With a mission rooted in trust, technology, and financial literacy, Whish Money is transforming how communities access and manage money—from Lebanon to over 110 countries.
Whish Money is redefining financial access by tackling real-world challenges in volatile economies like Lebanon through a secure, user-friendly, digital-first model. The company has built trust by educating users, simplifying digital transactions, and forming global partnerships with the likes of Visa, Mastercard, and TerraPay. Now serving over one million users across 110+ countries, Whish combines mobile innovation, retail reach, and strong customer support to promote financial inclusion.
Toufic Koussa, Co-Founder and CEO of Whish Money, shares with Tahawultech.com on how the fintech is investing in AI, blockchain, and real-time compliance frameworks to lead the way in creating a more innovative, borderless financial ecosystem as it looks to scale further into North America and the GCC.
Interview Excerpts:
Whish Money is transforming financial access across Lebanon—a country facing significant economic and infrastructural hurdles. What were the earliest challenges you encountered when building a digital-first fintech in such a volatile environment, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was establishing trust during a shifting financial environment. We focused on building a digital-first platform, one that’s secure, easy to use, and transparent. Advancing financial literacy was key; we invested in educating users about how our solutions protect their money and simplify their daily transactions. Our disciplined approach to helping shape and change regulation and strong customer support, helped us build customer confidence. By guiding our customers through this transition, through education, trust, and handholding, we turned obstacles into opportunities for growth and inclusion, making digital finance accessible for all.
With over 1 million users across 110+ countries, Whish has moved from local disruptor to regional fintech leader. What strategic decisions helped drive this rapid scale, and how are you preparing the brand for global markets like North America and the GCC?
Our growth comes from a relentless focus on innovation, understanding what our local markets need, and forming strong alliances with global players like Visa, TerraPay, Ria, Transfast, TapTap Send, Send Wave, GCC Remit, Uremit, Shift, Mastercard, and more. For example, the Whish Visa Card enables seamless payments and offers value-added perks like airport lounge access and zero cross-border fees. Likewise, our integration with Mastercard and TerraPay powers instant, secure money transfer rails to over 150 countries. We’re committed to continuously investing in local compliance, innovation, and localised products to support instant, borderless payments. Our agile team responds quickly to market needs, ensuring we remain at the forefront.
“Moving forward, we’ll keep expanding into North America and the GCC, always with our customers’ trust and financial inclusion in mind.”
You’ve secured partnerships with major global players such as Visa, Mastercard, and TerraPay. What role do these collaborations play in enhancing user trust and financial inclusion, particularly in underserved communities?
My focus is on making financial services simple, accessible, and trustworthy. When we launched our solution, we knew that introducing the technology was just the beginning. Many users didn’t fully understand how to perform digital transactions, how it worked, or whether it was safe. That’s why we dedicated ourselves to educating users in a clear and straightforward way, explaining how their money is protected and how our app makes sending, paying, and shopping faster and easier. We invest in tools that enable quick and seamless KYC onboarding, using smart technologies. To reach more people, we also focus on retail channels and walk-in locations. For those hesitant about new tech, our support teams, via WhatsApp, call centers, and over 1,300 retail outlets—are there to guide and assist in person. I believe that combining innovative technology with our strong retail presence and dedicated customer support is what sets us apart. Our mission is to keep things simple and promote financial literacy, so more communities can trust and participate fully in digital finance. That’s how we empower everyone to be part of the economy.
Technology is central to your mission of financial empowerment. Could you walk us through some of Whish’s most impactful innovations—such as mobile wallets or digital onboarding—and how they’ve improved financial access for marginalised populations?
My focus has always been on removing barriers, whether complexity, cost, or trust, and opening doors for everyone. With our mobile wallets and digital onboarding, we’ve built tools that make accessing and managing money simple, fast, and secure. No matter if you’re an individual, micro-entrepreneur, or a business, our technology supports all aspects of money movement, from payroll, bills, groceries, to international transfers. I’ve always believed that technology should adapt to our users’ needs, enabling easy access and seamless experiences. That’s how we help underserved communities participate fully, build savings, and grow their financial resilience
What’s your vision for the future of payments—and how is Whish positioning itself to stay ahead of the curve while navigating complex regulatory environments?
I see the future of payments as borderless, intelligent, and highly secure, powered by AI, blockchain, and digital currencies that make transactions instant and frictionless worldwide. At Whish, we’re investing in emerging technologies to make our platform smarter, more secure, and adaptable. We’re also committed to evolving our compliance protocols to stay ahead of regulations, while strengthening our fraud detection systems to protect users in real-time. We work closely with regulators to ensure compliance and advocate for innovative frameworks that support growth. Our proactive, transparent approach is how we’re building a resilient, future-ready fintech ecosystem.