American Express has partnered with Santander UK and fintech firm Ripple to enable blockchain-powered international B2B payments. The solution is anticipated to speed up cross-border transactions between the UK and the US using the blockchain technology.

American Express’ customers will now be able to conduct payments on the FX International Payments (FXIP) platform that will route transfers via the Ripple’s enterprise blockchain network, RippleNet. According to companies, the service, which is already used by customers, will be expanded globally in the future.

”American Express has a long history of integrating new technologies into innovative products and services that differentiate and enhance the customer experience,” said Marc Gordon, chief information officer at American Express. “This collaboration with Ripple and Santander represents the next step forward on our blockchain journey, evolving the way we move money around the world.”

Unlike traditional payment systems, blockchain-based platform will reduce the cost of international transfers and simplify settlement process, while maintaining advanced security of payments.

“We’ve already seen evidence that blockchain technology is playing a transformational role in the way customers are served,” said Greg Keeley, Executive Vice President of Global Corporate Payments at American Express. “Not only does this partnership with Ripple help decrease the time it takes for international transactions to be processed, it can make our transactions more effective for our customers.”

Initially, the project will connect American Express’ customers in the US to UK Santander bank accounts, enabling instant, traceable cross-border non-card transactions.

“We’re taking a huge step forward with American Express and Santander in solving the problems corporate customers experience with global payments,” said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple. “Transfers that used to take days will be completed in real-time, allowing money to move as fast as business today. It is just the beginning, and we look forward to growing this partnership to help other American Express FXIP customers.”

Santander was among the six major banks that partnered with Ripple last year to establish the first interbank group for the development of the blockchain network for global transfers.

Ripple leverages the power of the blockchain technology to enable frictionless payments all over the world. By using Ripple’s network, financial organizations can process their customers’ payments instantly and cost-effectively.

American Express is committed to transform business processes by using the blockchain technology. Earlier this year, the bank joined Hyperledger, the Linux Foundation-led cross-industry initiative aimed at creating an enterprise-grade, open-source distributed ledger technology. In 2014, the bank’s CEO, Kenneth I. Chenault, shared his view on the blockchain, saying it would play an important role in the industry.

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