Zepz’s strategic acquisition of Pomelo paves the way for affordable, credit-enhanced remittances and broader financial services for global migrant communities.
London-based global payments group Zepz, the parent of remittance brands WorldRemit and Sendwave, has completed the acquisition of Pomelo International, Inc., a fintech platform that fuses consumer credit with cross-border money transfer capabilities.
Under the deal, Pomelo’s team and product vision will be integrated into the Zepz ecosystem to help evolve the company beyond traditional remittances into credit, cards and long-term financial tools for cross-border communities.
Pomelo’s core product, a remittance-linked credit card system, fits into the Zepz family by giving senders in developed markets a way to fund transfers with a credit line while building credit history, rather than relying solely on debit balances or cash. In practical terms, users can make transfers using credit and then repay the balance on time to avoid interest and fees, making this option more affordable and flexible compared with traditional cash-advance cards that often charge high fees and interest.
By folding this credit-based remittance model into its existing money transfer infrastructure, including the Sendwave Wallet, Zepz aims to offer customers a broader financial relationship, not just the movement of funds. That means access to cards, lending, and credit-building tools that can help users manage cash flow and strengthen their financial profiles over time.
This acquisition also strategically reinforces Zepz’s presence in key remittance corridors such as the Philippines, where Pomelo already has traction, while giving the group a stronger product set to serve underserved cross-border users across the Global South.
The remittance market remains a massive and growing global industry with total cross-border flows valued in the hundreds of billions of dollars annually and projected to continue expanding as digital solutions become more widely adopted. Globally, 67% of respondents favour sending money to a bank account using a mobile or web app, and 40% transfer money digitally from physical locations, like banks or retail outlets. The majority of receivers also prefer remittance apps to cash and checks. As digital remittance services rise in popularity, combining affordable transfer options with credit-building features can help differentiate offerings and provide tangible benefits to users who regularly send money home.
