The neobank is thus targeting digital nomads and expats who live and/or work in both Europe and the United States. Once the full American banking license is granted, they can easily and quickly build an American credit score based on their European payment history. At the same time, they benefit from European standards in terms of security and fraud prevention, both at home and on the go.
'Our users live and work across borders. They need a bank that is safe and simple, no matter where they are,' says Ali Niknam, founder and CEO of bunq. 'That’s why we are taking this next step into the United States, a market where a large portion of our users feel connected.'
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International growth
bunq began its expansion into the United States in 2023. Recently, the neobank successfully applied for an American broker-dealer license. Now that the request for the banking license has been submitted, bunq is preparing for the next phase: serving the more than five million European expats in the United States who have ties to both continents.
bunq now has more than twenty million users and is active in more than thirty European countries. As the world's first GenAI bank, it uses its own AI technology to make users' lives as easy as possible. The neobank is focused on growth outside Europe and has, besides the United States, the British Isles in its sights. As part of its international growth strategy, bunq recently applied for a British E-Money Institution (EMI) license.
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About bunq
bunq, the second largest neobank in the EU, has reinvented banking. As the world's first GenAI bank that fully operates on artificial intelligence, bunq uses its own AI technology in all parts of the company: from customer support to its own internal processes. bunq focuses on how digital nomads and businesses manage, save, and invest their money. By building a product that truly meets the wishes and needs of users, the neobank makes life easier for people and businesses that are not tied to one place.
Over the years, bunq has continuously achieved milestones that many considered impossible. For instance, it was the first party in 35 years to receive a European banking license, secured the largest Series A investment ever for a European fintech (€193 million), and was the first neobank in the EU to be structurally profitable. In October 2025, bunq, as a recognized broker-dealer, also took its first step towards the United States, an important part of its ambition to become the first global neobank. For more information, see: https://www.bunq.com.
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