Dutch challenger Bunq prepares for UK relaunch as it reports first full year of profitability

  • Business Move: Bunq, the Dutch digital challenger, applies for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license in the UK.
  • Financial Success: Reported a net profit of €53.1 million in 2023, marking its first full year of profitability.
  • Global Expansion: Aims to challenge Monzo and Revolut in the UK as part of its global expansion plans.
  • EU Success: Became the first EU neobank to record a quarterly profit in Q4 2022 after a decade of operations.
  • UK Market Reentry: Sees the UK as a “bridge between Europe and the rest of the world” and targets 2.8 million British digital nomads.
  • License Strategy: Chooses to apply for a UK EMI license to allow UK customers to open local payment accounts.
  • Financial Growth: In Q4 2023, gross interest income grew by 488%, and user deposits rose from €1.8 billion to almost €7 billion.
  • US Expansion: Applied for a US banking license with the FDIC and aims to expand services to all 50 states.
  • Innovation: Recently launched Finn, a self-built GenAI platform, claiming to be the first AI-powered bank in Europe.
Laura M
Laura M
Laura is a financial reporter, editor, and researcher with a particular interest in fintech innovation, capital markets, and the evolving global banking landscape.

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