Ripple, a distributed fintech company enabling direct bank-to-bank settlement has announced the addition of 10 new customers to its growing global network.

These financial institutions include MUFG, BBVA, SEB, Akbank, Axis Bank, YES BANK, SBI Remit, Cambridge Global Payments, Star One Credit Union and eZforex.com, representing some of the world’s largest banks, innovative smaller banks, and payment service providers (PSPs).

Here are just a few examples of how this new group of customers is using Ripple to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with global transactions:

BBVA, one of the top 50 largest banks in the world, is using Ripple to enable real-time payments between Europe and Mexico.

Digital banking pioneer and one of Turkey’s largest private banks, Akbank, is the first bank in Turkey to adopt blockchain and is a model for other banks who want to make faster cross-border payments without the need for correspondents.

Star One is the first credit union to offer Ripple remittances to customers via eZforex.com, demonstrating how smaller banks can lower costs and achieve much greater reach for their customers.

Cambridge Global Payments and Earthport are collaborating with Ripple to improve the customer experience, increase the reach and reduce the cost of real-time cross-border payments.

These ten customers are now among the most forward-thinking financial institutions around the world, who are committed to moving beyond the sandbox and are using Ripple’s enterprise blockchain solution to move real money around the world today.

Several of the financial institutions commented on their use of Ripple’s blockchain network:

Hirofumi Aihara, General Manager, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, a member of MUFG:

“We are very pleased to be working with Ripple to provide new types of payments services to change our customers’ experience using the power of the blockchain technology. To demonstrate our commitment to the technology, we are joining the Japan Bank Consortium to collaborate with other Japanese banks move to the commercial use of Ripple’s global network. I do believe we can bring our experience from the Japan Bank Consortium to the Global Payments Steering Group.”

Tolga Ulutaş, Executive Vice President in charge of Akbank Direct Banking:

“We are excited and happy to be the first bank in Turkey to take the important step of using blockchain technology for international money transfer services. We believe that this new phase in technology will increase speed and transparency for our customers while at the same time reducing costs and providing a higher quality of service.”

Amresh Acharya, Group President, and Head, Global Indian Banking, YES BANK:

“India is the largest recipient of personal remittances in the world, and as a leading Indian bank with a strong focus on technology, we are glad to partner with Ripple to realize the enhanced efficiencies of blockchain for real-time cross-border payments. This partnership is a continuation of YES BANK’s ethos of using state-of-the-art technology intervention to offer a superior banking experience to our customers.”

Mr. V Srinivasan, Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank:

“We are committed to using innovation in technology to make banking simple and convenient for our customers. Remittances have been a key strategic area for us, we at Axis are excited with the tie-up and the potential that the use of blockchain technology could deliver in enabling real-time affordable money transfers. We have commenced work with Ripple and are in active discussions with other Banks on the network to collaborate and test various use-cases across retail and corporate remittances.”

Paula da Silva, Head of Transaction Services, SEB: