Neobanks that hold their own banking license
short answer132 of the 382 neobanks tracked here are licensed banks. These hold a banking license or charter in their own name, so deposits sit on their own balance sheet and the national deposit-insurance scheme applies directly. The largest by disclosed users are WeBank, Nubank, bKash, PicPay and Revolut; all 132 are listed below with custody, license and geography.
These hold a banking license or charter in their own name, so deposits sit on their own balance sheet and the national deposit-insurance scheme applies directly. This is the strongest structure on offer — the app you use and the institution holding your money are the same legal entity.
All 132 licensed banks
| neobank | type | hq | custody | license / structure | reported users |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WeBank | traditional | Shenzhen, CN | Custodial | Private bank license (CN) | 400M customers (2024) |
| Nubank | traditional | São Paulo, BR | Custodial | Bank licenses BR/MX/CO; US products on Lead Bank while its conditional OCC charter (Jan 2026) is organised | 139M customers (Q2 2026) |
| bKash | traditional | Dhaka, BD | Custodial | MFS license (Bangladesh Bank) | 70M users (2024) |
| PicPay | traditional | São Paulo, BR | Custodial | Payment institution + bank (BCB) | 58M users (2024) |
| Revolut | hybrid | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license (2024); EU license (Lithuania) | 50M customers (2025) |
| Banco Inter | traditional | Belo Horizonte, BR | Custodial | Bank; Public (INTR) | 35M clients (2025) |
| PagBank | traditional | São Paulo, BR | Custodial | Bank; Public (PAGS) | 32M clients (2024) |
| Maya | traditional | Manila, PH | Custodial | PH digital bank + EMI + VASP | 30M users (2024) |
| KakaoBank | traditional | Seongnam, KR | Custodial | Internet-only bank license (KR) | 23M customers (2024) |
| Nequi | traditional | Medellín, CO | Custodial | Licensed compañía de financiamiento (Superfinanciera Colombia); spun out of Bancolombia's banking license | 20M users (2024) |
| Monzo | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license | 12M customers (2025) |
| TymeBank | traditional | Johannesburg, ZA | Custodial | SA banking license | 10M customers (2024) |
| AEON Bank | traditional | Kuala Lumpur, MY | Custodial | Islamic digital bank license (BNM) | — |
| Airtel Payments Bank | traditional | Delhi, IN | Custodial | Payments bank license (RBI) | — |
| ALAT by Wema | traditional | Lagos, NG | Custodial | Bank (Wema Bank) | — |
| albo | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | IFPE license (CNBV, Mexico, 2022) — e-money institution under Ley Fintech | — |
| Allica Bank | traditional | Milton Keynes, UK | Custodial | Full UK banking license (PRA/FCA authorised) | — |
| Allo Bank | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (OJK); CT Corp | — |
| Ally Bank | traditional | Detroit, US | Custodial | National bank charter | — |
| Alpian | traditional | Geneva, CH | Custodial | Swiss banking license | — |
| Always.bank | traditional | Birmingham, US | Custodial | FDIC-insured national bank charter (22nd State Banking Company) | — |
| AMP Bank GO | traditional | Sydney, AU | Custodial | Australian ADI (AMP Bank Limited) | — |
| ANEXT Bank | traditional | Singapore, SG | Custodial | Digital wholesale bank (MAS) | — |
| Atom Bank | traditional | Durham, UK | Custodial | UK banking license | — |
| Bank Jago | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (OJK); GoTo ecosystem | — |
| Bank Zero | traditional | Johannesburg, ZA | Custodial | Mutual bank license (SA) | — |
| Bitso | hybrid | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | IFPE (MX) + regional VASP licenses | — |
| Blu by BCA | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (BCA Digital) | — |
| Boost Bank | traditional | Kuala Lumpur, MY | Custodial | Digital bank license (BNM); Axiata | — |
| BoursoBank | traditional | Paris, FR | Custodial | Bank (Société Générale) | — |
| Branch Intl | traditional | Nairobi/Lagos | Custodial | Microfinance bank license in Kenya (84.9% of Century MFB, CBK-approved 2022); digital lending in NG/IN | — |
| Brubank | traditional | Buenos Aires, AR | Custodial | Bank license (BCRA) | — |
| buddybank | traditional | Milan, IT | Custodial | UniCredit S.p.A. digital service — operates under UniCredit's Italian banking license (ECB supervised) | — |
| bunq | traditional | Amsterdam, NL | Custodial | Dutch banking license | — |
| C6 Bank | traditional | São Paulo, BR | Custodial | Bank license (BCB) | — |
| Carbon | traditional | Lagos, NG | Custodial | Microfinance bank (NG) | — |
| Cuenca | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | IFPE license (CNBV, Mexico, 2021) under Ley Fintech | — |
| D360 Bank | traditional | Riyadh, SA | Custodial | Digital bank license (SAMA); PIF-backed | — |
| Daviplata | traditional | Bogotá, CO | Custodial | Operates under Banco Davivienda's Colombian banking license (SFC-supervised) | — |
| Discovery Bank | traditional | Johannesburg, ZA | Custodial | SA banking license | — |
| Enpara | traditional | Istanbul, TR | Custodial | Bank (QNB Finansbank) | — |
| EQ Bank | traditional | Toronto, CA | Custodial | Trade name of Equitable Bank, Schedule I chartered bank (OSFI, Canada); CDIC member | — |
| Esh Bank | traditional | Tel Aviv, IL | Custodial | Bank of Israel banking license (2022) | — |
| FairMoney | traditional | Lagos, NG | Custodial | Microfinance bank (NG) | — |
| Fasset | hybrid | Dubai, AE | Custodial | VARA VASP license (Dubai, broker-dealer); provisional Islamic digital-bank license in Malaysia | — |
| First Women's Bank | traditional | Chicago, US | Custodial | National bank charter | — |
| Fondeadora | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | SOFIPO license (Fondea Technologies S.F.P., CNBV Mexico, ex-Apoyo Múltiple); Prosofipo deposit insurance | — |
| Fortuneo | traditional | Brest, FR | Custodial | Crédit Mutuel Arkéa banking license (ACPR, France); brand of the group's online bank | — |
| GoTyme Bank | traditional | Manila, PH | Custodial | PH digital bank license (Tyme x Gokongwei) | — |
| Grasshopper | traditional | New York, US | Custodial | National bank charter (de novo 2019) | — |
| GXBank | traditional | Kuala Lumpur, MY | Custodial | Digital bank license (BNM); Grab-led | — |
| GXS Bank | traditional | Singapore, SG | Custodial | Digital full bank (MAS) | — |
| Haventree Bank | traditional | Toronto, CA | Custodial | Schedule I Canadian bank (CDIC member) | — |
| Hello bank! | traditional | Paris, FR | Custodial | Operates under BNP Paribas' French banking license (direct-bank brand) | — |
| Hey Banco | traditional | Monterrey, MX | Custodial | Own Mexican banking license (CNBV banca múltiple); independent of Banregio since Jan 2026 | — |
| ila Bank | traditional | Manama, BH | Custodial | Bank (ABC Group) | — |
| imagin | traditional | Barcelona, ES | Custodial | Operates under CaixaBank's Spanish banking license (ECB/Bank of Spain supervised) | — |
| indó | traditional | Reykjavík, IS | Custodial | Icelandic banking license | — |
| isybank | traditional | Milan, IT | Custodial | Own Italian banking license (Intesa Sanpaolo group; ECB/Banca d'Italia supervised) | — |
| Jenius | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (BTPN/SMBC) | — |
| Jio Payments Bank | traditional | Mumbai, IN | Custodial | Payments bank license (RBI) | — |
| Judo Bank | traditional | Melbourne, AU | Custodial | ADI license | — |
| K bank | traditional | Seoul, KR | Custodial | Internet-only bank license (KT-led) | — |
| Kaspi | traditional | Almaty, KZ | Custodial | Kazakh banking license | — |
| Klar | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | SOFIPO license (CNBV, Mexico); acquiring Bineo for its bank license, approvals pending | — |
| Klarna | traditional | Stockholm, SE | Custodial | Swedish banking license | — |
| Kroo | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license | — |
| Kuda | traditional | Lagos, NG | Custodial | Microfinance bank (NG) | — |
| LINE Bank TW | traditional | Taipei, TW | Custodial | Virtual bank license (TW FSC) | — |
| Liv. | traditional | Dubai, AE | Custodial | Operates under Emirates NBD's banking license (CBUAE) as its digital bank | — |
| Lulo Bank | traditional | Bogotá, CO | Custodial | Bank license (CO) | — |
| Lunar | traditional | Aarhus, DK | Custodial | Danish banking license | — |
| Marcus | traditional | New York, US | Custodial | Goldman Sachs Bank USA national bank charter (OCC); Member FDIC | — |
| MariBank | traditional | Singapore, SG | Custodial | Digital full bank (MAS) | — |
| Mashreq Neo | traditional | Dubai, AE | Custodial | Bank (Mashreq) | — |
| Minna Bank | traditional | Fukuoka, JP | Custodial | Bank license (JP) | — |
| MNT-Halan | traditional | Cairo, EG | Custodial | Microfinance and consumer finance licenses (FRA, Egypt); e-payments arm licensed by CBE | — |
| Mox Bank | traditional | Hong Kong, HK | Custodial | HK virtual bank (StanChart JV) | — |
| MYbank | traditional | Hangzhou, CN | Custodial | Private bank license (CN) | — |
| MyInvestor | traditional | Madrid, ES | Custodial | Own Spanish banking license (MyInvestor Banco S.A., Banco de España no. 1544; Andbank group); CNMV supervised | — |
| N26 | traditional | Berlin, DE | Custodial | German banking license | — |
| Nagad | traditional | Dhaka, BD | Custodial | Mobile money license (Bangladesh Bank MFS, with Bangladesh Post Office); 2024 digital-bank license under review | — |
| Naranja X | traditional | Córdoba, AR | Custodial | Bank (Grupo Galicia) | — |
| NEXT Bank | traditional | Taipei, TW | Custodial | Virtual bank license (TW FSC) | — |
| Northmill | traditional | Stockholm, SE | Custodial | Swedish banking license (Finansinspektionen, since 2019) | — |
| OakNorth | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | Full UK banking license (PRA/FCA, 2015) | — |
| One Zero | traditional | Tel Aviv, IL | Custodial | Israeli banking license | — |
| Openbank | traditional | Madrid, ES | Custodial | Full banking license within Santander Group (ECB/Bank of Spain); US via Santander Bank N.A. | — |
| Panacea Financial | traditional | Little Rock, US | Custodial | Division of Primis Bank (NASDAQ: FRST) — operates under Primis's US bank charter; FDIC-insured | — |
| PayPay Bank | traditional | Tokyo, JP | Custodial | Bank (JP); SoftBank ecosystem | — |
| Plata | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | Full Mexican bank license (Banco Plata, Mar 2026); Colombia Compañía de Financiamiento authorized | — |
| Qik | traditional | Santo Domingo, DO | Custodial | Full banking license (banco múltiple, Dominican Republic, Oct 2022; Grupo Popular) | — |
| Rakuten Bank | traditional | Tokyo, JP | Custodial | Bank; Public (JP) | — |
| RappiPay | traditional | Bogotá, CO | Custodial | Finance company charter (compania de financiamiento, SFC Colombia, 2022); Rappi-Davivienda JV; Fogafin-insured | — |
| Rocker | traditional | Stockholm, SE | Custodial | Operates under Bankaktiebolaget Nordiska's Swedish banking license (Finansinspektionen); own PI license returned Sep 2025 | — |
| Ryt Bank | traditional | Kuala Lumpur, MY | Custodial | Digital bank license (BNM) | — |
| Salt Bank | traditional | Bucharest, RO | Custodial | Bank (Banca Transilvania) | — |
| SeaBank | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (OJK); Sea Group | — |
| slice | traditional | Bengaluru, IN | Custodial | Small finance bank (via NESFB merger) | — |
| Snappi | traditional | Athens, GR | Custodial | Full ECB banking license (via Bank of Greece, Jun 2024); Piraeus-backed digital bank | — |
| SoFi | traditional | San Francisco, US | Custodial | National bank charter (2022) | — |
| Sony Bank | traditional | Tokyo, JP | Custodial | Japanese banking license (Sony Financial Group) | — |
| Sparkle | traditional | Lagos, NG | Custodial | Microfinance bank (NG) | — |
| Starling Bank | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license | — |
| STC Bank | traditional | Riyadh, SA | Custodial | Digital bank license (SAMA) | — |
| Stori | traditional | Mexico City, MX | Custodial | Sofipo (MX) | — |
| Superbank | traditional | Jakarta, ID | Custodial | Bank (OJK); Grab/Emtek/Singtel | — |
| T-Bank | traditional | Moscow, RU | Custodial | Russian banking license | — |
| Tandem Bank | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license | — |
| TBC UZ | traditional | Tashkent, UZ | Custodial | Bank (TBC Group) | — |
| TNEX | traditional | Hanoi, VN | Custodial | Operates under Maritime Bank's (Vietnam) banking license as its digital bank | — |
| Tonik | traditional | Manila, PH | Custodial | PH digital bank license | — |
| Toss Bank | traditional | Seoul, KR | Custodial | Internet-only bank license (KR) | — |
| Trade Republic | traditional | Berlin, DE | Custodial | German full banking license (2023) | — |
| Trust Bank | traditional | Singapore, SG | Custodial | Bank (StanChart x FairPrice) | — |
| Ualá | traditional | Buenos Aires, AR | Custodial | Bank licenses (AR via Wilobank, MX via ABC Capital) | — |
| ueno bank | traditional | Asunción, PY | Custodial | Bank license (PY) | — |
| UnionDigital | traditional | Manila, PH | Custodial | PH digital bank license | — |
| UNO Digital Bank | traditional | Manila, PH | Custodial | PH digital bank license | — |
| UR | hybrid | — | Custodial | Swiss fintech banking license (Art. 1b Banking Act, FINMA; SR Saphirstein AG); tokenized deposits | — |
| Uzum | traditional | Tashkent, UZ | Custodial | Bank license (UZ) | — |
| Varo | traditional | San Francisco, US | Custodial | National bank charter (2020) | — |
| Vision Bank | traditional | Riyadh, SA | Custodial | Full Saudi digital bank license (SAMA); full operations approved Sep 2025 | — |
| WeLab Bank | traditional | Hong Kong, HK | Custodial | HK virtual bank | — |
| Weyay | traditional | Kuwait City, KW | Custodial | Bank (NBK) | — |
| Wio Bank | traditional | Abu Dhabi, AE | Custodial | UAE banking license | — |
| Xapo Bank | hybrid | Gibraltar | Custodial | Gibraltar banking license | — |
| ZA Bank | traditional | Hong Kong, HK | Custodial | HK virtual bank; SFC-aligned crypto services | — |
| Zak | traditional | Basel, CH | Custodial | Operates under Bank Cler's Swiss banking license (FINMA) | — |
| Zand | traditional | Dubai, AE | Custodial | UAE banking license | — |
| Zempler Bank | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | Full UK banking license (PRA/FCA, Feb 2021, ex-Cashplus); FSCS-protected | — |
| Zopa Bank | traditional | London, UK | Custodial | UK banking license (2020) | — |
Common questions
Neobanks that hold their own banking license: how many are there?
132 of the 382 neobanks tracked here are licensed banks. Every entry is verified active and listed on this page with its custody model, license detail and the regions it serves.
Which are the biggest licensed banks?
By self-reported users, WeBank, Nubank, bKash, PicPay and Revolut. Only 12 of these 132 disclose a user figure, so treat any ranking by size as partial rather than complete.
What does this category actually mean?
These hold a banking license or charter in their own name, so deposits sit on their own balance sheet and the national deposit-insurance scheme applies directly. This is the strongest structure on offer — the app you use and the institution holding your money are the same legal entity.
Related
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (81) · Neobanks operating under crypto and money-transmitter licenses (25) · Neobanks authorised as e-money institutions (49) · Neobanks authorised as crypto-asset service providers under MiCA (9) · Neobanks authorised as payment institutions (13) · Neobanks that never hold your money (53)
go deeperFilter these live in the interactive directory, browse every cut of the dataset, or take the raw fields from data.json.
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.