Modernise your payment infrastructure without starting from scratch

The payments industry is changing rapidly.

UK payment firms are navigating an increasingly complex environment shaped by instant payments, open banking, fraud prevention, digital wallets, cross-border payments, embedded finance and evolving regulatory expectations.

At the same time, many payment institutions and fintech businesses continue to operate with technology stacks built from multiple systems, legacy infrastructure and third-party providers.

The result?

Adding a new payment capability can mean another integration. Launching a new product can require significant development. Improving compliance workflows can involve another platform.

And replacing the entire technology stack is rarely a practical option.

For UK Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs), Payment Service Providers (PSPs), Payment Institutions (PIs), neobanks and fintech businesses, the more practical approach can be to modernise incrementally.

Instead of rebuilding everything, businesses can introduce modular, API-first infrastructure that connects with existing systems and adds capabilities where they are needed.

The UK Payments Landscape Is Becoming More Connected

UK payment businesses increasingly operate across multiple financial ecosystems.

A single fintech platform may need to connect:

UK banking infrastructure
Faster Payments
BACS
CHAPS
SEPA
FX providers
Card processors
KYC/KYB providers
AML and transaction monitoring platforms
Fraud prevention systems
Reconciliation systems
Customer-facing applications

The technology challenge is therefore no longer simply about processing payments.

It is about connecting multiple financial services into one operational environment.

This is where modern payment infrastructure becomes important.

What About PSD3?

PSD3 is part of the European Union’s broader reform of the payments framework, alongside the proposed Payment Services Regulation (PSR).

The reforms address areas including:

• Consumer protection
• Fraud prevention
• Payment security
• Open Banking
• Payment service transparency
• Regulatory consistency
• Access to payment services

For UK businesses, PSD3 does not automatically apply simply because a company is based in the UK.

However, UK payment firms with European operations, customers, entities or payment relationships may need to consider how developments in the European payments ecosystem affect their technology, operations and partnerships.

This makes adaptable infrastructure increasingly important.

The objective isn’t to build technology around one specific regulation. It’s to build infrastructure that can adapt as regulatory, operational and customer requirements evolve.

The Biggest Technology Challenge: Fragmented Infrastructure

Many payment businesses have built their technology stack over time.

One provider handles payments.

Another handles KYC.

Another handles AML.

Another provides cards.

Another provides banking connectivity.

Another handles FX.

Another manages reconciliation.

This can create a fragmented architecture.

Traditional setup

Banking Provider
↓
Payment Provider
↓
KYC/KYB Provider
↓
AML Provider
↓
Card Provider
↓
FX Provider
↓
Reporting

Each integration introduces additional complexity.

The more providers a business adds, the more difficult it can become to manage:

• Data consistency
• Transaction states
• Reconciliation
• Operational workflows
• Reporting
• Customer support
• API maintenance
• System monitoring

Modernisation therefore isn’t necessarily about replacing every provider.

It can be about creating a better infrastructure layer between them.

You Don’t Always Need a New Platform

Replacing an entire payment platform can be expensive and disruptive.

It may involve:

• Data migration
• Customer migration
• API redevelopment
• New integrations
• Operational changes
• Staff training
• Testing
• Business continuity risks

For many businesses, a phased approach can be more practical.

Instead of replacing the complete technology stack, organisations can identify specific infrastructure gaps and introduce modular capabilities.

Existing Platform

Digital Wallet Infrastructure
KYC/KYB
AML & Transaction Monitoring
Payment Processing
Card Infrastructure
Reconciliation
Reporting

The result?

A business can modernise according to its priorities rather than undertaking one large-scale technology migration.

Why API-First Architecture Matters

Modern fintech infrastructure increasingly depends on APIs.

An API-first architecture allows financial businesses to connect applications, providers and operational systems without creating tightly coupled technology environments.

An API-first payment platform can help businesses:

01 — Integrate financial providers
Connect banking, payments, compliance and other financial services.

02 — Connect customer applications
Create a consistent technology layer between your product and financial infrastructure.

03 — Add new services
Introduce new capabilities without redesigning your entire platform.

04 — Automate workflows
Connect financial events with operational processes.

05 — Support future products
Create infrastructure that can evolve as your product portfolio expands.

Modern Payment Infrastructure Is More Than Payments

Payment processing is only one component of a fintech platform.

A modern payment business may also need:

Accounts & Wallets

• GBP accounts
• Multi-currency accounts
• Digital wallets
• Customer balances
• Account hierarchy
• Transaction history

Payments

• Faster Payments
• BACS
• CHAPS
• SEPA
• SEPA Instant
• International payments
• Payment routing

KYC & KYB

• Identity verification
• Business verification
• Customer onboarding
• Risk assessment
• Screening workflows

AML & Transaction Monitoring

• Transaction monitoring
• Risk rules
• Alerts
• Case management
• Screening
• Investigation workflows

Cards

• Virtual cards
• Physical cards
• Debit cards
• Prepaid cards
• Card issuing
• Card lifecycle management

Reconciliation

• Transaction matching
• Settlement reconciliation
• Exception management
• Operational reporting

Reporting

• Transaction reporting
• Financial reporting
• Operational dashboards
• Audit trails

Fintech infrastructure should be viewed as an ecosystem rather than a single payment gateway.

Compliance Technology Should Be Embedded Into Operations

Compliance is not an isolated function within a modern payment business.

KYC, KYB, AML and transaction monitoring often interact directly with customer onboarding, payments and account activity.

A connected workflow can look like:

Customer Onboarding

↓

KYC/KYB Verification

↓

Risk Assessment

↓

Account Activation

↓

Payment Activity

↓

Transaction Monitoring

↓

Alert

↓

Case Management

Technology can support these workflows through configurable rules, APIs, automated data exchange, alerts and audit trails.

However, technology infrastructure does not replace the regulated firm’s responsibility for its regulatory obligations, policies, controls or professional compliance advice.

Reconciliation: The Often-Overlooked Infrastructure Layer

As payment volumes increase, reconciliation becomes increasingly important.

A fintech may have transaction data coming from:

Banking providers
Payment processors
Card processors
FX providers
Wallets
Internal ledgers

These records need to be compared and reconciled.

Without an effective reconciliation layer, businesses can face:

• Manual finance operations
• Settlement discrepancies
• Unresolved exceptions
• Data inconsistencies
• Delayed reporting

Modern fintech infrastructure should therefore treat reconciliation as a core operational capability.

Preparing for the Next Generation of Payments

PSD3 is only one element of the wider payments transformation.

UK and European fintech businesses are also dealing with:

Instant Payments

Customers increasingly expect payments to move quickly and be visible in real time.

Open Banking

Financial products increasingly depend on connectivity between financial institutions and third-party applications.

Embedded Finance

Financial services are increasingly being integrated into non-financial platforms.

Digital Wallets

Wallet infrastructure is becoming increasingly important across consumer and business financial products.

Cross-Border Payments

Businesses increasingly need to support customers across currencies and markets.

Fraud Prevention

Payment businesses need stronger technology-enabled monitoring and risk controls.

Artificial Intelligence

AI is increasingly being explored across fraud detection, risk assessment, customer service and financial operations.

The common requirement is adaptability.

What Should UK Payment Firms Look For?

Use this as an interactive 10-point checklist on the website:

01. Modular Architecture

Can new capabilities be added without rebuilding the entire system?

02. API Connectivity

Can the platform integrate with existing providers and internal applications?

03. Payment Flexibility

Can it support different payment rails, currencies and payment providers?

04. Wallet & Account Infrastructure

Can it manage balances, accounts and transaction histories?

05. KYC/KYB Integration

Can verification services be integrated efficiently?

06. AML & Transaction Monitoring

Can monitoring workflows and specialist providers be integrated?

07. Reconciliation

Can transaction and settlement data be reconciled efficiently?

08. Card Integration

Can card issuing and processing infrastructure be added?

09. Reporting

Can teams access the financial and operational data they need?

10. Scalability

Can the infrastructure evolve as transaction volumes and products grow?

How AnankAI Supports Payment Infrastructure Modernisation

AnankAI provides modular fintech technology infrastructure for businesses building and operating modern financial products.

Instead of requiring organisations to replace every component of their existing technology environment, AnankAI provides infrastructure that can integrate with existing systems and third-party financial providers.

AnankAI capabilities

Digital Wallet Infrastructure
Create and manage wallets, accounts, balances and transactions.

Payment Processing
Support payment infrastructure and connections to payment providers.

API-First Architecture
Connect applications, financial providers and internal systems.

KYC & KYB Workflows
Integrate customer and business verification into onboarding processes.

AML & Transaction Monitoring
Support technology-enabled financial crime monitoring workflows.

Card Infrastructure
Connect card issuing and processing capabilities.

Ledger & Transaction Management
Maintain structured transaction and balance records.

Reconciliation
Support transaction and settlement reconciliation workflows.

Reporting
Provide operational and financial visibility.

White-Label Infrastructure
Build branded fintech products using configurable technology infrastructure.

Connect the Infrastructure You Already Use

AnankAI is designed to work within a broader fintech ecosystem.

Banking & UK Payments

ClearBank

UK banking and payment infrastructure including Faster Payments, BACS and CHAPS.

European Payments

Lietuvos Bankas / CENTROlink

SEPA Credit Transfer and SEPA Instant connectivity.

FX & Cross-Border

ClearBank FX
Ripple

Card Infrastructure

DECTA
CLOWD9

Digital Asset Infrastructure

Fireblocks

KYC / KYB & Financial Crime

Sumsub
ComplyAdvantage
Dow Jones
Acuris

Compliance & Transaction Monitoring

MAP FinTech
Complytek

Connector availability and scope may vary depending on business model, geography, product requirements and deployment.

Modernise What You Need. Keep What Already Works.

The objective of payment infrastructure modernisation isn’t necessarily to replace everything.

It’s to create a technology environment where your business can:

Keep existing systems where they work

• Add new infrastructure where needed

• Connect providers through APIs

• Automate operational workflows

• Scale as requirements change

This creates a more incremental approach to technology modernisation.

Who Can Benefit From Modular Payment Infrastructure?

Electronic Money Institutions

Technology infrastructure around accounts, wallets, payments, compliance workflows, cards and financial operations.

Payment Service Providers

Connect payment processing, providers, monitoring, reconciliation and settlement workflows.

Payment Institutions

Support payment products with modular infrastructure and third-party integrations.

Neobanks

Build infrastructure behind accounts, wallets, cards, payments and customer onboarding.

Fintech Startups

Start with the infrastructure required for your product without building every component from scratch.

Digital Wallet Providers

Support wallets, balances, transactions, payments, KYC/KYB and monitoring.

Embedded Finance Platforms

Add financial functionality to an existing technology or SaaS product.

Cross-Border Payment Businesses

Connect payment, FX and settlement infrastructure across markets.

The Future of Payment Infrastructure Is Modular

The next generation of financial products will not necessarily be built from one monolithic platform.

They will increasingly depend on connected financial infrastructure.

Banking providers.
Payment rails.
KYC providers.
AML platforms.
Card processors.
FX providers.
Wallets.
Ledgers.
Reconciliation.
Reporting.
APIs.

The competitive advantage comes from how effectively these components work together.

For UK payment firms, the goal is to create infrastructure that can adapt, integrate and scale.

Not simply infrastructure that works today.

Conclusion

Modernising a payment platform does not necessarily mean rebuilding it from the ground up.

For UK EMIs, PSPs, payment institutions, neobanks and fintech businesses, a modular approach can provide a more flexible way to introduce new financial capabilities while retaining existing technology investments.

As payments continue to evolve across the UK and Europe, businesses need infrastructure that can accommodate new payment services, integrations, operational requirements and customer expectations.

The right architecture should allow businesses to:

Connect. Extend. Modernise. Scale.

And do it without having to rebuild everything.

Modernise Your Payment Infrastructure Without Starting From Scratch

AnankAI provides modular fintech technology infrastructure for businesses building and operating modern financial products.

Explore how AnankAI can support your requirements across:

Payments | Accounts | Wallets | Cards | KYC/KYB | AML | Transaction Monitoring | Ledger | Reconciliation | Reporting | APIs

Book a Demo 

AnankAI is a fintech technology and software infrastructure provider. It does not provide banking services, EMI licences, regulatory authorisation, legal advice or regulatory consulting.