In 1999, Calpian, then a Texas-based Independent Sales Organization, (ISO), offering merchant services and value-added point-of-sale products, sought to expand their business. It quickly became apparent that traditional bank financing was slow, uncertain and expensive and that raising equity capital was time consuming and difficult. Either way meant giving up partial control of the business to an outside third party.

After considerable market research and effort, Calpian arranged financing resources to allow the company to grow. It was apparent that other ISOs faced similar issues and out of marketplace demand, Calpian's first financing product, WealthBuilder was born.