N26

N26 is a mobile bank that runs accounts entirely through a smartphone app. Valentin Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal founded the company in 2013. It is based in Berlin, Germany.

Customers open an account in the app, get a debit card and manage spending, savings and transfers on their phone. The bank offers free basic accounts and paid tiers with extra features such as travel insurance and metal cards. It also offers savings accounts, overdrafts and investing in some markets. Customers can open an account in a few minutes with a video identity check.

N26 holds a full German banking licence and serves customers in many European countries. It once operated in the United States and the United Kingdom but has since left both markets. German regulators have at times placed limits on its growth over concerns about its controls against money laundering. The company has also gone through leadership changes in recent years. N26 remains privately held.