Zilch, a consumer payments platform, has obtained a payments services license from UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), allowing it to operate without reliance on third-party providers and develop payments methods in-house.

The license comes as Zilch prepares to launch new products, including Zilch Pay in H1 2026, which will offer a one-click checkout experience, and Intelligent Commerce, an AI-powered platform that converts live engagement data into real-time insights.

The FCA authorisation also provides the company with direct access to product roadmap discussions, early testing opportunities, and potential commercial partnerships.

“This is a major step change for Zilch, bringing us firmly into the payments tent and giving us a true seat at the table to shape the ecosystem,”

said Philip Belamant, Co-Founder and CEO.

“It opens the door to new opportunities, setting us up to move even faster, more efficiently and cost-effectively. In just five years, we’ve amassed over 5.3 million users and thousands of retail partners. Now with our license, we are better positioned to develop this further and take advantage of new innovations as they mature.”

FCA licenses have become increasingly difficult to obtain, with Zilch subjected to scrutiny comparable to that of a new bank.

In addition, Zilch has gained Principal Membership of Visa, reinforcing their ongoing collaboration.

Recent months have seen Zilch raise over US$175 million in debt and equity, including an expansion of securitisation led by Deutsche Bank, and become the Official Way to Pay for Arsenal Football Club.

Featured image credit: Zilch