Scalable Capital has secured a banking licence from the ECB, transforming into a fully integrated digital bank.
Scalable Capital has achieved a significant milestone by securing authorisation from the European Central Bank (ECB) to operate deposit and lending business, officially becoming a CRR credit institution supervised by Germany’s BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. This banking licence transforms Scalable Capital into a full-service bank capable of managing the entire investment and banking value chain under one roof, including account management, trading, clearing, settlement, custody, deposit-taking, and lending.
The new licence allows Scalable Capital to offer a broader, more integrated financial service ecosystem, reinforcing its ambition to provide clients across Europe with seamless access to investing, saving, and financing solutions throughout their life cycle. Erik Podzuweit, Co-CEO and founder, emphasises the company’s commitment to supporting customers from their initial savings plans through to retirement, highlighting the enhanced service scope now enabled by the banking licence. Florian Prucker, Co-CEO, notes that owning a full banking licence and developing proprietary technology in-house underpins their unique, vertically integrated business model, allowing for efficient and secure client service.
Clients benefit from continued interest of 2% p.a. on deposits in both FREE and PRIME+ accounts, aligned with current ECB rates. From October 2025, PRIME+ account holders will be able to receive this rate on unlimited balances, while FREE accounts will see the interest-bearing balance threshold rise to €100,000. Furthermore, PRIME+ cash balances will be distributed across multiple banks to optimise security through statutory and supplementary deposit guarantees, with this breakdown transparently accessible via Scalable Capital’s app and web platform.
In addition to deposit services, Scalable Capital’s newly launched Credit offering marks a departure from traditional lending. The bank will directly provide loans ranging from €1,000 to €100,000, featuring flexible terms without fixed durations or repayment schedules. Credit customers in the PRIME+ tier benefit from notably competitive variable interest rates at 3.24% p.a., significantly lower than many overdraft and credit card options, and there are no additional fees. The entire application process is digital, accessible via app or web.
Scalable Capital’s launch of a fully vertically integrated technology platform consolidates brokerage, digital wealth management, and lending, enhancing client experience with seamless account and securities management. The company has taken over technical operations of the European Investor Exchange from Hanover, a regulated retail-focused stock exchange, expanding trading hours to 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. starting September 2025. This complements trading availability on gettex (Börse München) and Xetra (Deutsche Börse), offering clients enhanced market access and trading flexibility. PRIME+ Broker clients benefit from a flat trading fee of €4.99 per month with unlimited trading on these exchanges, paired with flexible savings plans.
The platform covers a comprehensive asset universe including ETFs, stocks, funds, bonds, derivatives, cryptocurrencies, and private equity via ELTIFs (European Long-Term Investment Funds), aiming to meet the needs of retail investors ranging from novices to high-net-worth individuals. To further democratise access, Scalable Capital was the first European broker to integrate generative AI directly into its app through its Insights feature, assisting users with financial and investment queries at scale, while explicitly clarifying it does not constitute personalised investment advice.
Family-focused offerings have also been strengthened with Kids’ accounts, allowing parents to open tax-beneficial investment accounts for their children, supporting early wealth-building. To better serve regional demands, Scalable Capital has established offices in Milan and Vienna, aiming to localise and expand its European footprint.
The transition to banking also includes the migration of existing clients from Baader Bank to the new Scalable platform, where clients will gain access to improved trading conditions, fast payments, and credit offerings, alongside the benefit of the 2% variable interest on deposits held with partner banks and money market funds.
Overall, Scalable Capital’s evolution into a fully licensed bank and its investment in a vertically integrated platform represent a notable advancement in European retail financial services, combining custody, trading, banking, and lending in a single seamless digital environment.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/fintech/scalable-capital-is-now-a-bank/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
- https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/fintech/scalable-capital-is-now-a-bank/ - Scalable Capital has been granted authorisation by the European Central Bank (ECB) to conduct deposit and lending business, making it a CRR credit institution supervised by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank. This banking licence enables Scalable Capital to offer a comprehensive range of investment and banking services, including account management, trading, clearing, settlement, custody, client deposits, and lending. The company aims to provide clients with a seamless experience for investing, saving, and financing throughout their lives.
- https://de.scalable.capital/en/new-scalable-capital - Scalable Capital has introduced a new platform integrating broker, digital wealth management, and loan offerings. Clients can now open securities accounts directly with Scalable Capital, benefiting from enhanced trading conditions, additional digital wealth management strategies, and access to the European Investor Exchange. The platform offers 2% variable interest on up to €500,000 in PRIME+ and €50,000 in FREE accounts, with no additional costs and a quick start feature for transferring existing investment plans.
- https://help.scalable.capital/en/the-new-scalable-a15d5ee8/what-does-the-new-scalable-mean-407ed042 - The new Scalable Capital platform sets new standards for private investing by integrating broker, digital wealth management, and loan offerings into a single technology platform. Investors can open securities accounts directly with Scalable Capital, benefiting from improved trading conditions, additional digital wealth management strategies, and access to the European Investor Exchange. The platform offers 2% variable interest on up to €500,000 in PRIME+ and €50,000 in FREE accounts, with no additional costs and a quick start feature for transferring existing investment plans.
- https://fr.scalable.capital/newsroom/the-new-scalable-capital_EN - Scalable Capital has launched a fully vertically integrated investment platform and a new European stock exchange tailored for retail investors. The European Investor Exchange, jointly operated with the Börse Hannover, provides immediate access to trading for broker clients with the new Scalable securities account. The platform offers an unrivaled trading flat rate in the PRIME+ Broker for €4.99 per month, including unlimited trading on the European Investor Exchange and gettex, complemented by flexible savings plans and the possibility to trade on XETRA.
- https://es.scalable.capital/en/newsroom/the-new-scalable-capital - Scalable Capital has introduced a fully vertically integrated investment platform and a new European stock exchange designed for retail investors. The European Investor Exchange, operated jointly with the Börse Hannover, offers immediate access to trading for broker clients with the new Scalable securities account. The platform provides an unrivaled trading flat rate in the PRIME+ Broker for €4.99 per month, including unlimited trading on the European Investor Exchange and gettex, along with flexible savings plans and the option to trade on XETRA.
- https://help.scalable.capital/en/the-new-scalable-a15d5ee8/when-can-i-use-the-new-offering-as-an-existing-client-455f043e - Existing clients with an account at Baader Bank will receive access to the new Scalable Capital platform step by step in the upcoming days. To gain access, clients need to agree to the new terms and conditions. The new offering includes access to the European Investor Exchange, fast payments, attractive conditions for credit, and the forwarding of 2% variable interest from partner banks and money market funds.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We've since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ The narrative is fresh, with no prior publications found. The earliest known publication date is September 10, 2025. No discrepancies or recycled content identified. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. 🕰️
Quotes check
Score: 10
Notes: ✅ No direct quotes identified in the narrative. Therefore, no issues with reused or varying quotes. 🕰️
Source reliability
Score: 7
Notes: ⚠️ The narrative originates from a press release, which is generally reliable but may present a biased perspective. The press release is hosted on ffnews.com, a platform that aggregates financial news. While the content appears original, the platform's credibility is uncertain due to its aggregation nature. ⚠️
Plausability check
Score: 9
Notes: ✅ The claims about Scalable Capital receiving authorisation from the European Central Bank (ECB) to operate as a CRR credit institution are plausible. The narrative aligns with Scalable Capital's recent activities, including their funding round in June 2025 and expansion plans. However, the press release does not provide direct links to official ECB announcements or regulatory documents, which would enhance credibility. ⚠️
Overall assessment
Veredict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary: ⚠️ The narrative presents fresh information about Scalable Capital's new banking licence, with no prior publications found. However, the reliance on a press release from an aggregation platform with uncertain credibility and the lack of direct links to official ECB announcements or regulatory documents raise concerns. Further verification from authoritative sources is recommended. ⚠️