Wallester

Most people know the company that gives them a card.

Far fewer think about the company that helps a business accept that card. That is where acquiring comes in.

Behind every card payment sits a lot of work most customers never see: merchant onboarding, risk checks, fraud prevention, chargebacks, compliance, settlement, and ongoing monitoring.

In our latest interview, Jekaterina Romanova, Head of Acquiring at Wallester, explains what that looks like in practice after more than a decade working in card payments, e-commerce risk, and merchant supervision.

We spoke with her about why merchant risk is rarely black and white, how fraud has shifted from attacking payment systems to attacking people, and why risk management does not stop once a merchant is approved.

A useful look at the merchant side of card payments and the work that happens behind the checkout page.

Full interview: https://wallester.com/blog/company/acquiring-risk-and-merchant-trust-jekaterina-romanova-on-the-work-behind-card-payments

Follow Wallester to meet more of the team.

Next stop: Paris for VivaTech 2026! 🇫🇷

Wallester is going to Viva Technology 2026 – one of Europe’s largest startup and tech events, where business meets innovation.

Our Business Development Manager, Joel Laloum, will be there from June 17-20 to connect with tech leaders and innovators. If you’re looking to build fintech infrastructure or launch your own card program, Joel is ready to sync up and talk shop.

See in the City of Light! 🥐

Follow Wallester to stay in the know about where we’re heading next.

For more than 15 years, Naerata Ometi has been helping people through some very difficult situations.

Their current projects range from supporting a mother of seven children looking for safer housing to helping a family rebuild after losing their home in a fire.

We’re proud to support their work and to highlight some of the projects currently underway.

Read the article to learn more about these families, Naerata Ometi’s work, and how you can help. Every donation goes towards real projects and real people, and even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference.

Read more: https://wallester.com/blog/partnerships/naerata-ometi-continues-to-help-families-rebuild-with-support-from-wallester

Same name. Very different jobs.

AML at a private bank is not the same as AML at a lender. And not the same again at a card issuer.

That is the thread running through our latest interview with Sten Pärnik, who has just joined Wallester as Head of AML Investigations after roles at SEB Eesti, LHV, and Bondora.

We spoke with him about how AML changes across business models, where automation can genuinely help, and why humans should still be making the final decisions.

A strong read for anyone in compliance, fintech, payments, or risk.
And yes, outside work, there is also metal, drums, gaming, and a hefty amount of karaoke.

Full interview: https://wallester.com/blog/company/same-name-different-jobs-sten-parnik-on-aml-across-financial-services

Follow Wallester to meet more of the team.

You won't want to leave Amsterdam without this prize! 💻✨

Wallester is giving away 9 MacBooks Neo at Money20/20. But if you want to take one of these beauties home, you’ll need to do a few things.

Here’s how to get your name in the hat:
1️⃣ Visit Wallester at Booth and take part in at least 1 of our 3 activities: give a video interview, take a photo, or get a racing license
2️⃣ Share the result on LinkedIn or Instagram and tag Wallester (no tag = no entry!)
3️⃣ Show up at Booth at 15:00 sharp each day for the live giveaway.

We’ll use a randomiser to select 3 winners every day. But you must be physically present to claim your prize. If we call your name and you’re not there, we’ll move on to the next participant.

Don’t let your MacBook slip away!

Follow Wallester to stay updated on our latest conference highlights 🔔

Make your most memorable conference photo ever 📷✨

Most event photos end up forgotten in your phone’s library. But not this one.

Step into our Photo Machine and teleport into the scene of your choice. Select a background, pick a frame, and let the magic do the rest.

All in under 60 seconds.

The coolest part? Your snapshot could win you a free MacBook Neo 💻

How to enter:
• Visit Wallester Booth at Money20/20
• Create your portrait
• Share it on LinkedIn or Instagram and tag Wallester

💡 Pro tip: Each unique post counts as an extra entry. The more photos you share, the more chances you have to win a MacBook. (Note: You must be present at the booth for the giveaway to claim your prize.)


Make your most memorable conference photo ever 📷✨

Most event photos end up forgotten in your phone’s library. But not this one.

Step into our Photo Machine and teleport into the scene of your choice. Select a background, pick a frame, and let the magic do the rest.

All in under 60 seconds.

The coolest part? Your snapshot could win you a free MacBook Neo 💻

How to enter:
• Visit Wallester Booth at Money20/20
• Create your portrait
• Share it on LinkedIn or Instagram and tag Wallester

💡 Pro tip: Each unique post counts as an extra entry. The more photos you share, the more chances you have to win a MacBook. (Note: You must be present at the booth for the giveaway to claim your prize.)

Instant payments are becoming part of Europe’s financial infrastructure. But the bigger question is what actually changes once businesses start operating in real time.

At a webinar hosted by ClearBank and The Paypers, Karine Martinez, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Wallester, joined Tristan Kirchner, Nacho Garcia, and Joy Macknight to discuss what the rise of instant payments means for banks, PSPs, merchants, and SMEs across Europe.

The conversation moved from regulation to behaviour, from SME cash management to higher transaction limits, and from compliance to the real operational test facing incumbents.

“The shift has already happened, but the story is far from over,” Karine noted during the discussion.

The full webinar recording and recap are now available on our blog.

Access them here: https://wallester.com/blog/business-insights/webinar-recap-karine-martinez-on-what-instant-payments-really-change

Wallester at Money20/20 in Amsterdam! 🇳🇱

Our team is on the ground to show you how Wallester can power your next phase of growth.

Led by our visionary leadership, we’re ready to connect, partner, and build with the brightest minds in fintech:
Sergei Astafjev (Co-founder & CEO)
Dmitri Logvinenko (Co-founder & COO)
Julian Brand (CEO at Wallester UK)
Artur Lemming (CAO)

Swipe through the carousel below to see who else is going to Money20/20 for Wallester!

Whether you’re looking to build your own card program or make expensing easier, visit us at Stand !

And don’t forget to follow Wallester to see what we’ll be up to 🔔