Neobank N26 confirms exit from US market

German neobank N26 has put a complete stop to its US operations, announcing that its American current accounts will be shut down after January 11, 2022. Previously, co-founder and CEO Max Tayenthal told Insider that the US was no longer a priority and that the company's efforts would be focused closer to home in Europe. 

The company halted its operations in the UK in February 2020, citing Brexit as the key factor, although operating costs were understood to have played a role in the decision too.

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

N26 has recently come under fire for its alleged money-laundering issues, with the German regulator BaFin placing a cap on the number of users it signs up until the issues are fixed. 

However, last month, things were looking up for the neobank, as it secured a $900 million raise from investors including Third Point Ventures and Coatue, with a valuation of more than $9 billion.

N26 is not the only European neobank to put a stop to its bid for US dominance. Last month, Monzo withdrew its US banking licence application after regulators told the bank it was unlikely to be approved. 

About Author

Tom is a deals reporter at The Block covering venture capital, fundraises, fintech and M&A. Before joining, he was an editorial intern at the FT-backed platform Sifted where he reported on neobanks, payment firms and blockchain startups. You can reach him by email at [email protected] or Telegram @tommatsuda.