves our ability to connect seamlessly with international ecosystems. TerraPay and Ria extend our reach to Lebanon’s diaspora, making remittances faster and safer. These alliances inspire confidence, increase scalability, and highlight Lebanon as an emerging fintech investment hub.

How Lebanon fintech investment empowers communities

Q: How can fintech—especially digital payments—drive economic empowerment in Lebanon, and what investment in infrastructure or regulation is needed to maximize this impact?

Toufic Koussa: Digital payments empower people and businesses alike. Workers who receive wages digitally enter the formal economy and gain access to vital protections. Merchants who accept QR payments reach more customers and reduce dependence on cash. Families who rely on remittances benefit from transparent and instant transfers that improve stability. To maximize these gains, Lebanon must invest in infrastructure and adopt forward-looking regulation. The Central Bank of Lebanon licenses Whish Money, but progress depends on broader collaboration. Regulators, telecom providers, and fintech innovators must work together to unlock the full promise of Lebanon fintech investment.

Lessons shaping Lebanon’s fintech investment future

Q: From serving over 1M users in 110+ countries, what lessons can you apply to Lebanon’s fintech scene, and how do you position the country as attractive for fintech investors?

Toufic Koussa: Our journey shows that agility and customer focus drive scale. We built a culture that listens to communities and responds with transparent solutions. This approach ensures innovation is tied to real needs, not abstract ideas. Internally, we promote continuous learning, which allows us to adapt to changing conditions.

For Lebanon to draw investors, it must embrace entrepreneurship, encourage collaboration, and support startups with impact-driven missions. Above all, the ecosystem should build trust and prioritize transparency. With these values in place, Lebanon can emerge as a hub where innovation and inclusion converge. That vision makes Lebanon fintech investment a story of resilience and opportunity.

Check out this previous post on British International School Riyadh Board Governance Excellence

The post Lebanon fintech investment: Whish Money Q&A appeared first on The Integrator.

How it works—built for real life

Through the Whish Money app, users in Lebanon can initiate international transfers in near real time. Depending on the receiving market, beneficiaries can take funds into a bank account, a mobile wallet, or in cash. Additionally, senders in Lebanon can choose how to fund the transfer: cash remains available, yet they can now use cards to fund their Whish Money wallet as well. Because the service sits on Mastercard’s money movement capabilities, it benefits from reach, compliance rigor, and operational visibility across corridors.

First mover in Lebanon’s wallet space

This is Mastercard’s first collaboration with a mobile wallet in Lebanon to facilitate remittances, which matters in a market where international transfers are essential to household finances. Moreover, the timing aligns with a long-standing reality: remittances are a vital lifeline. The World Bank estimates Lebanon received US$6.4 billion in inflows in 2022, ranking third in MENA by absolute volume. Therefore, any improvement in speed, safety, or convenience can meaningfully affect day-to-day life.

Speed and trust—why Mastercard Move

Mastercard Move is the company’s portfolio of domestic and cross-border money-movement solutions. In practice, that means access to 200 markets, 150+ currencies, and coverage for more than 95% of the world’s banked population. Consequently, Whish Money can scale its cross-border business faster, while users gain dependable time-to-funds. Toufic Koussa, Co-founder and CEO of Whish Money, summed it up clearly: families rely on remittances, so the experience must be fast, efficient, and secure. Likewise, Mastercard’s regional leadership highlights the collaboration’s ability to deliver reach, transparency, and speed across inbound and outbound flows.

A choice that fits every corridor

Because each country handles payouts differently, flexibility is key. Some recipients prefer bank credits; others rely on mobile wallets; certain corridors still require cash pickup. Accordingly, Whish Money’s interface lets senders select what works best for their beneficiaries. Meanwhile, card-to-wallet funding adds convenience at origin, complementing cash top-ups and reducing friction for first-time users. As adoption grows, more customers can move from cash dependence toward digital rails without losing access to familiar options.

Near real-time in practice

“Near real-time” isn’t just marketing language. On many corridors, funds are available within minutes, subject to standard compliance checks. Because the platform integrates verification, screening, and routing underneath a simple consumer flow, customers see clear status updates and faster settlement. Furthermore, the combination of network reach and local partners helps keep fees competitive and delivery predictable.

Why this matters now

Lebanon’s diaspora spans the GCC, Europe, North America, and beyond. Therefore, send-home corridors must be reliable, transparent, and flexible. By pairing Whish Money’s local presence and agent network with Mastercard Move’s global rails, this collaboration lowers barriers for both inbound and outbound transfers. Notably, it also gives senders better control—choose the receive method, choose the funding method, and track the transfer with confidence.

What users can expect

Getting started is straightforward: download the Whish Money app, onboard, and choose a destination. Then select the payout method—bank account, mobile wallet, or cash—and fund the transfer via card or cash. Finally, confirm and track. As corridors expand, users should see additional options and features; however, the core promise will stay the same: faster, safer, near real-time remittances supported by global infrastructure.

In short, Whish Money Mastercard Move brings modern cross-border capabilities to a market that truly depends on them. With speed, flexibility, and trusted rails, the service helps families bridge distance—one transfer at a time.

Check out our previous post, AlRayan Bank Digital Banking Boost with Finastra

The post Whish Money Mastercard Move: seamless Lebanon remittances appeared first on The Integrator.