Acquiring as a Service

    Run acquiring under your brand
    without building the infrastructure from scratch

    Akua gives you the infrastructure to process and operate acquiring with a direct connection to Visa and Mastercard, whether you have your own license or need to operate on an enabled license in the markets where we have one.

    60–0 daysLaunch your operation in 60 to 90 days
    Availability by marketAsk our team which model applies in your country
    0.0%Contractual SLA of 99.9% monthly availability
    < 0 daysTo launch a new country from scratch

    The problem we solve

    Getting an acquirer license takes years and costs millions.

    For many banks, fintechs, and platforms, becoming a direct acquirer was simply impossible. The regulatory, technical, and capital barriers were insurmountable. Akua removes them.

    2–4 years of regulatory process

    Negotiation with Visa/MC, license acquisition, PCI audits — with no guarantee of success.

    US$5–20M initial investment

    Infrastructure, certifications, technical and legal team — all before processing the first transaction.

    High regulatory risk

    Without a track record as an acquirer, regulators impose additional restrictions.

    Build in-house vs. Akua AaaS

    Dimension

    In-house

    Time to launch

    2–4 years

    60 to 90 days

    Initial investment

    US$5–20M

    No initial CAPEX

    Team required

    50–100+ people

    5–15 people

    PCI certifications

    12–18 months + audit

    PCI DSS Level 1 certified infrastructure

    Visa/MC connections

    Direct negotiation 1–2 years

    Included from day 1

    Regulatory compliance

    High (no track record)

    Responsibilities defined in the contract

    Estimated values based on the Akua team’s experience; they vary by market and by the scope of each project.

    Two models

    Choose the level of control

    From pure technology to the complete stack with license enablement: Akua adapts to your regulatory, technical and business situation.

    Technology only

    For institutions with their own acquiring license

    Maximum control

    Cloud Native Processor

    Akua's processing core on your AWS infrastructure

    If you already have an acquiring license, Akua gives you the platform to process and operate with your own license, in every market where we operate.

    Native AWS deployment (your account)
    Active-active across multiple AZs
    Automatic traffic-based scaling
    Contractual SLA of 99.9% monthly availability
    PCI DSS 4.0 certified
    ISO 8583 + modern REST APIs
    Monitoring and observability included
    Dedicated implementation support
    Tier 1 banks with own license
    Processors migrating to cloud
    Established acquirers

    Technology and license enablement

    For those without their own license

    60 to 90 days to launch

    License Enabler

    Run acquiring under your brand on a license enabled by Akua, in the markets where we have one

    You manage your operation and your brand on a license enabled by Akua.

    Your brand in front of your merchants, our infrastructure behind
    Direct Visa and Mastercard connections included
    Native ISO 8583 and PCI DSS 4.0 certifications
    Merchant management under your branding
    White-label reporting and analytics
    Regulatory compliance included
    Flexible revenue sharing model
    Dedicated 24/7 technical support
    Financial cooperatives
    Compensation funds
    Banks with new licenses
    Regulated fintechs
    High-volume retail networks
    All inclusive

    Full Stack

    Complete infrastructure: processing + settlement + compliance

    Akua runs the complete infrastructure and you focus on your merchants.

    License enabled by Akua in the markets where we have one
    Full processing stack
    Automated settlement & clearing
    Fraud and risk management included
    White-label dashboard and reporting
    AI Agents for operations
    Multi-country regulatory compliance
    24/7 operational support
    Technology companies
    Vertical platforms
    Launching neobanks
    ISOs and sales agents

    License enablement is only available in some markets. Ask our team which model applies in your country.

    Use cases

    Who uses Akua AaaS?

    From banks looking to modernize to fintechs launching their first acquiring operation.

    New banks

    Launch your acquiring operation without building infrastructure from scratch.

      Fintechs

      Become an acquirer for your customer base using our infrastructure and license.

        Retail networks

        Accept payments under your own brand at all your points of sale without depending on third parties.

          Existing PSPs

          Modernize your acquiring infrastructure to cloud-native without replacing your operation.

            What everyone

            How long does it take to launch with License Enabler?

            Launch your operation in 60 to 90 days from contract signing. The process includes technical integration, merchant boarding setup and production testing.

            Do I need my own acquirer license?

            It depends on the country. In some markets we can enable you to use an acquiring license so you operate under your brand; in others we work with acquirers that hold their own license and give them the technology to operate. Our team will confirm which model applies in your market.

            How does the cost structure work?

            Revenue sharing model for License Enabler and Full Stack. Cloud Native Processor has volume-based pricing. The partnerships team delivers a customized financial model.

            In which countries is it available?

            We operate in different Latin American markets, with models that vary by country. Write to us to learn about availability in yours.

            What about chargeback and fraud risk?

            For License Enabler and Full Stack, Akua manages the risk. For Cloud Native Processor, the risk belongs to the client, supported by our AI Agents.

            Which model is
            right for you?

            Our partnerships team helps you choose the AaaS model that best fits your situation — no commitment required.