Marqeta and Spendesk FS Partner to Enhance Expense Controls
Marqeta, the card issuing platform that processes embedded finance transactions, has become the issuer processor for Spendesk Financial Services (SFS) in Europe, the payment institution owned by spend management company Spendesk.
The partnership, announced today, will see Marqeta provide card processing services to enhance SFS's expense management offering for over 4,000 small and medium-sized businesses across Europe.
Marqeta, which processed nearly US$300bn in payment volume in 2024, will integrate its technology into Spendesk's core banking platform to provide real-time transaction monitoring and customisable spend controls.
Enhanced spend controls for medium enterprises
"Expense management and procurement solutions are vital for medium-sized businesses looking to increase financial control, achieve consistent growth, and improve cash flow"
Spendesk offers procurement and expense management services that aim to centralise company spending. Its platform combines procurement, payment cards, expense management, invoice processing and accounting automation within a single system.
The integration with Marqeta allows SFS to issue both physical and virtual payment cards that can be configured according to business requirements.
The platform screens and authorises expenses in real-time, providing managers with tools to limit spending by time period or category.
"Expense management and procurement solutions are vital for medium-sized businesses looking to increase financial control, achieve consistent growth, and improve cash flow," says Stephane Dehaies, CEO of Spendesk Financial Services.
"Marqeta's open API platform is the perfect fit for our business, and will support us as we continue to lead the industry with innovative, end-to-end spend management solutions, providing businesses with greater visibility and control, even as they scale."
Real-time transaction monitoring
The technology partnership addresses a common pain point for finance teams who need to maintain spending controls while accommodating legitimate business expenses. The system allows for immediate approval or denial of transactions when unusual spending patterns are detected.
Card usage can be restricted to specific merchants or spending categories, with transactions outside policy parameters automatically flagged for review. This aims to reduce the traditional friction between finance departments and employees making business purchases.
Marcin Glogowski, SVP and Managing Director for Europe and UK CEO at Marqeta, explains the rationale behind the partnership: "In our work with Spendesk, we're helping businesses take the hassle out of expense management and assist SMBs in accessing better financial tools for their business."
“Marqeta's platform makes it simple for employees to make safe, policy-friendly purchases while keeping spending aligned with company goals.
“We're a trusted ally for them, seamlessly embedded into Spendesk's systems to help their customers scale, ultimately simplifying their spend management at a time of added competitive pressures.”
The collaboration reflects the growing demand for integrated financial services that combine card issuing, expense tracking, and procurement management in a single platform.
For medium-sized businesses, such tools have traditionally been available only to larger enterprises with custom-built systems.
Spendesk operates from offices in Paris, London, Berlin and Madrid, serving clients across Europe. Its CFO Connect community now includes more than 12,000 finance leaders, indicating the growing market for specialised financial management tools aimed at the finance function.
The card issuing services provided by Marqeta are regulated financial services, enabling SFS to offer payment instruments while maintaining compliance with European payment regulations.
The partnership represents a growing trend of embedded financial services where payment processing capabilities are integrated directly into business management platforms, allowing for seamless financial operations while maintaining compliance with European payment regulations.
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