Lunar and Wise Platform interview: Transforming global payments in the Nordics

Roisin Levine, Head of UK and Europe at Wise Platform, recently sat down with Michael Sproegel, Principal Manager, Payments & Payment Products at Lunar Bank, for an in-depth conversation about our exciting new partnership.

The collaboration builds on an already successful relationship. Wise has been leveraging Moonrise, Lunar's modern banking infrastructure, for seamless local clearing and payments across Scandinavia. Now, we’re taking the partnership to the next level.

This new phase brings Wise’s white-labelled solution to Lunar’s private and business users in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. This means they can now send money abroad quickly and securely in over 40 currencies, all within the Lunar app and at a low cost. This powerful experience is fueled by Wise’s network, which connects directly to six domestic payment systems and over 70 licenses worldwide, enabling 70% of transfers to arrive instantly—in 20 seconds or less.*

Together, we’re making international transactions fast, affordable and transparent for Nordic customers.

A partnership built for growth

Lunar Bank has come a long way since its early days. As a fully digital Nordic bank serving customers across Denmark, Norway and Sweden, it's just hit an incredible milestone: reaching one million customers.

With this growth comes evolving needs, particularly around cross-border payments. That's where its partnership with Wise Platform comes in, enhancing the bank’s global payments capabilities right when its customers need it most.

What Nordic customers really want from cross-border payments

When we asked Michael about what drives customer satisfaction in international payments, he highlighted four key areas that consistently come up in customer feedback and research.

• Coverage: Customers need support for the countries, currencies and payment methods that matter to them. It's not just about having lots of options; it's about having the right ones for each customer's unique needs.
• Speed: Today's customers expect their international payments to be as quick as domestic ones. They've gotten used to instant payments within their own countries, so waiting days for cross-border transfers feels frustrating and outdated.
• Transparency: Customers want to know exactly what they'll pay and how long it will take before they hit send. Hidden fees and unclear timelines create anxiety and erode trust.
• Convenience: Customers don't want to juggle multiple apps or services for different payment needs. They're looking for that seamless, one-stop shop experience where everything just works together naturally.

The build, buy or partner decision

When Lunar was exploring how to deliver these fast, convenient and transparent global payments experiences, it faced a common strategic decision: should they build, buy or partner to get the infrastructure they needed?

Building cross-border payments infrastructure from scratch might seem appealing from a control perspective, but Michael and the team at Lunar Bank quickly realised it would take years to develop and significant resources to maintain. Instead, partnering with Wise Platform made sense for several reasons.

By leveraging Wise's proven payment infrastructure and deep local expertise, Lunar could dramatically accelerate their time-to-market. This approach also allows the bank to focus its resources on core banking services while ensuring resilience and flexibility through a best-in-class partnership.

What made Wise Platform the right choice

But the partnership didn't happen overnight. Lunar had specific criteria it needed any partner to meet, and these requirements shaped the bank’s entire selection process.

• Performance and reliability: Lunar needed extremely high availability and uptime, essentially an "always on" infrastructure capability. The bank required a partner with a proven track record demonstrating consistent performance, because its customers expect their payments to work every single time.
• Tech-native: Lunar needed modern, flexible and scalable solutions that could grow with the bank. Well-documented APIs and integration capabilities were non-negotiable, as was finding a true tech partnership with strong technical capabilities. The ability to integrate seamlessly with Lunar's digital-first infrastructure was essential.
• Brand alignment: Lunar was looking for a partner with a customer-first ethos that genuinely resonated with its own values. Both companies needed that shared commitment to putting customers at the center of everything they do.
• Regulatory compliance and trustworthiness: Operating across multiple Nordic markets means navigating complex regulatory environments, so the bank needed a partner with strong adherence to local regulations across multiple jurisdictions. Understanding payment scheme rules and having proven capability in handling regulatory complexity was essential. Above all, Lunar needed a trustworthy partner with established credibility in the market.

The partnership between Lunar and Wise Platform signifies more than just a technical integration, it's about two customer-focused companies coming together to solve real problems for Nordic customers who deserve better cross-border payments experiences.

About Lunar

Lunar is a Nordic challenger bank, built to redefine what banking should be. Founded in Aarhus, Denmark, Lunar employs around 400 people across the Nordic region. In 2019, Lunar received its banking license and has since become one of the few banks with a Nordic banking platform. Today, over 1 million private and business users across the Nordics use Lunar.

Find out more at www.lunar.app.