Paysend & Bir expand cross-border payments to 170 countries

Paysend has partnered with Bir on cross-border payments in Azerbaijan, extending payout access to more than 170 countries and territories.

Bir has selected Paysend Enterprise for its cross-border payment service, linking it to the m10 e-wallet within its broader consumer and business network. The service will use card and account payment rails to support international transfers.

The deal brings together two groups with different scales but similar ambitions in digital finance. Paysend serves more than 11 million customers in over 170 countries, while Bir's ecosystem reaches more than 5 million users in Azerbaijan through brands including Birbank, Birmarket and the m10 wallet.

International transfers are an important service in Azerbaijan, where inbound and outbound payments support household remittances, small-business trade, and broader commercial activity. The partnership targets consumers and businesses that need to send funds across borders through a digital channel.

Regional reach

Bir describes itself as the first fully integrated banking, payments and eCommerce ecosystem in the Caucasus. Alongside Birbank, Birmarket and m10, its network includes Milliön payment terminals and partnerships with the Trendyol marketplace and BakıKart transport payments.

That breadth gives Bir a large domestic base from which to offer international payment services. For Paysend, the arrangement strengthens its presence in the South Caucasus and adds another institutional partner using its infrastructure for overseas transfers.

Cross-border payments have become a crowded field for banks, fintechs and specialist providers as users expect less friction when moving money between cards, bank accounts and digital wallets. The sector has also attracted businesses seeking broader geographic reach without building local payment connections market by market.

Jalal Orujov,  CEO of Payments at Bir, outlined the rationale for the tie-up in a launch statement.

"International transfers are a critical service for users in Azerbaijan. By expanding Bir's cross-border payment capabilities with Paysend, we are bringing speed and simplicity to international payments for local consumers,'' said Jalal Orujov, Chief Executive Officer of Payments, Bir.

He also linked the move to the country's broader digital development.

"This partnership strengthens Bir's role as a fast-growing financial ecosystem and supports Azerbaijan's digital transformation, reinforcing its position as a strategic bridge between Europe and Asia. Faster, more secure, and more inclusive connectivity is helping build a more integrated regional digital economy," said Orujov.

Network strategy

The partnership reflects demand for payment systems that can support remittances, cross-border commerce and international financial services through a single network. Paysend's model has expanded from card-to-card transfers into a broader range of options spanning cards, bank accounts, wallets and local payment systems.

Its network connects Mastercard, Visa, China UnionPay, local card schemes, instant payment systems, wallets, smartphones, and local ACH and payment systems. The platform provides access to more than 25 billion endpoints.

For Bir, the attraction appears to be reachable. Access to more than 170 countries and territories would give users of m10 and the wider ecosystem a much broader international payment footprint than domestic banking and wallet products typically offer on their own.

Danny May, Head of Enterprise at Paysend, said the partnership is intended to meet demand for broad international connectivity.

"To succeed in today's interconnected economy, businesses need access to reliable, scalable, and globally connected payment infrastructure," said Danny May, Head of Enterprise, Paysend.

"We're delighted to partner with Bir to help expand access to cross-border payments across more than 170 countries and territories. Together, we're enabling faster, more seamless money movement that supports both consumers and businesses while helping drive greater financial connectivity worldwide," said May.

The agreement adds to a growing list of fintech partnerships aimed at embedding international transfers into local banking and wallet products, rather than requiring users to turn to a separate remittance service.

Azerbaijan's position between Europe and Asia has made it a relevant market for payment groups focused on trade links, labour mobility and consumer transfers across multiple corridors. Bir said the partnership will support everyday cross-border transactions for its base of more than 5 million customers and businesses.