Papaya Global and Citi Team Up to Rethink the Last Mile of Global Payroll
In the ever-complicated world of global payroll, the “last mile” — actually getting employees and contractors paid — is where many companies hit a wall. Today, Papaya Global, the workforce payments platform, announced a strategic partnership with Citi, aiming to fix just that.
By integrating Citi’s advanced payment infrastructure, including CitiConnect for API, Payer ID, and WorldLink, Papaya will deliver faster, more compliant, and more resilient payments to over 160 countries and 130+ currencies. For multinationals juggling contractors in Croatia, teams in Tokyo, and FX fluctuations in real-time, it’s an upgrade that matters.
“Workforce payments are the backbone of global business operations,” said Eynat Guez, Co-Founder and CEO of Papaya Global. “Working with Citi, we can deliver the precision, reliability, and compliance necessary for companies wishing to scale with confidence.”
The Payments Problem Most Payroll Platforms Ignore
Most payroll solutions end at the paycheck—but Papaya wants to own the actual money movement, not just the calculation. It’s a growing differentiator in the $10B+ global payroll tech market, where traditional providers often outsource the money transfer or rely on dated banking rails.
With its acquisition of Azimo in 2022, Papaya already signaled its ambition to become a true global payment provider, not just a payroll software vendor. Now, by linking directly into Citi’s infrastructure, it’s doubling down.
Why does this matter? Because the final leg of workforce payments—especially across borders—is loaded with failure points: manual errors, volatile FX rates, delayed settlements, and regional compliance snafus. If you’ve ever had to chase down a late international payment, you get the pain.
Citi Infrastructure, Global Scale
The new integration gives Papaya several weapons in its arsenal:
-
Improved payment routing and redundancy to avoid single points of failure
-
Expanded currency support for local-to-local payments, even in harder-to-reach geographies
-
Real-time API integration for visibility and control
-
Streamlined compliance, which is crucial for employers operating in sensitive or regulated markets
It’s a move that positions Papaya Global as a serious contender against legacy platforms like ADP or SAP SuccessFactors, especially for companies with fast-growing or decentralized workforces.
A Rising Trend in HRtech: Payroll Meets Fintech
Papaya’s Citi deal is the latest example of a broader convergence between HRtech and fintech. Players like Deel, Remote, and Oyster have also expanded into payments and contractor management, recognizing that controlling the flow of funds—accurately, securely, and quickly—is a pain point crying out for disruption.
But where others rely on third parties, Papaya is increasingly verticalizing its payment stack. That approach is risky but powerful: more control, better margins, and fewer handoffs that can slow down or compromise workforce payments.
“That’s why we acquired Azimo,” said Guez. “That’s why we’re investing in constantly developing payments technology. And that’s why we chose Citi.”
Join thousands of HR leaders who rely on HRTechEdge for the latest in workforce technology, AI-driven HR solutions, and strategic insights.
