Welcome to The Electronic Money Association (EMA)

We are the trade body for electronic money issuers and innovative payment service providers including payment institutions, banks and payment schemes. The EMA provides members with a forum to share issues that impact new means of payment, and provide a means for pursuing these to resolution. The association has been involved in negotiating payment-related European Directives, regulations and in implementing legislation. We develop industry good practice in areas of compliance, customer service and enable the sharing of know-how.

We have provided a voice for the industry with government, public bodies, businesses and consumer groups. The EMA has been privy to the evolution of innovative payments from small niche offerings to a growing sector that is offering alternatives for payments to consumers and businesses alike.

EMA structure

The Electronic Money Association meets and takes its decisions in plenary. All members have equal say in discussions, in the activities of the association and in the decision-making process.  Subcommittees meet to address specialist issues, and report their findings into the plenary sessions. Day to day activities are undertaken by the secretariat, which is appointed by members.

Committees 

There are currently three standing subcommittees, one dealing with anti money laundering and counter terrorist financing (money laundering subcommittee), one with fraud (fraud subcommittee) and the third with IT systems and security (IT sec subcommittee). The committees meet bimonthly, and are attended by practitioners from member organisations. Both the money laundering and fraud subcommittees also develop typologies and have been sharing information in these areas since their inception. The IT security subcommittee is more recent. It is borne from the maturing IT security threats that benefit from shared resources and collaboration.

• Anti money laundering subcommittee
• Fraud subcommittee
• IT security subcommittee
• Virtual currencies subcommittee

Working groups

The EMA forms working groups to deal with particular short term projects and issues that arise. Working groups also report their findings and recommendations to the plenary meeting.

EMA Officers

The association elects its officers annually. Officers include; a chairperson who presides over meetings, a chief executive who is responsible for the business of the association and a minutes secretary.

Chief executive – Dr Thaer Sabri

Thaer has more than 15 years’ experience in the electronic money industry, in a regulatory capacity as well as in product management and business development. Thaer began his payments career at the prepaid card scheme Mondex International and then at the internet startup beenz.com before founding Flawless Money in 2001. He is chief executive of the Electronic Money Association, and leads industry regulatory interface with governments and public institutions. Thaer attended Sheffield University, Imperial College (University of London) and Birkbeck College (University of London) and is a solicitor in England and Wales. He now practises as a consultant.