French fintech company Qonto has applied for a banking license from France’s banking regulator, aiming to broaden its offerings beyond payment services to include lending, savings, and investment products. Founded in July 2017, Qonto currently serves over 600,000 small and medium-sized business customers across eight European markets such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Operating under a payment institution license, Qonto provides digital banking and financial management tools including invoicing, accounting, card payments, and wire transfers. The company’s goal is to grow its client base to 2 million by 2030.
Qonto has raised over 600 million euros ($705 million) from venture capital and angel investors. The firm has also strengthened its board with banking experts like former UniCredit CEO Jean-Pierre Mustier, who now serves as an independent board member.
A banking license would allow Qonto to develop partnerships and offer its pay-later services with greater autonomy, according to CEO and co-founder Alexandre Prot. This move comes as digital payments continue to grow in Europe, although at a slower pace, with cards still dominating payment values and mobile apps gaining traction.