We make real results happen.

The Soltesz Institute is the first and only independent online payment and banking

organisation providing courses and qualifications for all aspects of banking and
payment-related subjects, such as economic trends, banking developments,
compliance, technology, data security, accounting (including budgeting and costing), as
well as alternative payment methods and global and international money movements.

OCTOBER 2023

Understanding
the Need

Back in 2023, Viktoria realised that there was a blank space on the market in the niche of banking and payments courses

MARCH 2024

Establishing the Institute

Viktoria invited a few people to participate in the project, and the journey began

AUGUST 2024

HRDA-approved trainer

This means Cyprus-based companies can now benefit from Level 2 and Level 3 courses with up to 80% of the costs subsidised by the government

SEPTEMBER 2024

Establishing the Partnerships

Any business grows faster if supported by someone who believes in you. Luckily, the educational initiatives by the Soltesz Institute turned out to be needed by various Fintech Associations and Universities around the world

SEPTEMBER 2024

Official Launch

During the first month of operations, 28 people took our courses, and were happy about the result

NOVEMBER 2024

Extensive List of
Guest Lecturers

In November, the Soltesz Institute has agreed with 12 guest lecturers. The courses are expected to launch by the end of 2024

JANUARY 2025

Award Winning

Our Founder, Viktoria Soltesz—also the visionary behind PSP Angels—has been named Payment Consultant of the Year 2025 for the third consecutive year. This prestigious category underscores her exceptional expertise and leadership in the payments industry!

February 2025

Masterclass Series

The Soltesz Institute launched a Masterclass series in collaboration with industry experts, creating a dedicated educational platform where professionals can deepen their knowledge of payments, banking, and beyond.

Who is Viktoria Soltesz?

  • Founder of PSP Angels
  • Author of the “Moving Money - How Banks Think” book
  • Speaker at international conferences
  • A former lecturer at the University of West London
  • EU-accredited trainer
  • Business Woman of the Year 2023
  • Payment Consultant of the Year 2023, 2024 & 2025

Moving Money. | How | Banks | Think?

Over 20 years experience in banking, payments, tax and finance, Viktoria has written a book, which has all the answers - before you even ask the questions

Our Mission

Investment advisors are required to be licensed because their advice can have serious consequences—bad guidance can lead to scams or significant financial losses, harming both individuals and society.

This regulation ensures that only qualified professionals provide financial advice. However, in banking and payments, anyone can claim to be an expert without the necessary qualifications, which is concerning. The movement of money, if mishandled, can be just as harmful as poor investment advice.

Many businesses unknowingly rely on so-called "payment experts" who are actually salespeople working for banks or payment providers, prioritizing their company's interests over what is best for the client. This often results in unsuitable banking or payment solutions, leading to financial and operational risks. Just as with investment advice, there should be safeguards against unqualified or biased guidance in banking and payments.

At The Soltesz Institute, our mission is to create a more ethical and transparent industry through education, ensuring professionals have the right knowledge to make informed decisions.

Our Team 

Viktoria Soltesz

Founder & Lecturer
LinkedIn

Mariam Khan

Managing Director
LinkedIn

Anishia Lukbin

Head of Creative & Editing
LinkedIn

Susan Cher

Head of Marketing
LinkedIn

Hasmig Melian

Head of Growth
LinkedIn

Jean Klein

Global Sales Director
LinkedIn
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Guest Lecturers

David Kikvidze

David is a Fintech Professional, Associated Professor of Management, with a history of professional experience in various business sectors: Financial Institutions, NGO, Construction and Education Management.

Mr.Kikvidze is an experienced professional in Regulatory communications, Fintech business models, Stakeholder engagement and Networking.



Marcia Klingensmith

Marcia is the CEO of Fintech Consulting and the "Instant Payments Maven". With 20+ years at major financial institutions, she's guided numerous products from concept to market.

Marcia's holistic view of the evolving payments ecosystem enables her to help financial institutions and fintechs navigate complex modernisation journeys. She focuses on practical solutions across various payment innovations, guiding clients through strategy, implementation, and delivery in today's dynamic landscape.

Dato Varsimashvili

Dato brings 17 years of experience in the banking sector and currently serves as the Head of Compliance and AML Department at a sister bank of an international German banking group. His expertise includes retail and business banking services, anti-money laundering (AML) strategies, regulatory compliance, and risk management.
Dato regularly conducts internal training sessions on AML topics, organizational code of conduct, and the business model and strategy of the institution. 

Mark Wagner

Mark Wagner is the Founder and President of Disputifier, a chargeback management software. Through Disputifier, Mark has handled millions of chargebacks and helped businesses and consumers to reduce the headaches involved with chargebacks. 

Alysson Smith

Alysson Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Flexibl, a company established in 2022 that specializes in payment analytics platforms designed to optimize revenue potential and enhance operational efficiencies for businesses. Under her leadership, Flexibl has developed solutions that integrate payment and software transaction data, providing key insights and monetization metrics to assist businesses in making informed decisions and streamlining financial operations. 

Georgia Papa

Georgia Papa is a Director and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Pyrgou Vakis Law Firm, a prominent legal practice in Cyprus. With extensive experience in corporate and commercial law, she specializes in mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance transactions, and compliance-related matters. Georgia's expertise enables her to provide clients with comprehensive legal advice tailored to their specific business needs. 

Ketevan Aghoshashvili

Ketevan Aghoshashvili is a Partner at IBCCS Georgia, where she leads the Financial and Tax Department. In this role, she provides clients with tailored solutions in taxation, accounting, and financial planning. Her expertise includes representing clients before regulatory bodies, resolving complex tax disputes, and obtaining licenses for special tax regimes. 

Joris Lochy


Joris Lochy is a Product Manager at Intix, where he leads the continuous advancement of the Intix Transaction Data Management platform. With over two decades of experience in Financial Services, Fintech and IT, Joris specializes in Payments, Investments, and Credit. His extensive expertise in fintech and innovative banking help in expanding Intix’s capabilities and enriching its product offerings.

Anna Agu

 Anna is a CEO and co-founder at Lex Law Office, the leading law firm in Fintech and IT space.   Anna has extensive experience working for tax authorities and government working groups. During her career, she has taken part in the development of changes in regulation and cooperation between the public authorities of Estonia. Due to this experience, Anna considers vital the cooperation between innovations start-ups, government authorities and legal experts to provide the elaboration of innovational technology and a supportive business environment.

Irakli Arjevanidze

Irakli's journey in the financial sector began over a decade ago, and during the past five years, he has dedicated himself to helping investors navigate complex financial landscapes. His role at IBCCS has allowed him to provide invaluable support to individuals and businesses seeking strategic solutions for tax optimization and efficient relocation.
Irakli Arjevanidze is a distinguished professional with a rich background in finance and a deep commitment to assisting investors with tax planning, relocation, analyses, and consulting. With a decade of experience in the financial sector and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from European University Cyprus, Irakli brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his field.

Vassilina Walford

As a seasoned Head of Payments in Luxury Retail, turned entrepreneur, Vassilina brings 20+ years of international experience to help retail merchants to transform, build and scale their payment capabilities.
The multifaceted nature of payments demands a skillset that transcends traditional boundaries, merging technology proficiency with financial expertise, customer-centricity, innovation, customer lifecycle management, data analytics and leadership.

Cezary Zieniuk

His advisory firm IBCCS TAX can help with incorporation of companies in various jurisdictions, tax & legal advice, opening of corporate bank accounts, tax planning and accounting services. As a result of its services, IBCCS TAX helps investors to save on taxes & administrative costs and to avoid the bureaucracy, so that they can enjoy having higher profits, relax and travel around the world.
Cezary is a founder of IBCCS TAX Group and co-founder of regional offices of IBCCS TAX in Cyprus, Georgia, Estonia and Armenia. Cezary helps people and enterprises to plan their businesses and investments in tax-efficient manner. He specializes in international tax planning, tax advice, corporate management, business consulting.

Elliott Locke

Would you like to join us?

To be a great place to work, we need great people to work with us. Everything we do, every day, in more ways than one, helps to make a unique contribution to people’s careers
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PSP Angels Management Limited

Sunset Gardens 102, Exegerseos
Larnaca, 7560
Cyprus

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info@solteszinstitute.com

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