FIRE – A LEADING PROVIDER OF DIGITAL ACCOUNTS AND OPEN BANKING SOLUTIONS – ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF CHRIS DAVIES, FORMER PRESIDENT, EUROPE AT GLOBAL PAYMENTS, AS NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ITS UK BOARD

London, Dublin – 24^th January 2023

Chris Davies, who recently retired as President, Europe of Global Payments, has joined the Board of Fire.

As a payments industry veteran, Chris joins Mike Smith and Lucy McClements on the Fire UK Board of Directors, while working alongside Joe Caulfield and Enda Murphy on the Fire EU Board creating a highly experienced team of payments industry professionals.

Chris’s appointment comes at an exciting time as Fire scales its business and operations across the UK and Ireland. Over the last two years Fire has seen its customer base grow significantly. Its digital account, debit card and payment services are now used by thousands of businesses. In addition, Fire has become a major player in open banking payments, providing services to both merchants and financial institutions (card acquirers).

Commenting on his appointment Chris said “I am really delighted to be joining the Fire UK Board of Directors at this incredibly exciting time for the business. The Fire digital account platform brings integrated and embedded payments to reality in a way that delivers real business benefit. In particular, the way Fire has helped card acquirers go to market with new open banking and funding solutions is very impressive.”

Colm Lyon, the CEO of Fire added “We at Fire are very pleased to have Chris join our Board. Chris’s expertise and experience in the payments industry is legendary and we are looking forward to working with Chris and the other Directors as we execute our plans to scale Fire.”

About Fire – Your Payments. Without the Friction.

Fire helps businesses of all sizes with their accounts, debit cards and payments. With a great range of payment services, smart technology and regulatory licences, we deliver solutions that make managing accounts, debit cards and payments better. Regulated in the EU and UK and licenced to provide payments services for more than ten years, Fire is a member of numerous payment schemes and networks. The team has decades of payment expertise and experience and some of the largest financial institutions in the world work with Fire. Fire is a principal issuer of Mastercard® debit cards and an approved provider of Faster Payments, Bacs, Direct Debits, SEPA and Open Banking.

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Annual Mizen to Malin Cycle takes place from 28 May – 3^rd June

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind has today announced that it has teamed up with Fire to encourage donations for the annual Mizen to Malin Charity Cycle via the use of QR codes.

Fire, a digital account provider, will be helping Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s fundraising effort by enabling people to scan QR codes and donate directly from their mobiles in the upcoming cycle which takes place from Saturday May 28^th to Friday June 3^rd.

Fire’s solution will make the donation process seamless and convenient. The use of QR codes means donors can scan and approve the payment with their mobile. There’s no need to enter card details as the donors pay directly from their mobile banking apps. The ambition is to exceed the fundraising target of 120,000 euro.

Liam Linnane, Operations Team Lead & Product Analyst at Fire, is taking part in the fundraising event which was established by his father Eamonn 20 years ago in memory of his own father who was vision impaired. Liam said; “The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind were a massive help to my grandad and our family after he lost his sight. The dogs that the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind gave to my grandad over the years gave him the independence that would have been impossible without them.”

To help with the fundraising effort, and enabled by Fire’s payment solution, Liam’s jersey will have a QR code on the back allowing supporters to easily donate directly from their bank accounts, along the 657km route.

“I’m very proud of my father for all the work he’s done for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, over the last 20 years raising more than €1.2m and I’m also proud to be part of Fire whose QR code payment technology which can make a real difference to the amount of money raised.”

Tim O’Mahony, Chief Executive Officer with Irish Guide Dogs for Blind said “We’re extremely grateful to Eamon, Liam and the entire Linnane family for the support over the last 20 years. What they have achieved is phenomenal with the event growing every year. The use of the QR codes is an exciting fundraising avenue for us and hopefully it means donating can be made easier and ultimately, we can change more lives as a result.”

To donate Scan the QR code or visit https://payments.fire.com/j4vv5xkf

Photo from L to R: Mizen to Malin Cycle 2022 in aid of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. From L to R: Ambassador Dog Belle – Pat Harney, Chair of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s Malahide/Portmarnock Branch – Assistance Dog Owner Charlotte Gregg with Assistance Dog Ambrose – Liam Linnane, M2M cyclist and Operations Team Lead & Product Analyst at Fire – Eamonn Linnane M2M Founder – Jennifer Nora Hurley, Regional Development Officer, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind – Constanze O’Toole, Puppy Raiser with Puppy in Training Olan.

Irish fintech Fire Financial Services is targeting Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland business customers seeking an alternative account provider as both lenders prepare to exit the Irish market later this year.

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