Visa has announced it is relocating its European headquarters from Paddington to Canary Wharf in the summer of 2028.

The payments giant has signed a 15-year lease for 300,000 square feet at One Canada Square with London-based property development and management Canary Wharf Group (CWG).

Antony Cahill, regional president and chief executive of Visa Europe, said that moving the company's European headquarters represents a “significant investment” and a “bold step forward” for Visa in Europe.

He added that the new headquarters at One Canada Square aim to provide an open, modern and welcoming environment for customers and partners.

“This exciting next step will better position us to pioneer the future of payments, giving Europeans access to world-class payment experiences while being offered the highest levels of security, resilience and reliability,” Cahill said.

Shobi Khan, chief executive of CWG, said that Canary Wharf continues to attract a wide range of international companies.

“Visa joins a FinTech community of more than 65 companies ranging from innovative startups to global leaders in our growing tech and AI community,” added Khan. “This diverse customer base reflects our evolution into a thriving mixed-use district that supports customers at every stage of their journey.” 

Over the past six years, CWG and other stakeholders have invested approximately £7 billion in new developments, infrastructure and services, with Visa’s latest transaction adding to strong leasing momentum at Canary Wharf with over 750,000 square feet of office transactions announced this year.

The payment giant joins a list of blue-chip companies based at the Wharf, including JPMorgan Chase with its new European headquarters, as well as Barclays, BBVA, Citibank, Fitch, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Revolut and UCL.

Other new arrivals include AviadoBio, Hershey’s, Hexaware, OKX, McLaren Construction, and Zopa.  

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