Afirme, a prominent Mexican financial institution, has embarked on a comprehensive digital transformation to enhance its payment processing capabilities. By partnering with Volante Technologies, Afirme has automated its SWIFT cross-border transactions using the Volante Payments Platform. This strategic move not only accelerates transaction times but also positions the bank to offer a broader range of international payment services, aligning with its growth objectives both domestically and internationally.
About Afirme
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Afirme is a subsidiary of Afirme Grupo Financiero, S.A. de C.V. The bank provides a comprehensive suite of financial products and services, including savings and current accounts, credit and debit cards, loans, wealth management, mortgages, and investment services. With over 120 branches across Mexico, Afirme is committed to delivering high-quality financial solutions to its diverse clientele.
The challenges that Afirme faced
As global cross-border payment volumes surged—doubling the global average—Afirme recognized the imperative to modernize its payment infrastructure. The bank’s existing systems were not equipped to handle the increasing demand for swift and secure international transactions, especially with plans to expand its presence into North America. This growth trajectory necessitated a solution that could automate and expedite cross-border payment processing, ensuring near-instantaneous settlements for its customers.
How Volante helped Afirme
To address these challenges, Afirme selected the Volante Payments Platform, drawn by its modern, low-code architecture, comprehensive functionality, and seamless integration capabilities with existing bank systems. The implementation led to a dramatic reduction in SWIFT processing times—from hours to mere seconds—enabling customers to receive international funds almost immediately. This automation not only improved operational efficiency but also laid the groundwork for Afirme to introduce new value-added services, including those based on the ISO 20022 messaging standard and next-generation cross-border payment types like SWIFT gpi.
As we seek to enhance our customers’ experience and grow domestically and internationally, payments modernization is a top priority for us. Fully automating and accelerating cross-border payment processing with Volante is an important first step forward. Volante has helped us reduce SWIFT processing time from hours to seconds, so that our customers can receive international funds within a near-immediate settlement instance, even as the volume of requests continues to grow.
Raúl Arzate Ortiz, Director Comptroller’s Office, Money Markets, Afirme
Transforming payments into a competitive advantage
The deployment of the Volante Payments Platform has significantly bolstered Afirme’s competitive edge. The bank can now efficiently manage an anticipated 20% annual increase in transaction volumes, offer a wider array of international payment options, and provide a data-rich experience to its customers. This transformation aligns with Afirme’s strategic goals of enhancing customer satisfaction and expanding its market footprint.
Building a foundation for future innovation
With its modernized payment infrastructure, Afirme is well-positioned to adapt to evolving industry standards and customer expectations. The partnership with Volante Technologies has not only addressed immediate operational needs but also established a scalable foundation for future innovations in payment processing and financial services.
The Volante difference
Volante Technologies has proven to be an invaluable partner in Afirme’s journey toward payment modernization. The Volante Payments Platform delivered rapid deployment, seamless integration, and scalable real-time payment capabilities. This collaboration has empowered Afirme to stay ahead of emerging trends and maintain its leadership position in the competitive financial services landscape.
Volante Technologies serves as the trusted payments modernization partner to over 150 financial businesses of all sizes worldwide. Our cloud-native payments as a service solutions and low-code financial platform give our customers the freedom to evolve and innovate at record speed.
