What is Worldpay?
Worldpay is one of the world’s largest payment processors, headquartered in the UK and processing card and bank payments for businesses of all sizes globally. It handles credit and debit card transactions, online payments, and point-of-sale payments for hundreds of thousands of merchants. If you see Worldpay on communications from your bank or payment provider, it typically relates to the payment processing infrastructure used by a merchant you transacted with.
Who owns Worldpay and what is its history?
Worldpay was originally part of NatWest before being sold, and has changed ownership several times. In 2023, FIS (Fidelity National Information Services) completed a sale of a majority stake in Worldpay to GTCR, a private equity firm, valuing Worldpay at approximately $18.5 billion. Worldpay operates independently and is not currently owned by NatWest. It is one of the most widely used payment processors in the UK, particularly among large retail and hospitality businesses.
Does Worldpay offer open banking payments?
Yes — Worldpay has integrated open banking payment initiation into its merchant services, allowing businesses to offer bank-to-bank payment at checkout alongside traditional card payment. This is regulated under the FCA’s PISP framework. For merchants, open banking payments via Worldpay offer lower transaction costs than card payments and faster settlement. Worldpay is one of the largest companies expanding open banking payment acceptance in the UK.
Open Banking in Practice: Worldpay is regulated by the FCA as a payment institution for its UK operations. It processes payments across more than 140 currencies in over 140 countries. The company is separate from the consumer-facing Worldpay brand that some UK consumers may have encountered for online purchases. Read more about the UK payments infrastructure and open banking on openfuture.world.
FAQ
Is Worldpay the same as PayPal?
No — Worldpay is a merchant payment processor handling card and bank transactions for businesses; PayPal is a consumer-facing digital wallet and payment platform.
How much does Worldpay charge per transaction?
Worldpay’s transaction fees vary by business type, volume, and contract terms — typically ranging from 0.5% to 2.5% plus a per-transaction fee for card payments.
Is Worldpay safe for online payments?
Yes — Worldpay is FCA-regulated and PCI DSS-compliant; it uses industry-standard encryption for all transaction processing.