Business

A Closer Look at Qi Card’s Range of Financial Services

Published

1 year ago

August 19, 2024

Credit: Qi Card

Since starting in 2007, Qi Card has become a significant player in Iraq’s financial services. The Iraqi Electronic Payment Systems and Rafidain Bank founded Qi Card, which has changed how financial services operate in Iraq. It offers a variety of services that have impacted the financial industry.

Biometric ID Cards: Enhancing Security

Qi Card introduced biometric ID cards, setting a new standard for secure transactions in Iraq. These cards use fingerprint-based authentication, which helps prevent fraud and identity theft. Users can access their funds and complete transactions safely and efficiently.

Qi Card’s biometric ID cards have transformed financial inclusion in Iraq. As of 2024, Qi Card serves over twelve million clients, including government employees, pensioners, and private sector workers. Bahaa Abdul Hadi, the founder of Qi Card, said, “Our biometric technology has improved security and enhanced the user experience, making financial services accessible to more Iraqis.”

Comprehensive Mobile Application: Qi Services

Qi Card’s mobile application, Qi Services, is vital to its offerings. The app allows users to check balances, transfer money, and accept payments—all from their smartphones. This easy-to-use platform helps customers manage their finances effortlessly.

One standout feature of the Qi Services app is its integration with Western Union. This partnership makes it easy for users to send money internationally, which is essential for the Iraqi diaspora, as it allows them to send money home quickly and securely.

Salary Distribution and Loan Disbursement

Qi Card is crucial for distributing salaries to government and private sector employees. This service guarantees that employers pay wages on time and securely, reducing the administrative burden on employers and providing employees with a reliable way to receive their pay.

Since 2018, Qi Card has disbursed over $4 billion in loans to more than 800,000 citizens. These loans support small businesses and individuals, contributing to economic growth. The use of multi-biometric identification makes sure that these loan disbursements are secure and accessible.

Strategic Partnerships: Expanding Reach and Capabilities

Qi Card has formed strategic alliances to enhance its service offerings. Its partnership with Asiacell and Digital Zone aims to streamline digital transactions and promote financial inclusion in Iraq. These collaborations combine the strengths of each partner to offer more comprehensive services to users.

In a significant move, Qi Card launched the ‘superQi’ app in partnership with Alipay. This app integrates various financial services, including e-commerce capabilities, making it a one-stop solution for users. Bahaa Abdul Hadi noted, “The ‘superQi’ app marks a significant leap in providing comprehensive, advanced financial services to our users, setting a new standard in the region.”

Commitment to Financial Inclusion

A key goal of Qi Card is to enhance financial inclusion. It provides access to financial services to previously underserved populations, including displaced migrants. Qi Card is filling critical gaps in the financial system, making sure that more Iraqis can participate in the formal economy, and promoting broader economic growth.

Qi Card continues to innovate with products like travel card and credit facilities, which cater to the diverse needs of Iraq’s population and provide tailored solutions that enhance financial accessibility and convenience.

Future Prospects and Industry Impact

Iraq’s fintech sector is expected to grow significantly, with an estimated annual growth rate of 20% for 2024-2025. Qi Card is well-prepared to lead this growth with its strong technological foundation and strategic partnerships. The company’s innovative solutions and comprehensive services will likely attract more users.

While Qi Card has achieved considerable success, challenges remain. Regulatory changes and technological advancements, such as blockchain and AI, present both risks and opportunities. Qi Card’s ability to adapt and innovate will be crucial in navigating these changes and maintaining its leadership in the market.

Qi Card’s range of financial services highlights the company’s innovative spirit and dedication to enhancing financial inclusion in Iraq. Through advanced biometric technology, a comprehensive mobile application, strategic partnerships, and a focus on underserved populations, Qi Card is transforming the financial terrain in Iraq.

As the company continues to grow and evolve, its impact on Iraq’s economy and the global fintech industry will be significant.

Business

Derik Fay and the Quiet Rise of a Fintech Dynasty: How a Relentless Visionary is Redefining the Future of Payments

Published

21 hours ago

October 17, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Long before the headlines, before the Forbes features, and well before he became a respected fixture in boardrooms across the country, Derik Fay was a kid from Westerly, Rhode Island with little more than grit and audacity. Now, with a strategic footprint spanning more than 40 companies—including holdings in media, construction, real estate, pharma, fitness, and fintech—Fay’s influence is as diversified as it is deliberate. And his most recent move may be his boldest yet: the acquisition and co-ownership of Tycoon Payments, a fintech venture poised to disrupt an industry built on middlemen and outdated rules.

Where many entrepreneurs chase headlines, Fay chases legacy.

Rebuilding the Foundation of Fintech

In the saturated space of payment processors, Fay didn’t just want another transactional brand. He saw a broken system—one that labeled too many businesses as “high-risk,” denied them access, and overcharged them into silence. Tycoon Payments, under his stewardship, is rewriting that narrative from the ground up.

Instead of the all-too-common “fake processor” model, where companies act as brokers rather than actual underwriters, Tycoon Payments is being engineered to own the rails—integrating direct banking partnerships, custom risk modeling, and flexible support for underserved industries.

“Disruption isn’t about being loud,” Fay said in a private strategy session with advisors. “It’s about fixing what’s been ignored for too long. I don’t chase waves—I build the coastline.”

Quiet Power, Strategic Depth

Now 46 years old, Fay has evolved from scrappy gym owner to an empire builder, founding 3F Management as a private equity and venture vehicle to scale fast-growth businesses with staying power. His portfolio includes names like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, BIGG Pharma, Results Roofing, FayMs Films, and SalonPlex—but also dozens of companies that never make headlines. That’s by design.

Where others seek followers, Fay builds founders. Where most celebrate their exits, Fay reinvests in people.

While he often deflects conversations around his personal wealth, analysts estimate his net worth to exceed $100 million, with some placing it comfortably over $250 million, based on exits, real estate holdings, and the trajectory of his current ventures.

Yet unlike others in his tax bracket, Fay still answers cold DMs. He mentors rising entrepreneurs without cameras rolling. And he shows up—not just with capital, but with conviction.

A Mogul Grounded in Real Life

Outside of business, Fay remains committed to his role as a father and partner. He shares two daughters, Sophia Elena Fay and Isabella Roslyn Fay, and has been in a relationship with Shandra Phillips since 2021. He’s known for keeping his personal life private, but those close to him speak of a man who brings the same intention to parenting as he does to scaling multimillion-dollar ventures—focused, present, and consistent.

His physical stature—standing at 6′1″—matches his professional gravitas, but what’s more striking is his ability to operate with both discipline and empathy. Fay’s reputation among founders and CEOs is not just one of capital deployment, but emotional intelligence. As one partner noted, “He’s the kind of guy who will break down your pitch—and rebuild your belief in yourself in the same breath.”

The Tycoon Blueprint

The playbook Fay is writing at Tycoon Payments doesn’t just threaten incumbents—it reinvents the infrastructure. This isn’t another “fintech startup” with a flashy brand and no backend. It’s a strategically positioned venture with real underwriting power, cross-border ambitions, and a founder who understands how to scale quietly until the entire industry has to take notice.

In an age where so many entrepreneurs rely on noise and virality to build influence, Fay remains a master of what can only be called elite stealth. He doesn’t need the spotlight. But his impact casts a long shadow.

Conclusion: The Empire Expands

From Rhode Island beginnings to venture boardrooms, from gym owner to fintech force, Derik Fay continues to build not just businesses—but a blueprint. One rooted in resilience, innovation, and long-term infrastructure.

Tycoon Payments may be the latest chess piece. But the game he’s playing is bigger than one move. It’s a long game of strategic leverage, intentional legacy, and generational wealth.

And Fay is not just playing it. He’s redefining the rules.