Bloomberg Talks N26 Founder Valentin Stalf on IPO Plans, EU Regulation
Apr 28, 2025
Valentin Stalf, Founder and CEO of N26, a revolutionary German challenger bank, dives into the bounce-back of his company after regulatory hurdles. He discusses the impressive 40% revenue rise forecasted post-cap on new customers. Stalf emphasizes the need for proactive regulation to spark innovation while maintaining consumer trust. He shares insights on navigating competition within the neobank sector and reveals future IPO plans, considering market stability and global fluctuations. A must-listen for fintech enthusiasts!
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Regulatory Cap Impacted Growth
- N26 faced a growth cap imposed by BaFin due to money laundering concerns, limiting new customer acquisition.
- This cap expired last year, after which N26 saw a significant jump in new customer growth and revenue increase forecasts.
Need for Proactive Regulation
- Valentin Stalf notes that European banking is inherently highly regulated, which builds consumer trust.
- He advocates for more proactive and forward-looking regulation rather than retrospective enforcement.
Focus on Customer Engagement
- N26 emphasizes revenue growth and customer engagement over total customer numbers.
- They lead globally in deposits and transaction volume per customer, showing deeper use beyond basic account numbers.