Pesa Launches in Australia for Faster Nigeria Transfers
Pesa, a cross-border financial platform designed for international living, has officially launched in Australia, offering a streamlined and cost-effective way to transfer money between Australia and Nigeria. Authorized as an Independent Remittance Dealer (IRD) by Australia’s financial regulator, AUSTRAC (a license secured in July 2025), Pesa connects directly with the local Australian Dollar (AUD) payment infrastructure. This integration allows it to bypass traditional correspondent banking networks, eliminating hidden exchange rate markups and ensuring faster, more transparent transfers for international students, working professionals, and global families.
According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census, there are over 12,883 Nigeria-born residents in Australia, with significant populations in Greater Sydney (24.4%), Greater Melbourne (18.9%), Greater Perth (11.8%), and Greater Brisbane (10.1%). Many of these individuals face challenges such as high transfer fees, delays, and unclear pricing when sending money across borders. Pesa aims to address these issues by providing a reliable and affordable payment route. “Think Money. Think Pesa,” said Tolu Osho, Co-Founder and CEO of Pesa. “Where traditional platforms see a transaction, Pesa sees family and life across borders.”
To ensure fund security and compliance with local regulations, Pesa operates under AUSTRAC’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CTF) standards. James Miller, Head of Compliance at Pesa, emphasized the importance of securing official authorization from AUSTRAC before opening in Australia. “We built a secure foundation that protects our customers’ hard-earned money,” he said. Starting today, customers in Australia can complete their profile in under two minutes with zero transfer fees, and transfers from AUD to Nigerian Naira (NGN) display clear, upfront exchange rates, ensuring recipients receive the exact amount shown at checkout.
Pesa plans to expand its services in the coming phases, introducing multi-currency accounts, Pesa Cards for global spending, Pesa Stash for targeted savings, and business transfer options. The platform is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, and operates across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Nigeria, and select European markets, enabling customers to send money to 40+ countries worldwide. For more information or to start sending money, visit www.pesa.co or download the Pesa app on iOS and Android.