ERI, a banking technology company, has appointed Alan Goodrich as Sales Director, effective 1 March 2026. In this role, he will lead ERI’s global team of Sales Managers and Business Solutions Managers, overseeing the company’s commercial strategy and supporting the continued development of the OLYMPIC Banking System worldwide. Goodrich brings experience in financial services and technology, having worked with a number of established institutions. His background includes building and managing teams, expanding business operations across multiple regions, and working in competitive markets. Alan Goodrich “I firmly believe we are entering a pivotal period where market forces are converging to prompt financial institutions to reassess and modernise their core systems. I am excited to lead the strategy that will allow ERI to fully capitalise on this wave of opportunities for OLYMPIC Banking System, and to inspire our teams to achieve outstanding success,” said Goodrich.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by user15254510 via Freepik The post ERI Appoints Alan Goodrich as Sales Director appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

HSBC has appointed Alfonso Gómez as Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Swiss Private Bank and Country Head of HSBC Switzerland, effective April 27 2026. Alfonso brings over 30 years of Swiss and international wealth management experience, most recently serving as CEO of BBVA Switzerland for more than 12 years. His previous roles at BBVA include Director of Global Private Banking, Head of Private Banking for BBVA Spain and Portugal, and Country Manager of BBVA UK. He has also held senior positions in corporate banking and trade finance across New York, London, Madrid and Zurich. Alfonso will be based in Geneva and will report to Ida Liu, CEO of HSBC Private Bank. He succeeds Daniel Calado, who had been interim CEO and will return to his role as Chief Financial Officer of HSBC Private Bank Switzerland and EMEA, and continue as a member of the executive committee. Switzerland remains a key hub for HSBC’s wealth business, serving entrepreneurs and business owners across Asia, the Middle East and the UK. Ida Liu said, Ida Liu “We are delighted to welcome Alfonso whose extensive Swiss experience, strong leadership track record and commitment to client excellence make him ideally positioned to lead our Swiss Private Bank, an integral and strategically important part of our global franchise.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by user23413193 via Freepik The post HSBC Names Alfonso Gómez CEO of Swiss Private Bank appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Rosella, a US-based AI-native commercial insurance brokerage, has raised US$3.7 million in pre-seed funding led by Peak XV Partners and Intact Private Capital. The company aims to streamline core insurance workflows and improve service for small and mid-market businesses by automating operational tasks while keeping brokers focused on client relationships, risk assessment, and sales. The US commercial insurance brokerage market, valued at US$215 billion, remains complex. Many processes, including submissions, policy comparison, and servicing, rely on manual effort across fragmented systems, slowing response times and creating uneven service across clients. Rosella targets three main challenges: repetitive submissions across multiple carriers, the complexity of commercial policies, and variable service levels by account size. Risk complexity is also rising. Nuclear verdicts exceeded US$31 billion in 2024, and the excess and surplus market has expanded as standard carriers retreat from higher-risk categories. Sean Stuart “Software as a product is stalling. Services are booming,” said Sean Stuart, co-founder. “The next US$100 billion company will not sell software licenses. It will sell a service powered by software, built specifically for the people doing the work.” Rosella’s platform includes AI document intelligence to compare policies and flag coverage gaps, a multi-portal submission agent that automates submissions across over 100 carrier portals, and AI-assisted phone support for live calls. Certificates of insurance that once took 30 minutes can now be generated in under two minutes. “The holy grail is not chatbots,” Stuart said. “It is browser agents that can navigate a hundred carrier portals, each one different, each one changing daily.”       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by siegostuan via Freepik The post Rosella Raises $3.7M to Automate US Commercial Insurance Brokerage appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Monzo said it will exit the US, describing the move as a strategic decision to focus on expanding in the UK and Europe. “With a fast-growing customer base of 15 million in the UK and the growth opportunity our European banking license creates, we’re making a deliberate, strategic decision to focus on scaling in our home market and Europe and to step away from the US,” the company said. According to Bloomberg, Monzo will stop onboarding new customers in the US and lay off around 50 employees, citing a person familiar with the matter. Existing customers will be able to continue using their accounts until June. Monzo announced its entry into the US with a soft launch in June 2019, introducing its first cards to users in the country. The company officially launched to the public in the US in February 2022.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by drobotdean via Freepik The post Monzo Exits US to Concentrate on UK and European Growth appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

9fin has raised US$170 million in a Series C funding round, valuing the company at US$1.3 billion. The round was led by HarbourVest, with participation from CPP Investments, Highland Europe, Spark Capital, Redalpine, and Seedcamp. Debt capital markets, estimated at US$145 trillion, underpin corporate financing, government funding, and acquisitions. However, market participants often rely on fragmented data and manual processes, despite increasing complexity and interconnectedness across credit markets. The funding comes amid structural shifts in credit, where distinctions between private credit, leveraged finance, and restructuring are becoming less defined. At the same time, macroeconomic volatility has increased the need for timely and accurate information. Advances in AI are also influencing how data is processed and used in financial decision-making. Proceeds from the funding will be used to expand AI integration within its platform and to develop its proprietary data capabilities. The company also plans to grow its presence in the United States, which it identified as its fastest-growing market. 9fin provides a platform that combines proprietary data, analytics, and AI tools to support credit market participants. Its functions include analysing legal documents, identifying credit-related developments, and tracking market activity in real time. The company said more than 300 firms, including law firms, banks, asset managers, and advisory firms, use its platform. CPP Investments, initially a client, later joined as an investor.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by salmangraphics0839 via Freepik The post 9fin Raises US$170 Million at US$1.3 Billion Valuation for AI Expansion appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

OpenAI has closed its latest funding round with US$122 billion in committed capital, valuing the company at US$852 billion post money. The round was anchored by strategic partners Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank, with continued participation from Microsoft, alongside a diverse group of global institutional investors. For the first time, OpenAI also raised over US$3 billion from individual investors via bank channels. The company recently launched GPT‑5.4, its most capable model to date, and expanded Codex into a flagship coding agent. ChatGPT now reaches more than 900 million weekly active users, with over 50 million subscribers. Enterprise accounts for over 40% of revenue and is on track to reach parity with consumer by the end of 2026. API usage processes more than 15 billion tokens per minute, while Codex serves over 2 million weekly users. Compute remains central to OpenAI’s strategy. The company runs its infrastructure across multiple cloud and chip platforms, including NVIDIA GPUs, AMD, AWS Trainium, Cerebras, and its own chip in partnership with Broadcom. More compute enables more intelligent models, which drive better products, faster adoption, and higher revenue. OpenAI is also building a unified AI superapp, combining ChatGPT, Codex, browsing, and agentic capabilities in a single platform. Users are increasingly seeking a single system that can understand intent, take action, and operate across applications, data, and workflows. The funding provides OpenAI with resources to continue investing in research, infrastructure, and product development at global scale.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by thanyakij-12 via Freepik The post OpenAI Secures US$122B to Scale AI Infrastructure, Products, and Enterprise Services appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Wise has launched its UK Current Account, offering features aimed at simplifying everyday banking and international money management. The move follows a period of growth. Wise served three million active customers in the UK last year, who held over £8 billion in their accounts. Globally, the company now has more than 15.6 million active users. Around 100,000 new customers join each week, and total account balances exceed £27.5 billion. The new account includes a Travel Hub and an Airport Lounge Pass. Customers in the UK and selected markets can purchase one-off lounge access through the Wise app. The hub also provides guidance on using local payment methods abroad, with further features planned. Wise has also introduced Young Explorer cards for customers under 18. Parents or guardians can top up Young Explorer cards linked to their Wise Current Account, monitor spending, approve payments, and receive real-time notifications. Wise Current Account balances can earn a 3.26% variable interest rate through Wise Assets, with no lock-in period. Nilan Peiris, Chief Product Officer at Wise, said: Nilan Peiris “With the Wise Current Account, we’re giving customers a smarter way to manage their daily financial needs. They can hold and fully access their money while getting a return, easily spend on everyday purchases and split bills, and send and receive money quickly across borders, all at a low cost with no hidden fees.” The account allows customers to receive GBP and over 20 local currencies, set up direct debits, send money to 70+ countries, and make payments at the mid-market rate. Shared spending spaces and payment links facilitate group expenses. Security features include the ability to freeze cards, receive real-time notifications, and alerts for potentially suspicious payments.       Featured image credit: Wise The post Wise Launches UK Current Account with Travel and Youth Features appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Wer heute ein Kassensystem für den Handel, die Gastronomie oder den Dienstleistungsbereich sucht, steht vor einer unübersichtlichen Auswahl. Der POS-Systeme-Vergleich wird dabei zur zentralen Aufgabe, denn die Unterschiede zwischen den Lösungen sind erheblich – sowohl in der Technologie als auch in der Kostenstruktur. Klassische POS-Terminals konkurrieren mit SoftPOS-Lösungen, die das Smartphone zur Kasse machen, sowie mit vollständig cloudbasierten Kassensystemen, die sich nahtlos in bestehende Geschäftsprozesse integrieren. Die Wahl des richtigen Systems beeinflusst nicht nur die tägliche Kassiererfahrung, sondern auch die Transaktionskosten, die Datensicherheit und die Skalierbarkeit des Unternehmens. Dieser Vergleich betrachtet vier relevante Anbieter – Worldline, SumUp, Stripe und einen spezialisierten Zahlungsdienstleister für den europäischen Markt – sachlich und strukturiert, um Entscheidern eine fundierte Grundlage zu liefern. Bewertungskriterien und Entscheidungsfaktoren Die richtige Entscheidung beim POS-System-Kauf hängt von mehreren Faktoren ab, die je nach Branche und Unternehmensgrösse unterschiedlich gewichtet werden müssen. Hardware, Software und Integrationsfähigkeit POS-Systeme lassen sich grob in drei Kategorien einteilen: stationäre Terminal-Lösungen mit dedizierter Hardware, SoftPOS-Lösungen, die auf Standard-Smartphones oder Tablets laufen, und vollständig cloudbasierte Kassensysteme ohne proprietäre Hardware. Entscheidend ist, wie gut sich das jeweilige System in vorhandene Warenwirtschafts-, Buchhaltungs- oder CRM-Systeme einbinden lässt. Offene Schnittstellen (APIs) sind dabei ein wichtiges Qualitätsmerkmal. Kostenstruktur und Transaktionsgebühren Die tatsächlichen Kosten eines POS-Systems setzen sich aus mehreren Komponenten zusammen: Einmalkosten für Hardware, monatliche Softwaregebühren sowie Transaktionsgebühren pro Zahlung. Letztere variieren stark – von Flatrate-Modellen bis hin zu prozentualen Gebühren zwischen 0,9 % und 2,75 % pro Transaktion. Für umsatzstarke Betriebe ist das Transaktionsmodell oft der entscheidende Kostenfaktor. Für kleine Händler können günstige Einstiegsgeräte attraktiver sein als niedrige Gebühren. Weitere relevante Kriterien im POS-Terminal-Vergleich: Unterstützte Zahlungsmethoden (Karte, NFC, SEPA, QR-Code) Datenschutz und Zertifizierungen (PCI-DSS, DSGVO-Konformität) Verfügbarkeit von Offline-Funktionen bei Internetausfall Kundensupport und Service-Level-Agreements Option 1: Worldline Worldline ist ein europäischer Zahlungsabwickler mit langjähriger Erfahrung im stationären Handel und gilt als einer der grössten Anbieter klassischer POS-Systeme in Europa. Stärken Worldline überzeugt vor allem durch seine robuste Hardware-Infrastruktur und die breite Akzeptanz aller gängigen Kartensysteme. Die Lösungen sind auf Hochvolumen-Umgebungen ausgelegt – Supermärkte, Tankstellen und grosse Handelsketten profitieren von stabilen, zertifizierten Terminals. Zudem bietet Worldline massgeschneiderte Integrationen für komplexe Enterprise-Umgebungen und einen dedizierten B2B-Support. Schwächen und Einschränkungen Die Einstiegshürde ist für kleinere Betriebe vergleichsweise hoch: Vertragsmodelle sind oft langfristig und wenig flexibel. Die Onboarding-Prozesse gelten als zeitaufwendig, und die Benutzeroberflächen älterer Terminals wirken gegenüber moderneren Lösungen wenig intuitiv. SoftPOS-Angebote sind vorhanden, jedoch nicht der Kern des Portfolios. Am besten geeignet für… Worldline eignet sich vor allem für mittlere bis grosse Unternehmen mit hohem Transaktionsvolumen, die eine bewährte, stationäre POS-Infrastruktur und persönlichen Enterprise-Support benötigen. Option 2: Nexi Anbieter wie Nexi, ein auf den europäischen Zahlungsmarkt spezialisierter Finanzdienstleister, kombinieren klassische Terminal-Lösungen mit modernen SoftPOS- und cloudbasierten Kassensystemen in einem integrierten Ökosystem. Stärken Das Portfolio umfasst sowohl physische Kartenterminals als auch digitale Kassenlösungen, die auf unterschiedliche Branchen zugeschnitten sind – darunter Gastronomie, Einzelhandel und Dienstleistungsbetriebe. Besonders hervorzuheben ist die Unterstützung gängiger europäischer Zahlungsmethoden sowie die Integration mehrerer Zahlungskanäle in einer einheitlichen Plattform. Für den Bereich POS-System in der Gastronomie werden spezifische Workflows angeboten, die Tischverwaltung, Splitbilling und Trinkgeldlösungen unterstützen. Die Einhaltung europäischer Datenschutzstandards und PCI-DSS-Zertifizierungen ist dokumentiert. Schwächen und Einschränkungen Für internationale Märkte außerhalb Europas ist das Angebot weniger relevant, da der Fokus klar auf dem europäischen Zahlungsraum liegt. Kleinstbetriebe ohne regelmäßiges Kartenzahlungsvolumen könnten die Preisstruktur als weniger wettbewerbsfähig gegenüber reinen Low-Cost-Anbietern empfinden. Am besten geeignet für… Die Lösung richtet sich an europäische KMU und mittelständische Betriebe, die eine vollständig integrierte Zahlungsinfrastruktur mit Mehrkanal-Support und lokalem Marktverständnis benötigen. Option 3: SumUp SumUp hat sich als einsteigerfreundliche POS-Lösung für Kleinunternehmer, Marktverkäufer und mobile Dienstleister etabliert. Stärken Das Geschäftsmodell von SumUp zeichnet sich durch extreme Zugänglichkeit aus: keine Monatsgebühr, keine Mindestlaufzeit und ein günstiges Einstiegsterminal unter 50 Euro. Die Transaktionsgebühr von 1,69 % pro Kartenzahlung ist transparent und gilt für nahezu alle Karten. Das SoftPOS-Angebot erlaubt die Nutzung des eigenen Smartphones als Kartenlesegerät. Schwächen und Einschränkungen Bei hohem Transaktionsvolumen können die prozentualen Gebühren teurer werden als Flatrate-Modelle der Konkurrenz. Die Integrationstiefe in komplexe Warenwirtschaftssysteme ist begrenzt. Für das POS-System in der Gastronomie mit umfangreichen Anforderungen – etwa Tischpläne oder Küchendrucker – stösst SumUp an Grenzen. Am besten geeignet für… SumUp ist ideal für Soloselbstständige, Marktbeschicker, mobile Dienstleister und kleine Läden, die eine unkomplizierte, kostengünstige Einstiegslösung ohne Vertragsbindung suchen. Option 4: Stripe Stripe ist primär als Online-Zahlungsdienstleister bekannt, bietet mit Stripe Terminal aber auch eine stationäre POS-Lösung für technikaffine Unternehmen. Stärken Stripe Terminal zeichnet sich durch eine entwicklerfreundliche API-Architektur aus, die tiefe Individualisierungen erlaubt. Unternehmen, die Online- und Offline-Zahlungen zentral verwalten möchten, profitieren von einer einheitlichen Plattform. Das Ökosystem eignet sich hervorragend für Omnichannel-Konzepte. Schwächen und Einschränkungen Die Einrichtung erfordert technisches Know-how – ohne Entwicklerressourcen ist Stripe Terminal kaum sinnvoll nutzbar. Für rein stationäre Betriebe ohne digitalen Verkaufskanal ist die Komplexität oft nicht gerechtfertigt. Der Kundensupport richtet sich primär an B2B-Kunden mit technischem Hintergrund. Am besten geeignet für… Stripe Terminal passt zu technologiegetriebenen Unternehmen, Startups und E-Commerce-Betrieben, die ihren Online-Shop durch stationäre Zahlungen ergänzen und alles in einer Entwicklerplattform vereinen möchten. Vergleichstabelle: POS-Systeme auf einen Blick KriteriumWorldlineNexiSumUpStripe Terminal **Zielgruppe**Großhandel / EnterpriseKMU / MittelstandKleinbetriebe / MobileTech-Unternehmen **Hardware-Optionen**UmfangreichUmfangreichBegrenztBegrenzt **SoftPOS verfügbar**BedingtJaJaJa **Transaktionsgebühren**VertragsabhängigVertragsabhängig1,69 % pauschal1,5 % + 0,10 € **Monatsgebühren**JaJe nach ModellNeinNein **Gastronomie-Funktionen**GutGutEingeschränktEingeschränkt **API / Integrationen**Enterprise-APIsVorhandenBegrenztSehr umfangreich **Europäischer Fokus**HochSehr hochMittelNiedrig **Onboarding-Aufwand**HochMittelSehr niedrigMittel–Hoch **Offline-Betrieb**JaJe nach ModellEingeschränktJa Expertenurteil: Welches System für welchen Anwendungsfall? Es gibt kein universell bestes POS-System – die Wahl hängt entscheidend von der Unternehmensgrösse, der Branche und den technischen Anforderungen ab. Für grosse Handelsunternehmen mit Hunderten von Terminals und komplexen Integrationsprojekten bleibt Worldline eine bewährte Wahl, auch wenn die Flexibilität begrenzt ist. Wer als Kleinunternehmer oder Freiberufler schnell und ohne Vertrag starten möchte, findet mit SumUp eine der einfachsten Einstiegslösungen am Markt. Unternehmen mit starkem Omnichannel-Fokus und internen Entwicklerkapazitäten profitieren am meisten von Stripes einheitlichem API-Ökosystem. Für europäische KMU, die ein vollständiges Zahlungsökosystem suchen – inklusive stationärem Terminal, SoftPOS und Mehrkanal-Abwicklung – bieten Anbieter mit regionalem Marktverständnis und breiter Zahlungsmethodenabdeckung strukturelle Vorteile. Das POS-System in der Gastronomie stellt dabei besondere Anforderungen: Schnelle Abwicklung, Tischmanagement und Trinkgeld-Workflows sind Merkmale, die nicht alle Anbieter gleichermaßen abdecken. Ein POS-Terminal-Vergleich sollte deshalb immer mit einer klaren Prioritätenliste starten: Transaktionsvolumen, Branchenanforderungen, Integrationstiefe und Wachstumspläne sind die vier zentralen Achsen jeder fundierten Entscheidung. Häufig gestellte Fragen Was bedeutet POS-System und wo wird es eingesetzt? POS steht für „Point of Sale” und bezeichnet den Ort, an dem eine Transaktion zwischen Käufer und Verkäufer stattfindet. POS-Systeme umfassen die gesamte Hard- und Software, die dafür benötigt wird – vom Kartenterminal über die Kassensoftware bis hin zur Lagerverwaltung. Sie kommen im Einzelhandel, in der Gastronomie, im Dienstleistungssektor und zunehmend auch im mobilen Verkauf zum Einsatz. Welche Unterschiede bestehen zwischen einem klassischen POS-Terminal und einer SoftPOS-Lösung? Ein klassisches POS-Terminal ist dedizierte Hardware mit einem integrierten Kartenleser und Sicherheitschip. Eine SoftPOS-Lösung nutzt stattdessen ein handelsübliches NFC-fähiges Smartphone oder Tablet mit einer speziellen App. SoftPOS ist günstiger in der Anschaffung und flexibler im Einsatz, bietet jedoch bei bestimmten Sicherheitszertifizierungen und Hochvolumen-Anforderungen nicht immer denselben Standard wie dedizierte Hardware. Worauf sollte man beim POS-System-Vergleich für die Gastronomie besonders achten? Im Gastronomiebereich sind spezifische Funktionen entscheidend: Tischverwaltung, die Möglichkeit zur Splitbilling (Rechnungsaufteilung), Trinkgeld-Workflows, Küchendrucker-Integration sowie schnelle Transaktionszeiten für den Abendservice. Nicht alle POS-Systeme decken diese Anforderungen vollständig ab – ein detaillierter Funktionsvergleich vor dem Kauf ist daher empfehlenswert.   Featured image by freepik on Freepik The post Moderne POS-Systeme im Vergleich: Terminal-Lösungen, SoftPOS und cloudbasierte Kassensysteme appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Nexi has reached an agreement with local and nationwide banks in Denmark to provide SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) services, enhancing their access to the European payments system. Under the agreement, Nexi will supply the infrastructure and operational services required to process SEPA Direct Debit collections, allowing the Danish banks to manage their participation in the SEPA scheme through Nexi’s payment infrastructure. The collaboration gives banks access to scalable and reliable infrastructure connected to European clearing systems and strengthens the integration of Danish banks with the wider European payments network. Christian Segersven, Chief Business Officer, Issuing Solutions, Nexi Group, said: Christian Segersven “We are committed to helping banks navigate the rapidly evolving payments landscape and, through our collaboration, we are providing Danish banks with an infrastructure which integrates with their existing payment environment and helps them remain relevant and competitive across their full payment ecosystem.” Søren Nicolaisen, CEO of National Banks and BOKIS, said: Søren Nicolaisen “This agreement ensures that participating Danish banks get access to a scalable and future-proof international infrastructure that enables the exchange of payments among countries within the SEPA landscape in a secure and stable way, which, in turn, will strengthen their services and competitiveness.” Nexi already has agreements with local and nationwide banks covering card and payment services, including support for secure payments with international cards and the domestic Dankort scheme.       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by rawpixel.com via Freepik The post Nexi Expands SEPA Direct Debit Services to Danish Banks appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

In 2025, the German fintech industry demonstrated notable resilience despite a period of broader macroeconomic stagnation. According to a new report by Berlin-based consultancy Contextual Solutions, funding volumes rebounded strongly, with investors prioritizing companies with clear paths to profitability, regulatory robustness, and scalable infrastructure. The market was simultaneously characterized by significant consolidation, reflecting a maturing ecosystem. Following a sluggish 2024, the German fintech market opened 2025 with renewed optimism. Top-tier, late-stage fintech companies were the clear winners, with Pliant securing a vital EUR 40 million Series B extension to fuel its expansion into the US market. The deal reflected the global maturity of German business-to-business (B2B) fintech companies. In Q2 2025, fintech funding jumped significantly, with some estimates indicating a 36% increase. Digital investment platform Scalable Capital, for example, closed a major funding of around EUR 155 million. However, the quarter also saw the end of BaaS platform Solaris’ run as an independent unicorn, signaling a market-wide pivot to stability. In Q3 2025, insolvency rates peaked across the broader German economy, impacting B2B lenders exposed to small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) credit risk. In particular, the insolvency proceedings of Dock Financial underscored the fragility of BaaS intermediaries operating without robust capital buffers. After filling for preliminary insolvency in May 2024, Dock Financial was eventually acquired by Rakuten in April 2025. The year concluded with signs of maturity. Digital bank N26, for example, reported sustained quarterly profits and announced the appointment of Mike Dargan from UBS Group as its incoming CEO starting April 2026. This signaled a decisive shift to corporate scaling and potential IPO readiness. Online broker and bank Trade Republic, meanwhile, closed the year with a massive EUR 1.2 billion secondary transaction, valuing the firm at EUR 12.5 billion. In 2025, Trade Republic cemented its status as one of Europe’s savings and investment platforms, expanding into an all-in-one finance ecosystem encompassing a current account, a savings account, a card product, as well as access to stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cryptocurrencies, all leveraged through its banking license. Fintech trends in Germany in 2026 While 2025 was the year of disciplined execution, 2026 will be marked by a shift towards delivering deeper value over wide reach. As the generalist neobanking model reaches saturation, success will increasingly rely on B2B embedded finance, workflow automation via agentic artificial intelligence (AI), and the ownership specific asset classes. For banks, the 2026 mandate will center on operational intelligence. The financial sector is gradually moving beyond the hype cycle of AI into a phase of industrial deployment. Autonomous AI agents are evolving into active financial concierges that can independently negotiate rates, manage liquidity, and execute trades, fundamentally changing the customer relationship from transactional to outcome-based interactions. This evolution will extend to customer-facing interfaces, with the deployment of generative AI (genAI) avatars like Commerzbank’s Ava in 2025 and LBBW’s blue.gpt in 2024 signaling a shift towards a hybrid service models. Simultaneously, AI will increasingly become the operational backbone of the bank. Institutions will continue to deploy sovereign AI models to automate heavy-lifting tasks such as know-your-customer and anti-money laundering checks, regulatory reporting, and credit risk assessment, ensuring compliance while drastically reducing overheads. 2026 should also see the return of initial public offerings (IPOs). With Trade Republic and N26 achieving sustained profitability and refining their corporate structures, the IPO window could reopen for quality listings focused on earnings multiples rather than revenue multiples. In the B2B sector, embedded finance is poised for significant growth, as platforms like Pliant and Banxware integrate financial layers into ERP and procurement systems. This will eventually render finance invisible, embedding it seamlessly into the background of corporate software workflows. Finally, as the European Central Bank advances the Digital Euro into its next preparation phase, targeting a 2029 issuance, German banks are actively building the rails for coexistence. Concurrently, the market is expected to see the first meaningful integration of stablecoins into corporate treasury operations in Germany, driven by the clarity provided by the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. The German fintech industry Germany is home to approximately 750 to 1,000 fintech companies. These ventures are either active in or targeting the German market. This figure has remained somewhat consistent since 2023. The market is defined by four key regional specifications. Hamburg has a stronghold for SME finance, real estate, and open banking, being home to major players like Raisin, a savings and investments platform, and Exporo, a digital real estate investment platform. Berlin is the undisputed leader in consumer fintech, neobanking, and cryptocurrency, hosting the likes of Trade Republic, and N26. Frankfurt, the regulatory and institutional heart of the country, leads in digital assets, crypto custody, and AI governance, while Munich is positioned as the local hub for insurtech and wealthtech, exemplified by players like Scalable Capital and Check24, Germany’s largest price comparison portal.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on images by coffeemill and gerain0812 via Freepik The post German Fintech Demonstrates Resilience and Maturity Despite Macroeconomic Headwinds appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

DZ BANK, acting as issuer, and KfW, as investor, have completed a crypto security issuance under Germany’s Electronic Securities Act (eWpG) using a Smart Bond Contract (SBC). The transaction mapped the full lifecycle of a digital bond on blockchain infrastructure, from initial liquidity demand to issuance and settlement. Smart Bond Contracts (SBCs) use algorithms to coordinate participants’ actions based on predefined conditions, automating processes across the bond’s lifecycle. They run on distributed ledger technology (DLT), which provides a shared, tamper-resistant record of transactions and enables automatic execution, such as triggering payments when conditions are met. Matthias Bergner “This transaction marks a genuine innovation in the financial market,” said Matthias Bergner, Head of Treasury at DZ BANK. “Together with our offerings in the field of digital assets, it underscores our leading role in the German banking sector within the entire digital securities universe.” KfW has previously participated in digital bond issuances both as issuer and investor. The bank views such transactions as part of its broader efforts to support financial market digitalisation and test new infrastructure. Tim Armbruster “We were pleased to participate in this project, as this transaction represents another milestone on our learning journey towards Europe’s digital sovereignty,” said KfW Treasurer Tim Armbruster. “To keep the German and European financial markets competitive, we need scalable digital products.” The parties conducted the transaction without a central securities depository. Required service providers contributed data directly to the DLT system. Blockchain served as the primary communication layer, ensuring that transaction data remained immutable and visible to all participants. The pilot, executed on the Polygon blockchain, included automated ISIN assignment by WM Datenservice and digital registry services by Cashlink. The Deutsche Bundesbank’s trigger solution carried out settlement, linking blockchain processes with central bank balances. The transaction completed in around one hour, compared with the approximately five days required for a traditional bond.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post DZ BANK and KfW Complete German Digital Bond Issuance via Blockchain appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Spade, a US-based data and AI platform focused on transaction data for financial institutions, has raised US$40 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Oak HC/FT, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Flourish, Gradient, NAventures, National Bank of Canada’s corporate venture arm, and Y Combinator. The company said it will use the funds to expand its platform capabilities, grow its team, and meet demand from banks and fintechs using transaction data for AI applications. Founded in 2021, Spade aims to address longstanding challenges in transaction data quality. Financial institutions process large volumes of transactions across card networks, ACH, and wire transfers, but the underlying data is often difficult to interpret. Unstructured transaction strings can lead to disputes, limited customer insights, and inefficiencies in areas such as rewards attribution. Spade’s platform matches raw transaction data with verified businesses in its database to provide clearer information on merchant identity and activity. The company reports coverage of 99.9% of merchants in the US and Canada, with accuracy above 99%. Its API infrastructure operates with P99 latency below 40 milliseconds, supporting real-time use cases such as authorisation decisioning and analytics. Oban MacTavish “This funding allows us to become the default data and intelligence layer for financial services,” said Oban MacTavish, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Spade. “As AI adoption accelerates, banks can only move toward automated workflows if systems are built on structured and verified transaction data.” Spade’s platform uses a proprietary matching engine and AI tools to update and refine transaction data, including merchant categories and location details. The company said this approach improves over time as more transactions are processed.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by wirestock via Freepik The post Spade Raises $40M Series B to Tackle Transaction Data Challenges in Banking appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Plaid, a technology platform connecting consumers, financial institutions, and fintech companies, has acquired This Week in Fintech (TWIF). TWIF provides news and analysis for operators, builders, and investors navigating a rapidly evolving fintech industry. Plaid plans to support its growth by providing additional resources, expanding content formats, and creating more opportunities for community engagement, while maintaining the editorial independence and voice of the TWIF team. The existing team will continue to decide what to cover and how. Plaid said the acquisition reflects its commitment to fostering a better-informed ecosystem and looks forward to the continued development of TWIF as a platform for insights and connection within the fintech community.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by freepik The post Plaid Expands into Media with Acquisition of This Week in Fintech appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

For the eighth time, BILANZ, Handelszeitung, PME, and digitalswitzerland have recognised one hundred individuals shaping digital Switzerland. Among them, the Fintechies category highlights ten leaders taking the financial industry to the next digital level. The selection of the “Digital Shapers 2026” was made by a 12-member jury chaired by Marc Kowalsky, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of BILANZ and Project Lead for “Digital Shapers”. The jury, which includes Christine Antlanger-Winter (Country Director, Google Switzerland), André Kudelski (CEO, Kudelski / President of Innosuisse), and Roland Siegwart (Professor of Autonomous Systems, ETH Zurich), reviewed nominations submitted at the end of 2025 and selected ten individuals in each category. This year’s honourees in the Fintechies category are: Kathrin Braunwarth, CIO, AXA Switzerland She previously held senior IT leadership roles at Allianz Germany and served as Head of IT for Versicherungskammer, specialising in large-scale process management. With a doctorate in Business IT, she is now a key voice in the Swiss insurance sector on scaling generative AI from pilot projects to enterprise-wide production. Pascale Bruderer, Founder, Swiss Stablecoin A former prominent politician, she served as a Member of the Council of States and was President of the Swiss National Council before moving into the private sector. She now holds several influential board mandates, including Vice President of the ETH Board and an independent member of the Board of Directors at Galenica. Riccardo Conti, Co-Founder, Fume An EPFL-trained engineer, he has a diverse background that includes founding a “move-to-earn” startup and managing a digital asset investment fund. His work is now focused on the intersection of decentralised finance and institutional asset management to create more transparent financial infrastructures. Johs Höhener, Independent Board Member He is a veteran of Swiss financial infrastructure, having spent decades at Swisscom where he founded the Fintech Cluster and the “e-foresight” think tank. Since transitioning to independent advisory, he has become a fixture on the boards of innovative firms like Ti&m and was named Swiss Fintech Influencer of the Year 2024. Igor Izraylevych, CEO & Founder, S-PRO An entrepreneur with an engineering background and an MBA, he has spent over a decade building technology partnerships for global financial institutions. He is recognised for advocating a “hybrid” development model that combines Swiss strategic leadership with high-end engineering hubs in Eastern Europe. Lidia Kurt, CEO, BX Digital & Seturion She holds a PhD in Finance from the University of St. Gallen and authored the definitive textbook Digital Assets and Tokenisation. Her professional path includes tenure at J.P. Morgan and Swiss Re, with a specific focus on developing regulated secondary markets for tokenised securities. Adriano Lucatelli, Founder & CEO, Descartes Finance A former Managing Director at UBS and Credit Suisse, he is a senior figure in the wealthtech space and was an early investor in several successful Swiss fintechs. He also spent several years as a lecturer on international financial markets at the University of Zurich and is a widely published author on corporate governance. David Riegelnig, CEO & Co-Founder, RULEMATCH Over a 20-year career, he held senior management roles at Credit Suisse and led risk management at Bitcoin Suisse. He leveraged this deep institutional experience in risk and compliance to launch a specialized trading venue tailored exclusively for banks and securities firms. Michael Stemmle, Founder, Additiv He founded his company in 1998, evolving it from a niche think tank into a global leader in “Finance-as-a-Service” for major banking brands. Beyond his executive work, he is a dedicated patron of the arts and serves on the board of TONI Digital, which specialises in white-labeled insurance solutions. Hans Peter Wolf, CTO, FNZ He originally founded Appway in 2003, which became the industry standard for low-code banking automation before its high-profile acquisition. Today, he focuses on integrating “Advisor AI” and advanced workflow automation into global wealth management platforms serving trillions in assets. Franziska Barmettler, CEO of digitalswitzerland, said: “To advance the digital transformation in Switzerland, we need Digital Shapers who provide new impetus and inspire their environment. When the best minds from science, administration, and business from all parts of the country work together on solutions, we secure Switzerland’s competitiveness.”     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by jofreepik via Freepik The post 10 Fintech Leaders Recognised as Switzerland’s Digital Shapers 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Equinix has announced a series of global workforce development initiatives aimed at addressing the growing demand for technical talent in the digital infrastructure sector. Announced on International Data Center Day, March 25, the programmes focus on expanding access to technical careers and equipping individuals with skills needed to support AI adoption and digital transformation. Raouf Abdel “Equinix data centers are the heartbeat of our digital world, the essential pulse of global connectivity, and our people are the experts who keep that pulse strong, safe, and steady,” said Raouf Abdel, Executive Vice President, Global Operations at Equinix. “The work our people do is what enables the digital economy to scale, especially as AI rapidly increases demand for infrastructure. At Equinix, our success depends on exceptional talent, and we are deeply committed to developing a diverse, future-ready technical workforce. Investing in our people is how we continue to pave the path into the future.” A central element is Pathways to Tech, an early-career programme for students aged 14-18. Following a two-year pilot that reached nearly 2,000 students in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, it is now expanding to all Equinix locations. The programme provides hands-on exposure to digital infrastructure through interactive sessions with staff, data centre tours, and Education Day events, creating clear pathways into internships, apprenticeships, and early-career operations roles. On International Data Center Day, hundreds of students will participate in Education Days at 20 sites worldwide. Additional initiatives include the Global Data Center Technician Training Coalition, launched with Generation and partners such as Cisco Systems in Brazil, and the expansion of global apprenticeships, internships, and Learning Labs in markets including Dallas, Paris, and Singapore. These programmes provide practical training in electrical systems, climate control, safety, and facility operations, aiming to strengthen local talent ecosystems while meeting the sector’s growing workforce needs.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by jcomp via Freepik The post Equinix Expands Global Efforts to Train Data Centre Talent appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Viseca and Cornèrcard have established PayInit to develop an industry solution for global peer-to-peer (P2P) money transfers using Swiss-issued payment cards. The platform will allow customers of participating providers to send funds worldwide to payment cards, digital wallets, or bank accounts. It will operate via Mastercard and Visa networks and their partners, adhering to established security and data protection standards. An alias-based recipient directory will be introduced, enabling users to transfer money using phone numbers or electronic addresses. Opentech has been appointed as the technology partner. Its OpenPay Send platform is designed to support interoperability between banks, card issuers, and international payment networks. The solution is open to all Swiss card issuers and mobile payment providers. Participation in PayInit AG is not required to access the service, which will be offered through contractual agreements. Stefan Brunner, Chief Product Officer at Viseca, said: Stefan Brunner “The combination of global payment initiation and a scheme-compliant recipient directory provides a consistent user experience. The solution is open to all card issuers.” Alessandro Seralvo, Chief Executive Officer of Cornèrcard, said: Alessandro Seralvo “The card-based approach allows customers to send money globally, regardless of whether recipients use cards, wallets, or bank accounts.” The launch is planned for the end of 2026.       Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by poungsaed via Freepik The post Viseca and Cornèrcard Launch PayInit to Enable Global P2P Transfers from Swiss Cards appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Discussions about the future of banking often revolve around digital channels, cloud migration and mobile apps. At Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Huawei placed the spotlight on what comes next. During its Digital Finance session, the company gathered financial institutions and technology partners to discuss how artificial intelligence is beginning to reshape the foundations of modern banking. The event carried the theme “Powering Resilient Intelligence, Co-creating Finance Future” and served as the backdrop for Huawei to introduce upgrades to its Banking AI and Foundation Model Solutions aimed at supporting the next phase of industry transformation. Attention quickly turned to the keynote delivered by Alvin Feng, President of International Financial Business at Huawei’s Digital Finance division. His presentation explored the growing role of AI in banking operations and why many financial institutions are now rethinking how technology fits into their long-term strategy. According to Alvin, the industry has spent the past two decades focused on digital optimisation. Online banking and mobile services changed how customers interact with financial institutions while data platforms helped banks improve operational efficiency. Artificial intelligence now opens the door to a deeper transformation, one that is beginning to influence how banks operate at every level. “AI is becoming the defining force reshaping the global financial industry,” Alvin said during his speech, noting that intelligence is starting to influence everything from customer engagement to risk management and internal decision making. Banking Begins Another Technology Transition Banks have moved through several waves of technological change. Early systems focused on automating back office processes and digitising records. Internet banking expanded customer access. Mobile technology later made financial services available almost anywhere. Another transition is beginning to take shape. Growing adoption of artificial intelligence is pushing banks to reconsider how services are delivered and how internal workflows operate. Customer interaction already offers a clear example. Instead of navigating menus and structured forms, users increasingly interact through conversational interfaces where systems interpret requests expressed in everyday language. Personalisation also begins to operate at a different scale. In the past, tailored financial advice often remained limited to high value customers. AI systems now analyse patterns across large datasets which allows banks to deliver personalised insights and recommendations to far wider segments of their customer base. Inside financial institutions, work patterns are also changing. Many teams already rely on automated tools for data analysis and reporting. AI agents add another layer by assisting staff in tasks such as reviewing applications, analysing documents or identifying unusual transaction activity. Alvin described the shift as one that extends across several dimensions of banking operations including customer engagement, decision making processes and the technology architecture supporting financial services. As he put it: “The transition from traditional banks to AI-driven banks brings profound changes in customer interactions, human-machine collaboration, decision-making approaches, system architecture, and customer experience.” Linking Business Strategy With Technology Execution A recurring theme throughout the session centred on how technology is gradually moving closer to the heart of business strategy. For a long time, banks viewed technology primarily as infrastructure that enabled services or reduced operational costs. Increasing reliance on artificial intelligence has started to change that perspective, prompting a reassessment of how technology contributes to growth and competitiveness. Alvin explained that many financial institutions now recognise the need for a clearer connection between business goals and technology deployment. He said this while pointing to a gap that many institutions are still working to close. Building that link requires more than adding isolated AI projects. Drawing on its work with global banks, Huawei introduced a framework known as the Intelligent Finance Value Implementer. The model is intended to help financial institutions identify meaningful AI scenarios, design supporting enterprise architecture and deploy intelligent systems in ways that align with long term business priorities. Selecting the right use cases plays a central role in that process. Projects tied to customer experience, risk control and operational efficiency often deliver the most immediate impact. Once those foundations are in place, institutions can expand AI capabilities across additional services and departments. Underpinning this shift is a broader change in mindset. “Technology is no longer a support function. It is now a value center at the heart of the business,” Alvin mentioned. Where Banks Are Testing AI Todays Several real world examples shared during the event illustrated how these ideas are already being tested in banking environments. Document processing for credit card applications offers one illustration. Staff members traditionally review customer documents manually, a process that can take around twenty minutes per application. AI assisted systems now perform the initial review in roughly twenty seconds while maintaining optical character recognition accuracy above 95 percent. Conversational services provide another glimpse into how banking experiences may evolve. Natural language interfaces combined with specialised AI agents allow customers to interact with digital assistants that guide them through tasks such as checking balances, making deposits or exploring investment options. Over time, these systems build a more detailed understanding of user behaviour by analysing patterns in transactions and previous interactions. The result is a service experience that adapts to individual customers rather than offering the same responses to everyone. Small and medium enterprise lending represents another area where AI tools are beginning to appear. Loan applications in this segment often require coordination between multiple teams. Some banks are experimenting with systems that simulate these roles through separate AI agents that support relationship managers, operations teams and risk analysts during the evaluation process. Human oversight remains essential, yet intelligent tools help reduce the time required to gather information and prepare recommendations. Bringing these elements together requires more than isolated tools. As the President of Huawei Digital Finance International noted, the key to AI banking lies in using systems engineering to unify AI infrastructure with open ecosystems, reengineering banking processes through human and artificial intelligence collaboration. Preparing Banking Systems for AI Workloads Applications such as these depend on a strong technical foundation. Financial institutions operate under strict requirements for reliability, security and performance. Infrastructure must therefore support demanding AI workloads without compromising stability. Huawei used the Digital Finance session to introduce several upgrades designed for that purpose. Among the technologies highlighted were the SuperPoD computing platform, an AI data platform and the Xinghe AI network architecture. Together these systems aim to provide the computing capacity and connectivity required to support advanced financial applications powered by artificial intelligence. Engineering improvements were also discussed. Huawei reported that new optimisation techniques have shortened AI agent development cycles from months to weeks while improving prompt accuracy and reducing end to end processing latency. Such changes matter for large banks that must integrate new technologies with long established core systems. Scaling AI Innovation Through Industry Partnerships No single technology provider can address the complexity of financial services on its own. Huawei therefore emphasised the importance of collaboration through its RongHai partner program. The initiative brings together technology vendors, consulting firms and system integrators working on financial solutions across different markets. More than 150 solution partners now participate alongside over 11,000 consulting, sales and service partners worldwide. Joint development through this network allows banks to deploy solutions tailored to specific regulatory environments while benefiting from shared expertise across the ecosystem. Banks Face the Next Stage of Digital Change Huawei’s digital finance business now supports thousands of financial institutions across more than eighty countries. Over the years, the company has worked with banks on projects ranging from infrastructure modernisation to large scale data platforms. Conversations at the MWC session suggested that the industry may be approaching another turning point. Artificial intelligence continues to expand into areas that were once handled entirely by human teams. Institutions experimenting with these tools are beginning to uncover new ways of serving customers, managing risk and improving operational efficiency. Alvin closed his thoughts with a simple observation about what lies ahead for the sector. Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland based on an image by Austler via Freepik The post Alvin Feng Shares Huawei’s Roadmap for AI-Driven Banking at MWC 2026 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

While the US has long dominated the global fintech sector, recent trends show that Europe is rapidly closing the gap. According to growth investor Finch Capital, London is now the world’s top fintech hub, surpassing San Francisco and New York City (NYC) in funding volume. Meanwhile, European fintech hubs are attracting increasing capital while US volumes are declining, signaling a shift in investors’ focus. A comparative analysis of venture capital (VC) and growth funding reveals a stark contrast between the two regions over the last five years. Between the period of 2018-2021 and 2022-2025, funding in the European fintech industry increased by 37%. In contrast, fintech funding in the US declined by 13% during the same timeframe. This showcases a shrinking venture gap between the two regions, with investors increasingly favoring European fintech startups over US-based ones. London emerges as the world’s top fintech hub In Europe, London is solidifying its position as a premier fintech hub. Between 2022 and 2025, the city attracted more than EUR 30 billion in fintech funding, surpassing San Francisco, which secured just over EUR 20 billion during the same period, and NYC, with about EUR 16 billion. Top US and European fintech hubs, Source: 2026 State of European Fintech, Finch Capital Overall, the UK remains the undisputed fintech powerhouse in Europe, with a market size 1.7 times larger than the next seven biggest European fintech markets combined, namely France, Germany, the Nordics, the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Poland. In 2025, the UK continued to attract more funding, with fintech investment increasing 38% year-over-year (YoY). Conversely, Germany and France both declined by 42% and 24%, respectively, further cementing the UK’s fintech dominance. Fintech deal value (EUR million), Source: 2026 State of European Fintech, Finch Capital Europe excels in regtech, CFO office Looking at the fintech ecosystem in Europe, the analysis reveals that the region’s strength lies primarily in verticals that are regulatory-intense and infrastructure-heavy verticals. European fintech companies in the CFO office vertical recorded a funding-to-exit value ratio of 2.54-fold during the 2021-2025 period, a figure that’s significantly higher than the 1.32-fold ratio observed for US counterparts in the same category. The funding-to-exit value ratio compares the total capital invested in a company to its valuation at exit, indicating the multiple of return investors achieved on their investment. Similarly, regulatory and compliance companies in Europe posted a ratio of 2.42-fold, compared to 2.24-fold for US companies. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is disproportionately targeting these specific categories. 25% of AI-led fintech companies founded in Europe between 2020 and 2025 targeted regulatory and compliance. 19% focused on the CFO office vertical. These findings reflect how AI formation in Europe is skewed toward segments with historically high operational headcount and compliance intensity. This suggests a strong focus on cost reduction and risk mitigation, driven by operational necessary and regulatory pressures. US dominates in risk and infrastructure The US, on the other hand, leads in risk-driven and balance-sheet-intensive segments. US startups in the insurance category reported a funding-to-exit value ratio of 1.38-fold in the 2021-2025 period, against 0.45-fold for their European counterparts. Similarly, US companies in the lending and mortgage vertical posted a 0.61-fold ratio, against 0.28-fold for European ones. Funding/exit value ratio 2021-2025, Source: 2026 State of European Fintech, Finch Capital The analysis also reveals that while Europe dominates the fintech experience and distribution layer through industry leaders like Revolut, N26, and Klarna, the US leads over the enablement platforms, and infrastructural layers, represented by players such as card issuing platform Marqeta, data transfer network Plaid, and payment processing company Stripe. Consequently, a large share of the value created by European fintech customer-facing companies flies back to the US through infrastructural rails. For example, 63% of European cloud compute runs on AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, and over 90% of card purchases volume in Europe is held by Visa and Mastercard. Who owns Europe’s fintech stack? Source: 2026 State of European Fintech, Finch Capital Investor dependence Despite Europe’s success in generating value in the fintech sector, the region remains dependent on US capital for late-stage growth. The analysis shows that all European fintech funding exceeding EUR 1 billion were led by US investors. Overall, US investors led 39% of all funding value secured in Europe’s fintech industry between 2021 and 2025, against 28% led by European investors, underscoring the critical role of US investors in fueling and shaping the European fintech landscape. But this reliance also highlights a significant funding gap. Though Europe has the players to fill the estimated EUR 9 billion funding gap, very few local institutions are actually participating. Currently, pension funds in Europe allocate less than 0.02% of their assets to VC funding, compared to 1.9% for US pension funds. Closing this gap could result in a EUR 37.3 billion upside for the European startup ecosystem. European fintech VC and growth funding 2021-2025 (EUR million), Source: 2026 State of European Fintech, Finch Capital At the end of 2025, there were a little over 33,600 fintech companies worldwide, according to Statista. Of these, 10,000 were headquartered in Europe, making the continent the world’s second-largest fintech ecosystem, trailing only North America with over 12,500 fintech companies. The two regions also host some of the world’s largest and most successful fintech firms, including Stripe from San Francisco, which now stands among the top five global merchant acquirers by total payment volume at US$1.4 trillion, and Revolut from the UK, one of the world’s largest digital banks with 65 million customers.   Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by artisancollective via Freepik The post European Fintech Surges; US Falls Behind appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

UBS has obtained a national banking license in the US marking a key step in its efforts to expand wealth management in the world’s largest economy. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved UBS’s application for a national bank charter, Reuters reported, allowing the bank to offer the full range of services provided by US lenders, including checking accounts, savings accounts and mortgages. Rob Karofsky “This will strengthen our momentum in the US and it reinforces our ambition to lead as a premier global wealth manager,” said Rob Karofsky, President of UBS Americas. UBS applied to convert its US entity, UBS Bank USA, into a nationally chartered bank. Brian Carlin, head of global wealth management US, said the charter would allow the bank to expand both its client base and services, although the rollout would take time. UBS considers the US, where more than 1,000 people become millionaires daily, its most important growth market in wealth management. However, UBS remains less profitable than leading US banks such as Morgan Stanley and faces challenges in rebuilding the US business after losing billions in client assets and nearly 200 financial advisers, analysts and industry sources told Reuters. The need to strengthen the US operations has grown since UBS acquired Credit Suisse following its collapse in 2023, amid a Swiss government drive to make the banking sector less risky. Proposed new regulations could impose higher capital requirements, which UBS has criticised as excessive, warning they could disadvantage the bank.     Featured image credit: Edited by Fintech News Switzerland, based on image by vwalakte via Freepik The post UBS Secures US National Banking License to Expand Wealth Management appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.

Revolut has reported record financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, with revenue rising 46% to €5.3 billion and profit before tax increasing 57% to €2.0 billion. The company recorded a pre-tax profit margin of 38%, marking its fifth consecutive year of net profitability, with net profit reaching €1.5 billion. Growth was driven by expansion across multiple revenue streams, including subscriptions, card payments, wealth management, foreign exchange, and interest income. The firm noted that 11 product lines each generated approximately €100 million in annual revenue, reflecting a more diversified business model. Customer deposits rose 66% to €57.5 billion, while the loan portfolio more than doubled to €2.5 billion, contributing to a 23% increase in interest income. Operationally, retail customers grew 30% to 68.3 million, alongside a 33% increase in business customers to 767,000. In Switzerland, Revolut added 240,000 new users, bringing total customers in the country to over 1 million. Total transaction volume rose 65% to €1.5 trillion, with higher usage per customer. Revolut Business accounted for €323 billion of total transaction volume, with growth exceeding 140% in markets including Singapore, Australia, and the USA. The company also reported continued expansion in international markets and product offerings, including developments in wealth management, lending, connectivity, and security features. Nik Storonsky, Co-founder and CEO, said: Nikolay Storonsky “2025 was a decisive year for us. We have built a diversified and robust business model that scales profitably and forms the basis for further growth. While we develop into a truly global bank, we show that our technology-driven approach enables us to grow quickly and at the same time remain extremely profitable. Even a decade after our founding, we are only at the beginning of what is possible.” Revolut also made progress in its banking license strategy, operating as a licensed bank in more than 30 markets. It launched banking operations in Mexico in January 2026, completed its UK mobilisation phase in March, and submitted an application for a US national bank license the same month. Looking ahead, the company plans to invest €11.5 billion over five years to support growth and innovation, with a target of reaching 100 million customers by mid-2027.     Featured image credit: Revolut press release The post Revolut Revenue Hits €5.3 Billion with €2 Billion Profit in 2025 appeared first on Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News - FintechNewsCH.