Key takeaways

• Banking as a Service (BaaS) enables non-banks to provide financial services to their customers.
• The BaaS sector is expected to reach a remarkable $7 trillion by 2030.
• The key trends for banking-as-a-service in 2023 are platform banking and open banking, digitization, and RegTech.

What is banking as a service?

Banking as a Service (BaaS) is a financial industry concept that refers to the delivery of banking and financial services through a third-party platform or API (Application Programming Interface). 

Essentially, banking SaaS companies allow non-banks, such as fintech companies, startups, and others, to leverage the infrastructure and capabilities of traditional banks to provide various financial services to their own customers without having to hold a full banking license themselves.

In the BaaS model, banks make their services, such as account creation, payment processing, loan origination, and compliance, available through APIs that can be integrated with other companies’ systems. 

This allows these third-party companies to develop and offer their own financial products and services, such as digital wallets, money transfer apps, investment platforms, etc., without having to develop the entire underlying banking infrastructure from scratch.

Watch the video to learn more about banking as a service:

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Examples of BaaS and business partnership

The banking as a service model encompasses various industries, from technology companies to e-commerce, that provide banking services through a partnership with financial institutions. Below are some examples of partnerships and collaborations that involve banking as a service companies.

FinTech startups and traditional banks

In this case, a fintech startup partners with a traditional bank to offer a digital wallet service. For example, in partnership with Sutton Bank and Marqeta, Cash App provides its customers with a personalized debit card that enables both in-store transactions and hassle-free ATM cash withdrawals.

In addition, Lincoln Savings Bank enriches the Cash App experience by providing account and routing numbers, facilitating the effortless processing of incoming and outgoing ACH payments.

Source: Deloitte Digital

Transportation companies and brick-and-mortar banks

Uber and the State Bank of India have partnered to provide vehicle financing to drivers. Under this partnership, driver partners interested in working on the Uber platform can apply for a vehicle loan, which will be approved instantly through an integrated digital offering.

Source: Uber Money

E-commerce platforms and payment services

An e-commerce platform partners with banking saas companies to provide a seamless payment experience. For example, an e-commerce giant like Shopify uses Stripe to optimally integrate SME bank accounts (held at Evolve) with its e-commerce platform. The main benefit is the creation of a comprehensive dashboard outside of the traditional banking system.

In addition, merchants using a credit account have faster access to funds generated by Stripe’s payment processing services. These embedded financial solutions not only strengthen customer engagement but also enrich their experience with additional financial offerings.

Source: Deloitte Digital

Collaboration between banking SaaS companies and traditional financial institutions is changing the landscape of modern banking services, as banking-as-a-service companies bring a new level of agility and flexibility to the financial industry.

How does banking as a service work?

Banking as a Service (BaaS) enables non-banks, including fintech startups and technology companies, to offer financial services to their customers without having to build an entire banking system from scratch.

This is achieved by leveraging the established resources of traditional banks via APIs to provide a seamless and consistent user experience.

Here is a typical breakdown of the process:

• 1. Engagement. Fintech companies subscribe to the BaaS platform.
• 2. Solution development. Using APIs, these fintech companies develop innovative financial services solutions tailored to their target audience.
• 3. Collaboration. Established financial institutions serve as BaaS providers and grant fintech companies access to their APIs to integrate their solutions.

Source: Amlegals

Essentially, BaaS facilitates a mutually beneficial relationship between traditional banks and non-bank companies by giving the latter the tools to seamlessly offer financial products while leveraging the former’s existing expertise and infrastructure.

Best banking as a service companies 

Creating such a financial platform requires specialized skills and an experienced technical team. To help you choose a reliable partner to develop a BaaS platform or integrate your software with an existing solution, we have compiled a list of the top banking-as-a-service companies.

SDK.finance 

Although it doesn’t offer a financial license, SDK.finance does provide a SaaS PayTechPlatform which serves as a powerful core for building your digital banking or payment product, helping get to market faster and save your resources.

With its FinTech software, you receive a stable, reliable engine for your banking business which you can easily extend via integrations, using 400+ API endpoints. The SaaS banking solution operates as a cloud-hosted backend app with APIs maintained by our team, and a database is run by yours.

Railsr

Railsr (formerly Railsbank) provides a BaaS platform that allows businesses to create and manage financial products. Their APIs cover areas such as card issuance, payments, compliance, and more, making it easier for businesses to create customized financial offerings.

Marqeta

Although Marqeta is primarily known for card issuance, the company is also active in the BaaS space. The company provides APIs for card issuance, payment processing, and digital wallets, enabling businesses to develop innovative payment solutions. Marqeta targets industries such as FinTech, eCommerce, and on-demand services, offering features such as instant approval, customizable payment management, transaction analytics, and comprehensive developer support.

Solarisbank

Solarisbank is a Berlin-based BaaS provider offering a range of financial services and APIs for companies operating in Europe. The company positions itself as a banking-licensed technology company that enables businesses to develop and offer financial products without having to obtain a banking license themselves.

Galileo

Galileo is known for its powerful API platform and offers BaaS solutions for payments, debit card issuance and other financial services. One of Galileo’s strengths is its flexibility. The platform is designed to support a wide range of financial services, allowing companies to tailor their offerings to their specific needs and audiences.

Treezor

Treezor, a European banking SaaS company, offers a wide range of financial services, including payment processing, electronic wallets, card issuance, and KYC compliance. The offering is particularly suitable for financial institutions, mobility services, neobanks, and employee benefit programs.

Banking SaaS companies are known for their flexible platforms that enable organizations to launch new services with unprecedented speed. This agility not only accelerates time-to-market, but also increases competitiveness as companies can respond instantly to market trends and customer demands.

The result is a dynamic environment in which innovation thrives, enabling companies to seize opportunities as they arise and maintain a strong position in the rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Trends for banking as a service in 2023

According to a Finastra survey, the banking-as-a-service sector is expected to reach a remarkable $7 trillion by 2030. Banking SaaS companies have seen a significant upsurge, including fintech startups and tech giants that are increasingly recognizing the potential to revolutionize the way financial services are delivered.

Open banking

Open banking is driving the evolution of BaaS by encouraging data sharing, driving innovation, and enabling collaboration. BaaS providers using Open-Banking are well-positioned to deliver more customer-centric and advanced financial services while navigating the changing regulatory landscape.

Digital-only banking

Today, there are a number of banks without physical branches that offer competitive financial products and enhanced user experiences. Therefore, by integrating digital-only banking practices into BaaS solutions, companies can offer technologically advanced, user-friendly, and accessible financial services.

RegTech

RegTech, or regulatory technology, is an important trend in BaaS. As financial regulations become more complex and stringent, RegTech solutions are gaining importance in helping BaaS providers and their customers effectively address compliance challenges.

Platform banking

A growing number of banks are adopting a platform-based strategy and expanding their service offerings beyond traditional banking to include offerings such as insurance, investments, and utility bill payments. Read this article to learn more about platform banking.

Conclusion

In this era of transformative change, the synergy between traditional banks and BaaS providers is reshaping the financial landscape. The shared pursuit of digitization, platform strategies, open banking, and RegTech is fostering a new era of financial services, promising innovation, accessibility, and improved experiences for all stakeholders.

The fact that banking SaaS companies continue to grow underlines the transformative potential of collaboration, technology, and innovation, forging a path toward a dynamic and inclusive financial future.

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• Source: https://sdk.finance/top-banking-as-a-service-companies/