buddybank
UniCredit's iPhone-native bank.
- Who holds it
- The company itself — it holds a full banking licence — UniCredit S.p.A. digital service — operates under UniCredit's Italian banking license (ECB supervised).
- The ledger
- The bank’s own core ledger.
- If it fails
- A covered-deposit payout through the local scheme, up to its limit.
Derived from buddybank’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional |
| HQ | Milan, IT |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Licensed bank |
| License detail | UniCredit S.p.A. digital service — operates under UniCredit's Italian banking license (ECB supervised) |
| Card | MC · Debit |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Europe |
Verified links: official site ↗
Common questions about buddybank
What is buddybank?
buddybank is a fiat neobank, headquartered in Milan, IT and founded in 2018. Your money is held custodially, so buddybank or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a licensed bank (UniCredit S.p.A. digital service — operates under UniCredit's Italian banking license (ECB supervised)).
Does buddybank have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard debit card. It is available in Europe.
Does buddybank require KYC?
Yes. buddybank requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a licensed bank.
Peers
Monzo · Wise · Starling Bank · Atom Bank · Zopa Bank · Chase UK
buddybank appears in
Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks available in Europe (144) · Neobanks that issue a Mastercard (150)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.