Revolut has secured a conditional U.S. banking licence, marking a major milestone in the fintech’s push to establish a fully fledged banking operation in the American market. The licence would allow Revolut to move beyond its existing fintech model and offer a broader range of banking products directly to U.S. customers. The development is particularly significant given the scale of the U.S. financial market and the increasingly competitive landscape for digital banks. Revolut has already built a large international customer base, and a U.S. banking licence could give it greater control over its products, infrastructure and customer relationships. The conditional approval still leaves regulatory requirements to be satisfied before the bank can operate fully. Nevertheless, the move represents one of the most important steps yet in Revolut’s global expansion strategy.
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Top banking trends for 2026
Digital currencies are reshaping how money is stored, moved and used—changing how it works for banks and customers. Banks must shift from adopting new forms of money to building smarter, faster and more connected ways to move it.
AI and GPT-powered interfaces are transforming banking, raising customer expectations beyond basic transactions. Customers expect fluid and adaptive experiences across digital and physical channels. To deliver, banks must modernize core systems and build GPTs that deliver real-time, context-aware interactions. Physical branches will remain essential as trust anchors, but their role will evolve. Success lies in blending AI-driven convenience with the enduring value of human connection.
AI is transforming how banks operate, serve customers and build software. Capacity no longer depends on headcount—banks can now amplify impact with small teams directing digital co-workers. The future of work is about designing roles, workflows and cultures where humans and machines achieve more together.
Years of underinvestment have left banks burdened with tech debt and rising costs, as spending prioritized maintaining outdated systems. With technology costs growing about four times faster than revenue, this model is unsustainable. AI offers a path to modernization, transforming legacy weaknesses into engines of growth.
The banking industry’s strong position is shifting. Fintechs, stablecoins and private credit are targeting core banking products, while customers gain more control over their money. Banks must rethink balance sheet management, move from product silos to integrated offerings and forge new partnerships. Leaders will be those who adapt quickly to this evolving landscape.
Curated News
💳 Payments
ACI Worldwide to Add Microservices Card Switching Through Cranium Acquisition
ACI Worldwide is acquiring Cranium Ventures to add microservices-based card-switching capabilities to its payments platform. The deal is designed to give financial institutions more flexible and modern card-processing infrastructure.
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FIS Launches Embedded Banking Platform, Letting Banks Deliver Accounts and Payments Inside Business Software
FIS has launched an embedded banking platform that enables banks to provide accounts and payment capabilities directly within business software. The offering reflects the continued shift toward financial services being integrated into non-financial platforms.
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Ecommpay Launches QR Code Payments for Customer-Defined and Preset Amounts
Ecommpay has introduced QR-code payment functionality supporting both customer-defined and preset amounts. The launch expands the payment options available to merchants and their customers.
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China’s XTransfer Gets UAE Approval for Payment License
Chinese B2B payments fintech XTransfer has received approval in the UAE for a payment licence, supporting its expansion into the Middle Eastern market. The move strengthens its ability to serve businesses involved in cross-border commerce.
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🏦 Banking
TabaPay Closes $155M Round, Acquires Transact Bank in Push for National Bank Charter
TabaPay has closed a $155 million funding round and acquired Transact Bank as it pursues a national bank charter. The transaction represents a significant expansion of the payments company’s banking ambitions.
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Euroclear and HSBC to Launch Automated FX Service
Euroclear and HSBC are preparing an automated FX service designed to streamline foreign-exchange processing. The initiative aims to bring greater efficiency to traditionally complex institutional workflows.
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KB Kookmin Bank Leverages Kinexys by J.P. Morgan for Import/Export Payments
KB Kookmin Bank is using Kinexys by J.P. Morgan to support import and export payments. The partnership highlights the continued adoption of blockchain-based infrastructure for cross-border banking transactions.
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RBA Concludes No Case for Retail CBDC in Australia
The Reserve Bank of Australia has concluded that there is currently no compelling case for introducing a retail central bank digital currency. The decision highlights the differing approaches central banks are taking toward digital currencies and payments innovation.
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💼 Fintech
RateZip Launches Live US Bank Rate and Mortgage Rate App in ChatGPT
RateZip has launched an app in ChatGPT providing live U.S. bank-rate and mortgage-rate information. The launch illustrates how financial information and comparison tools are increasingly moving into conversational AI interfaces.
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OpenPayd Secures 43 US Licenses Ahead of Nasdaq Listing
OpenPayd has secured 43 U.S. state licences as it expands its financial infrastructure business. The regulatory expansion strengthens its ability to provide banking and payment services across the U.S. market.
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Finzly Unveils AI Assurance Layer Assure
Finzly has introduced Assure, an AI assurance layer designed to support the safe deployment of AI within financial services. The product reflects growing demand for governance and oversight as banks increasingly integrate AI into their operations.
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Plenti Raises $3M in Seed Funding
Fintech startup Plenti has raised $3 million in seed funding to support its growth. The round provides additional capital for the company as it develops its financial technology offering.
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Incore Bank’s AI Hits 99% Accuracy on KYC Checks
Incore Bank says its AI system has achieved 99% accuracy in KYC checks. The result highlights the potential for AI to automate compliance workflows while maintaining high levels of verification accuracy.
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Global Fraud Tech Firm SEON Taps Philippine Partner for SEA Push
Fraud-prevention company SEON is partnering in the Philippines as part of its Southeast Asian expansion. The move comes as demand for digital identity and fraud-prevention tools grows across the region.
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FNZ Raises $450M From Existing Institutional Shareholders
Wealth-management technology company FNZ has raised $450 million from its existing institutional shareholders. The funding provides additional capital for the company as it continues developing its global wealth-tech platform.
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🪙 Crypto
SoFi Links Banking Network and Stablecoin to Kraken in New Deal
SoFi is linking its banking network and stablecoin infrastructure with Kraken, creating a connection between traditional banking services and crypto markets. The partnership reflects the growing convergence between fintech banking platforms and digital-asset infrastructure.
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Bitget in Talks with BlackRock on Asia Crypto Push
Crypto exchange Bitget is reportedly in talks with BlackRock as it looks to expand its presence in Asia. The potential collaboration highlights the growing intersection between major traditional asset managers and crypto platforms.
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Bitcoin ETFs Rebound as Ethereum and XRP ETFs End Winning Streaks
Bitcoin ETFs have rebounded while Ethereum and XRP ETFs ended their recent winning streaks. The divergent flows highlight shifting investor sentiment across major crypto assets.
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⚖️ Regulation
Thunes Champions Ethical Global Payments With Its 2026 United Nations Global Compact Commitment
Thunes has reaffirmed its commitment to responsible and ethical practices in global payments through its 2026 UN Global Compact commitment. The initiative emphasizes responsible business practices within the cross-border payments industry.
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🌍 Other
Tencent Cloud Partners with Simpaisa for Saudi Push
Tencent Cloud is partnering with Simpaisa to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia. The collaboration combines cloud technology with local fintech infrastructure as digital financial services continue to develop across the region.
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