About Optimus Cards
We do the cards,
you get the kudos.
Founded in 2014, Optimus Cards is an authorised Electronic Money Institution (EMI), regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and a Principal Member of Mastercard®.
Originally founded to deliver debit cards as a service into the Credit Union sector across Ireland and the UK, Optimus cards is a leading provider of embedded financial cards and payment solutions.
From Credit Unions to Cryptocurrency, Challenger Banks and Programme Managers, Fintechs and FX we provide a range of Mastercard® card programmes, payment solutions and virtual accounts to fit your business. From straightforward BIN Sponsorship to full-programme management, our solutions integrate straight into your platform and your customers, so you can have flexible and scalable solutions offering fully serviced operational support, complete with revolutionary development to keep members and customers tapped into your service 24/7.
From our UK HQ, we build first-class end-to-end card solutions for financial institutions, fintechs, Cryptocurrency platforms, Programme Managers and FX companies across Europe. We never compromise on quality, partnering with the best and brightest in the industry to deliver a truly tailored program.
As an innovative Principal Member of Mastercard® with plug and play technology, our customers can go from zero to sorted in 60 days*.
Today Optimus is the Principal Member issuer to 11 white label Credit Unions and 16 Cryptocurrency platforms.
*Subject to card design & implementation
How we work
What we do is what we don’t.
Size doesn’t matter. We work with financial institutions, no matter how many people they serve.
It’s your world, we’re just a part of it. We don’t compete for customers or manage member relationships.
Plug in and go. We don’t require expensive infrastructure investment to get you off the ground.
Our Team
Lindsay Robertson
CEO
Lindsay is a card and payments specialist with over 35 years’ experience in Financial Services and the Public Sector, and has delivered strategies and solutions for banks and processors globally.
Nick Charteris
COO
Nick holds 20 years of experience in strategy, leadership and growth in the “embedded finance” and payments sector. He has run the acquisition and integration of a card services business and the management buyout of global companies.
Lindsay Ward
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Lindsay has over 20 years’ experience in Financial Services, with a focus on e-money, payments, acquiring and banking. She is a seasoned professional in empowering businesses from start-ups to corporations.
Hari Patel
CFO
A qualified accountant with 16 years in the Payments industry, Hari has extensive experience spanning Accounting, Risk, Sales, and Finance. As CFO at Optimus Cards, he’s geared towards enhancing business growth, scalability, and transformation.
Corina Jordaan
CTO
Corina is an IT professional with over 15 years’ experience in implementing Banking and Financial Services systems. Corina’s expertise lies across multiple areas including wealth management, retail banking and payments services
Our History
2014
May
Company incorporated
2015
December
Six Towns Credit Union – First live real-time debit card in UK credit union market
2016
Payments Awards 2016 – Start-Up of the Year Winner
2017
August
Principal Scheme Member of Mastercard®
2018
January
Approved member of Mambu Marketplace
2018
July
Mastercard® Direct Services – Card Innovator of the Year Winner
2018
November
FCA Authorised Electronic Money Institution
2021
January
Launch Cardless Cash programme with PIN4
2021
January
Uphold Acquires Optimus Cards UK
2021
March
Lindsay Robertson appointed CEO and Senior Management Team strengthened
2022
March
Launch crypto enabled debit cards
Uphold
