N26
Berlin's minimalist bank that scaled across the EU, retreated from UK/US, and finally reached profitability.
8M+ customers; crypto via partner in some markets.
- Who holds it
- The company itself — it holds a full banking licence — German banking license.
- 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 N26’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 | Berlin, DE |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Licensed bank |
| License detail | German banking license |
| Card | MC · Debit |
| Yield | ~2-4% (region) |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Europe |
| Countries | Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Poland |
| Founders | Valentin Stalf, Maximilian Tayenthal |
| Funding | ~$1.8B raised |
| Services | crypto on-ramp · crypto off-ramp · fiat pay-in (bank rails) · fiat pay-out (bank rails) · own IBAN / account no. · virtual cards |
| FX markup | 0% N26 markup on card payments; Mastercard rate passed through (Standard plan) (2026-07) · source ↗ |
Verified links: official site ↗ · @n26 ↗
Common questions about N26
What is N26?
N26 is a fiat neobank, headquartered in Berlin, DE and founded in 2013. Your money is held custodially, so N26 or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a licensed bank (German banking license).
Does N26 have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard debit card. It is available in 11 countries, across Europe.
Does N26 require KYC?
Yes. N26 requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a licensed bank.
What does N26 cost?
From the verified fields: FX abroad — 0% N26 markup on card payments; Mastercard rate passed through (Standard plan) (as of 2026-07); yield ~2-4% (region). Cashback and yield are "up to" figures that change constantly and often depend on a paid plan — confirm current terms with N26 before relying on them.
Early investors
Head-to-head
N26 vs Revolut · N26 vs bunq · N26 vs Wise · N26 vs Vivid Money
Peers
Monzo · Wise · Starling Bank · Atom Bank · Zopa Bank · Chase UK
N26 appears in
Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks available in Europe (144) · Neobanks that issue a Mastercard (150) · Neobanks in Germany (8)
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.