Valentin Stalf's Recent LinkedIn Posts

At the Wirtschaftstag (#wt25) of the Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e.V. we discussed how to strengthen Germany’s and Europe's economic future – driven by digitalisation, capital markets and innovation. A few points I shared on how Europe can succeed in the long-term: 𝗘𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 Today we see innovation in Europe despite the high level of regulation and bureaucracy. Imagine what could be achieved if we reduce bureaucracy and strive for proactive regulation across Europe – especially in areas like customer protection, data privacy, anti-money laundering, KYC and banking. It would lay the foundation for a truly unified European single market. 𝗣𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗣𝗢 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 "Capital follows innovation" is a well-known saying. To attract investment, we must actively encourage innovation. We need to demonstrate that European growth companies can be successful. We need to create a surrounding that values growth, ultimately benefitting consumers rather than preserving the status quo. This shift will also lead to more excitement around capital markets within the wider population. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 Today, anyone can take part in the success of great companies – even low-income individuals can open investment accounts and invest in ETFs and stocks with little to no fees. That’s a major step forward. We should build on this by encouraging broader participation in capital markets, so more people can feel connected to economic success and benefit directly from growth, rather than relying solely on redistribution. 𝗧𝗮𝘅 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 The opportunity is simple and has been done by others (e.g. France). Capital gains from long term capital market investments in Germany should be tax-advantaged to strengthen private retirement provisions and ease dependencies on the already stressed public pension system. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗨 We need less bureaucracy, smart tax incentives for attracting global talent, full-scale digitization of public and private processes and a proactive, forward-looking regulatory approach. I hope to see from the new German government a commitment to building confidence and momentum for the future. I strongly believe Europe’s success depends on digitalization. We must cultivate a mindset of trust in technology, not skepticism. Ongoing dialogue between the private and public sector are crucial to lay a foundation for this change to happen. Many thanks to Lutz Diederichs for moderating and to my fellow panelists Stefan B. Wintels, Sandra Veseli, Dr. Matthias Voelkel, Eddy Henning, Karl Matthäus Schmidt, and Erik Podzuweit for the engaging discussion.

𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. This week, I proudly signed an open letter to the German government on behalf of N26 alongside Scalable Capital, BlackRock, Raisin, DKB | Deutsche Kreditbank AG and others from the startup and fintech world. 𝐖𝐡𝐲? Because the current pension system is outdated – and we’re running out of time to update it in a meaningful way. Germany already lags behind in international comparison, the pension level being noticeably below EU average. We urgently need a bold reform. The proposed Frühstart-Rente and a real Riester reboot could be gamechangers: - 𝐅𝐫ü𝐡𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞 encourages people to start learning about capital markets and getting into investing early, giving compound interest a head start. - A reformed 𝐑𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥, free from excessive guarantees and bureaucracy, would finally make long-term investing accessible and attractive for millions. As Founder & CEO of N26, I see every day how much potential there is – especially among younger generations – to take ownership of their financial future. But they need the right tools, the right incentives, and most of all: trust that the system works for them, not against them. These proposals can serve as a major step in the right direction. Let’s build a pension system that reflects the future, not the past.

From fee-free trading to market-leading interest rates, N26 is constantly working to make sure our customers get the most out of their money. Earlier this month, we announced free trading for all, lowering the barriers to investing so everyone can now invest without paying commissions or fees. And starting today, new N26 Metal customers will benefit from interest rates directly linked to the ECB rate—so they can grow their savings hassle-free at the best rate on the market. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/d5GHpvqY

I am thrilled to welcome Peter Kleinschmidt to the N26 AG Supervisory Board as the new Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. With nearly three decades of experience in the financial sector, Peter's expertise will further strengthen our board and enhance our ability to set new standards in the industry. Peter takes over from Julian Deutz, who will step aside from his board duties after two successful years. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Julian for his advice, collaboration and contributions in the last years, all of which have been instrumental in our journey. With the support of our strong Supervisory Board, we continue our path to delivering the best retail banking products to our customers and building the bank the world loves to use. Welcome on board, Peter, we look forward to the perspectives you will bring to N26!

N26 accelerates growth momentum. It was a pleasure welcoming international media to our annual Media Day at our headquarters in Berlin! Together with our leadership team we provided an in-depth overview of where N26 stands today and where we're headed in the upcoming months. Our key highlights:   • Since the lift of our regulatory growth restrictions in June 2024, we have strongly accelerated our growth momentum with more than 200,000 new customers signing up to N26 every month - a new record level! • This momentum is expected to drive a 40% revenue increase in 2024, bringing our projected revenue for the year to approximately €440 million.   After reaching monthly break-even also in June 2024, we are proud to report our first quarterly profit, with a net operating income of €2.8 million in Q3 2024.  • We continue to evolve our product portfolio, with major updates to our spending, saving, investment, and credit offerings. • In 2025, we'll also introduce fully digital banking for businesses, which we look forward to sharing more information about soon. Interested customers in Germany can already pre-register here, with the first thousand accounts set to receive the new product for free: https://lnkd.in/ddimrsdj. • We also started to further diversify the N26 balance sheet by expanding into the mortgage market and going after the home turf of traditional banks. In 2023 we launched the first fully digital mortgage solution in the Netherlands, under the brand Neo Hypotheken. We are extremely proud that we have already issued over 600 million EUR in home mortgages originated in the Netherlands since last year, and look forward to building on this in the future. The leadership team and I are extremely excited to continue expanding our growth momentum, developing products that make banking simpler, smarter, and safer for all of our customers. We are wrapping up our best year yet, and I look forward to carrying this into the next year as N26 keeps building the bank the world loves to use.

Last week, I had some great discussions with German Finance Minister Jörg Kukies and leaders from some of Germany’s most innovative scale-ups at the Bitkom roundtable. I also had a very interesting exchange with Alois Rainer, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the German Bundestag. One key takeaway from these conversations: Germany needs to move faster on digitalization and cut bureaucratic hurdles to stay competitive on the global level. Whether in banking, fintech, or public administration, seamless digital experiences should be the norm, as innovation thrives most in an environment that fosters growth, not one weighed down by complexity and bureaucracy. To truly unlock Germany’s potential, we need: ✅A modernised labor market – performance and innovation must be rewarded, and we need a shift in mindset to support this. Companies and society should recognize those that work harder, smarter, and more efficiently. ✅A digital state – today, it’s not a question of whether or not we have the appropriate technology, but rather how we can execute on the technologies we already do have. With simpler, more efficient processes - for both individuals and companies - Germany could quickly become a global leader for being a digital state. ✅A drastic reduction in bureaucracy and overregulation – according to ifo Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, excessive bureaucracy costs Germany over 140 billion euros in economic output every year. This slows down businesses and makes scaling unnecessarily difficult. At N26, we’ve spent the last 10 years pioneering digital banking, proving that financial services can be fast, secure, and accessible. The same mindset could and should apply to how we build the future of Germany’s digital economy. Less red tape, more innovation, and a setup that helps companies remain competitive internationally. Thanks to everyone for the great exchanges! Excited to keep the conversation going. Bitkom Christlich-Soziale Union Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)

🚀 Exciting product news from N26! Today, we launched stocks & ETFs trading for our German customers! 🚀 This is a big step for us, going from being the everyday bank to the bank you can build your future wealth with. The new offering allows our customers to buy and sell stocks and ETFs directly within the N26 app – simpler than ever before. With only 90 cents per trade, German customers will be able to invest at one of the most competitive prices in the market. Customers with premium memberships will also be able to benefit from free trades as part of their subscription – N26 You customers will have 5 free transactions per month included as part of their membership, while N26 Metal customers will get 15 free transactions per month.  In Europe, we are on a big mission to make investing accessible for all. Our customers can now take their first steps in investing by buying and selling hundreds of the most popular European and US stocks and ETFs, starting from as little as 1 Euro. Through our partnership with Upvest we can offer very competitive execution prices for trades for small as well as high volumes. On top of that, we will be increasing the interest rates on N26 Savings Accounts to 4% for Metal customers in Germany, starting next week. This is yet another way we can pass the benefits of our efficient cost structures and modern technology on to our customers. Besides the big launch today, our team has also introduced Joint Accounts to German customers last month. This is a feature aiming at couples and young families - with just a few tabs in the N26 app, customers can now create a free Joint Account, allowing them to seamlessly manage their personal finances and shared expenses in one place. This is a game-changer for customers looking to achieve their financial goals together and makes financial planning as a family unit even easier, with more features to come in the future. At N26, we are constantly striving to provide innovative and user-friendly solutions to our customers. These new features are another testament to our commitment to delivering real value for our customers and empower them to take control of their finances.

Big News - N26 welcomes BaFin’s lift of its growth restriction I am excited to announce that the‬‭ Federal‬‭ Financial‬‭ Supervisory‬‭ Authority‬‭ (BaFin) has‬‭ fully‬‭ lifted‬‭ N26’s‬‭ growth‬ restriction effective June 1, 2024.‬ This step follows a close‬‭ exchange‬‭ with‬‭ the‬‭ regulator‬‭ and‬‭ the‬‭ associated‬‭ investments‬‭ in‬ compliance, teams‬‭ and‬‭ infrastructure‬‭ over the last 2 ½ years. I want to thank all of the teams who worked hard on this – this has been a big achievement for us and a lot of hard work and dedication! Thousands of hours, many workstreams, gigabytes of documents and so much energy and passion from the teams. Big thank you also to our supporting Supervisory Board (Marcus W. Mosen, Déborah Carlson-Burkart, Barbara Roth, Joerg Gerbig, Julian Deutz). Thanks for believing in our vision to build the bank the world loves to use. We are now in a very strong position to pioneer the fight against financial crime and money laundering in the digital space over the next years, which is the foundation to bring our mobile bank to many more customers across Europe. We have one of the most competitive mobile banking products around the world, with up to 4% interest, free Stock and ETF trading accounts, Joint Accounts and many more features. We are now excited to bring these products to even more happy customers across Europe. Thank you for all the hard work: Carina Kozole, Jan Stechele, Arnd Schwierholz, Anke Ulrich, Juan Bongiovanni, Mayur Kamat, Gino Cordt, Timo Meyer, Maximilian Tayenthal, Volker Vonhoff, Nadine Kari, Friederike Kunter, Arno Ruben Schleussner, John Koetsier MBA, Thomas Bayreuther, Carsten Helm, Travis Carelock, Albert Montón, Angel Ramon Anson Marti, Christian Thurau, Milan Kuveljic, Stephan Lagraulet, Vincent J., Carine van der Heijden, Crystal Goh, Katharina Pollak, Kertu-Liina Lehismae, Andrea Isola, Claudio Bedino, Daniel Lappas, Jeremie Rosselli, Pablo Reboiro, Stefan Knott, Arjun Patel & more in comment below;

🎉 10 Years of N26: Building the bank the world loves to use 🚀 Yesterday marked 10 years since we released N26’s very first digital banking app to the market, as we set out to revolutionize banking. Today, we celebrate a decade of innovation as a pioneer in banking, and I can’t help but feel proud of how far we’ve come. On January 26, 2015, we launched our 100% mobile bank accounts - a gamechanger and industry first at the time - with one clear goal: to make managing money simple, easy, and transparent. Since then, we’ve: ✅ Become the first digital bank to be granted a full German banking license. ✅ Grown to over 1,500 team members, representing more than 90 nationalities. ✅ Expanded to 24 markets across Europe. ✅ Rolled out innovative products like N26 Crypto, Instant Savings, Joint Accounts, and N26 Stocks & ETFs Trading. And most recently, we introduced fee-free trading, becoming the only financial institution in Europe to offer this to customers. This is just another example of how N26 empowers our customers to save, spend, and invest effortlessly, all with a few simple taps. The last 10 years have been an incredible journey, and none of it would have been possible without our amazing team, our loyal customers, and everyone who believed in the N26 vision. For the next 10 years, our focus is clear: to deepen our role as the go-to financial platform for building future wealth, helping millions improve their relationship with money. Here’s to the next chapter! Thank you for being part of the N26 story.

I had a great conversation with Dennis Schwarz on stage today at Handelsblatt Bankengipfel, discussing what’s next for N26, as well as our growth strategies and focus areas for the next 12 months. Since the lifting of the growth cap in June, we have been able to fire up our growth engine once again. We are pleased to fully meet the strong demand from our customers and are already seeing significant effects, with July being the best month in our history in terms of customer growth in Germany. I am also very excited to share that N26 has registered its first profitable months, thereby achieving our goal to break even in the second half of 2024. At this point, I would like to express a big thank you to the entire N26 team. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication we all put in, and we are now focused on maintaining this momentum and expanding on it. Our Chief Financial Officer, Arnd Schwierholz, who has been steering a large part of N26’s strategy on our route to profitability and beyond, has also been appointed as Managing Director of N26 AG. He continues to work closely with N26’s Supervisory Board and the members of our Executive Leadership Team in his new capacity as Managing Director. Thank you very much for your dedication and effort, Arnd! I’m looking forward to continuing our good collaboration. I am incredibly excited to bring our products to even more happy customers across Europe and continue this journey of innovation and profitable, sustainable growth. Copyright: Handelsblatt Bankengipfel

I’m thrilled to announce that Jochen Kloepper will be joining N26 as our new Chief Risk Officer and Managing Director, starting in December. With extensive experience in consumer banking and a holistic perspective on risk management, Jochen will play a key role in strengthening our risk and compliance functions and accelerating our strategic vision. Jochen succeeds Carina Kozole, who will be moving on from her current role for a new opportunity outside of the company. We thank her for her commitment and dedication over the past years and wish her well for this next chapter.

📱Mobile plans straight from your bank: N26 SIM is here! 📱 I am thrilled to share that N26 is officially entering the German telecommunications market with the launch of N26 SIM! 🚀 Starting today, our customers can enjoy cost-effective and flexible mobile plans using eSIM technology. With N26 SIM, customers can activate their full local plan in just a few taps in the N26 app, giving instant access to Vodafone’s powerful 5G network at one of the most competitive prices in Germany. No paperwork, no long-term contracts, and no need for a physical SIM card—just a seamless user experience. N26 SIM integrates your mobile plan directly into the N26 app, making it easier than ever to manage your finances and stay connected – all in one place. Come along for this new chapter of N26 and find out more about N26 SIM here: https://n26.com/en-de/sim

Great to be back in Barcelona! This week the Executive Leadership Team is visiting our N26 team in Barcelona. In addition to numerous on-the-ground meetings to discuss how we can improve banking for our customers and execute on that mission, we hosted an exciting All Hands session to share what’s next for N26 and what we’ll be betting on in 2025. It was great connecting with everyone in person and sharing our vision and priorities for the coming year. Over the past 7 years, we’ve built an incredible Barcelona-based team that’s now made up of more than 300 highly talented employees across our people, engineering, programming and product development teams. The unique culture and team spirit in our Barcelona office makes it a truly great environment for collaboration and innovation. Thanks to our Barcelona team for the great exchange — I’m glad to have met so many of you and am excited for what’s ahead! 🚀 Maximilian Tayenthal Arnd Schwierholz Carina Kozole Mayur Kamat Juan Bongiovanni Gino Cordt Anke Ulrich

How do we support, cultivate, and foster innovation in Germany and Europe? That was the topic of my speech today at the 2024 Wirtschaftstag, together with my fellow speakers, Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, the Lithuanian Minister of Economy and Innovation, Ausrine Armonaite, and Markus Haas - moderated by maria grunwald. Europe’s - and Germany’s - companies need better access to capital and financial markets, more uniform regulation that is based on trust, and less bureaucracy that enables highly qualified workers to have an impact that matters - while enabling them to also be high performers. We are proud of the way N26 continues to innovate and challenge the status quo in these regards and will do our part to ensure Europe has a chance to play a key role in driving innovation. #wt24

As we enter 2025, we wish you lots of energy, groundbreaking ideas, and inspiration. At the same time, we would like to thank you for your continued trust in N26. Your loyalty is our motivation to get better every day. We're thrilled with the progress we've made over the past year, including our transformation from a daily bank focused on creating the smoothest digital banking experience, to a company you can use to manage your financial future. At N26, this means cost-effective trading in stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies and attractive, user-friendly overnight savings combined with savings goals and plans to give our customers the opportunity to make the most of their money. It's not only the easy access to these products, but also the simplicity of usage and transparency in terms of pricing. In 2025, many more features will follow, and we will keep you updated regularly. There is tremendous customer demand for a different and simple banking experience and we see hundreds of thousands of new customers every month choosing to build their financial future with N26. That means the world to us and shows that we are on the right track to building a bank the world loves to use. Despite all the political, social and technological challenges we face, we should look ahead with confidence and courage. Let's take advantage of the opportunities, use the latest technologies to offer our customers the best and continue to help them build their financial future to live a better life, provide more security and give them peace of mind. We look forward to continuing to innovate and improve your N26 experience in 2025.

Today is a very special and emotional moment for me: after almost 12 years as Co-CEO of N26, I am transitioning to my next role as a member of the N26 SE Supervisory Board next year. When Max and I founded N26, we had nothing but a vision and a lot of passion – the conviction that banking had to be radically simpler, more digital, and more customer-friendly. We started with a small team, overcame countless hurdles, made mistakes, learned from them, and repeatedly surpassed ourselves. The fact that this idea has now become an international bank that serves millions of people every day fills me with deep gratitude. Today, N26 has more than five million customers in Europe, its transaction volume will exceed €140 billion by 2025, we are sustainably profitable, and we are one of the most valuable fintechs in Europe. Above all, I am proud of the incredible team we have built – without our more than 1,500 employees from 90 nations that N26 represents today, none of this would have been possible. Innovation in digital banking and the goal to support our customers beyond our core business is what drives us every day. For me, this also includes mobile plans available in the N26 app as well as data plans for frequent travels. But it doesn’t end here: We’re currently planning to launch a digital family offering with a children's account, as well as a new premium offering, N26 ICON, with more benefits and outstanding partners. I am very happy that today, we have not only built a strong brand and a great team, but are also at the forefront business-wise. N26 leads the mobile banking industry, both in profit and revenue per customer, driven by outstanding engagement into our product. The last months have been the most successful months in our history in terms of customer growth, revenue development, and profit. We expect N26 to remain profitable for the whole of 2025 while continuing sustainable growth. Of course, this journey wasn‘t always easy. There were setbacks, doubts, and difficult decisions. But it is precisely these moments that made us better—and that showed me personally how much can be achieved with courage, perseverance, and the right team by your side. And now is the right time for my role to evolve. After a transition phase, I will move to the Supervisory Board to accompany the next stage of N26 in a new role. It is important that N26 remain well-positioned and successful in the long-term. Together with my co-founder, Maximilian Tayenthal, we will ensure that our experience, our ideas, and yes, the founder spirit, will remain with the company and on the Supervisory Board in the future. I would like to express a thank you to everyone who has walked this path with me to date – co-workers, partners, investors, and, of course, our customers. You have shaped this journey, and for that I am infinitely grateful. My chapter as CEO is ending, but the story of N26 is just beginning.

N26 is back to sustainable and strategic growth—while still laser focused on providing the best banking experience to our customers across Europe. In my recent interview with Handelsblatt, I shared how we’re continuing to scale our business while strengthening our product offering: ✅ Attracting more customers than ever before ✅ Making investing more accessible with free stock trading ✅ Offering ECB-linked interest rates for new premium customers ✅ Focusing on long-term growth and profitability—with a clear path towards €1B+ in revenue Europe is N26’s home and future, and we see immense potential in the European market. As we continue to grow, our commitment to innovation and delivering the best possible banking experience for our customers remains stronger than ever. Thank you to Yasmin Osman and Dennis Schwarz for the interesting conversation. Exciting times ahead! 🚀 Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dzsXUgMP

𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆’𝘀 𝟱𝟬 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 I’m truly honored to be nominated for THE POWER LIST – Germany’s Top 50 (https://lnkd.in/df_vQ9_F) by Business Insider Deutschland, WELT, and Politico Deutschland. It’s a strong signal that the work we’re doing at N26 is making a real impact — not just in digital banking, but across the broader financial services and economic landscape. I firmly believe that a focus on innovation, digitization and bold decisions is the right path forward in today’s times, both for N26, to further fuel sustainable growth, and for Germany, in order to maintain a strong voice on the global stage. Looking forward to the reveal of the final list tomorrow evening, and to continuing to help shape the future of finance in Europe.

Since the launch of X26, it’s been absolutely incredible to see the growth and unity of our alumni community  ✨ When we designed the program, our aim was to provide simple ways to reconnect with former colleagues, not just for professional networking, but also for enjoyable social engagements. Equally important to us was the goal of uplifting and supporting our alumni after their departure from N26. The first event in November was a resounding success, laying a solid foundation for future gatherings. It was fantastic to see everyone come together, reconnect, and celebrate each other's journeys. We're thrilled to announce that plans are underway for the second event, so keep an eye out for further updates! 👀 If you’re an ex N26’er and want to join our alumni community, please click the link below👇 https://lnkd.in/dana83Th #N26Alumni #X26 #LoveYourBank

I’m excited to have been part of the Finance Forward conference again this year at #OMR24. John Stanley Hunter and I discussed the important steps that N26 has taken over the past 12 months towards sustainable growth, as well as our future plans to further transform digital banking in Europe.  Through our latest competitive product offerings, such as interest rates of up to 4%, stocks & ETF trading and joint accounts, we are empowering our customers to build and manage their future wealth all within a single app. Thank you John Stanley Hunter the interesting conversation and congratulations to Finance Forward and OMR for another successful conference! Foto: Kai Weise

Being named one of Germany’s Top 50 decision-makers by Business Insider Deutschland, WELT, and Politico Deutschland is a great recognition, especially alongside so many people I deeply respect, including Julia Klöckner, Dorothee Bär, Eric Demuth, Erik Podzuweit, and Philipp Westermeyer. As an entrepreneur, making banking more accessible, transparent, and user-centric is what drives me. Innovation has always been my passion, and the feedback from our team and our customers at N26 is what keeps that fire burning. At the same time, it’s unique recognitions like this that give an extra boost of motivation. They’re a clear reminder that what we’ve built with N26 is more than just a banking product: it’s a tool that empowers people financially, and a company with the potential to positively shape Germany’s economic future. It’s also an important reminder that bold ideas and the courage to break new ground matter, and that they’re seen. So let’s keep pushing boundaries, taking smart risks, and encouraging others to do the same. That’s how meaningful progress happens — for businesses, for people, and for the economy as a whole.

“N26 strives for long-term profitability” It was a pleasure to speak today with Dennis Schwarz and Solveig Gode at the second annual FIBE Berlin conference about our next chapter of growth. FIBE has established itself as an international melting pot for the exchange of key trends in the fintech industry and I am grateful to be able to contribute to these discussions. As one of Germany’s largest unicorns, we understand that our various stakeholders are looking closely towards our future trajectory. Our customers expect a simple user experience with a product offering on par with traditional banks. Also our shareholders expect us to implement a sustainable growth trajectory that eventually leads to an initial public offering. “That is why we strive for long-term profitability." N26 will continue expanding its product offering for our customers and we look forward to opening our product to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the near future. We will also be offering a multi-currency product soon, and continue to invest in AI and automatized processes to better detect and combat fraud on our platforms. And finally, we will continue to sharpen our focus on growing our customer base in Europe, ensuring that we have a solid ground for a potential IPO. This is the next chapter of our growth story. And we look forward to sharing even more soon.

Making Investing Free for All – A Historic Step Towards Financial Empowerment I'm thrilled to share that N26 is making stock and ETF trading free for all customers starting from 27 January 2025. With being the only bank in Europe to offer fee- and commission-free trading, this is a significant milestone in our mission to democratize finance and empower millions of Europeans to take control of their financial futures. At N26, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to grow their wealth, regardless of their background or financial status. By eliminating our fees for trading, we are breaking down the barriers that have long prevented many from entering the equity markets. Our app allows people to buy and sell fractional shares of over 4.000 US and European stocks, as well as global ETFs with just a few taps. We are committed to being the number one financial platform in Europe, offering a seamless and intuitive experience for managing day-to-day finances and building future wealth. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, N26 is here to support you every step of the way. Join us on this journey to financial empowerment. Start trading for free from 27 January 2025. Stay tuned for more information to come!

Today, we announced that our Chief Regulatory Officer, Jan Stechele, will be stepping away from his role at N26 at the end of September. Jan joined us as Director of Banking Excellence in 2022, and was appointed to the N26 Management Board in an interim capacity in early 2023. After two successful years at N26, he will now move on to pursue new opportunities outside N26. Jan’s been working closely with our Chief Risk Officer, Carina Kozole, since she joined N26, and Carina will take over Jan’s duties going forward. Jan, I want to share a heartfelt thank you for your dedication and commitment over the years. Your teams have played a crucial role in bringing compliance, risk management and AML to a new level at N26, and making us pioneers and leaders in Europe when it comes to delivering digital-first approaches on these important topics. I’m excited to continue what you started, working in close partnership with Carina, and wish you all the best for your next chapter!

𝐀 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐌𝐲 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 N26’𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 Today, we announced that I will be taking on a new role on the N26 Supervisory Board, and stepping away from my operational role as N26’s CEO. As I step into this new role, I am excited to continue driving our mission to rethink banking for the digital age. What began as an ambitious idea has since grown into one of Europe’s leading digital banks — built on curiosity, relentless spirit of innovation, and the belief that fintech can make a real difference in people’s lives. We are turning vision into impact, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. My switch to the Supervisory Board will be further strengthened by the appointments of additional members in the coming months, together with the further expansion of N26 leadership. I also look forward to continuing my collaboration with my co-founder, Maximilian Tayenthal, who will remain in his current leadership role. Twelve years since we founded the company, N26 is today a leading player in digital banking in Europe, with a 1500-strong team helping millions of customers save, spend, invest and manage their money and mobile plans digitally. The company broke even in summer 2024, delivering 40% revenue growth in its last financial year. With annual revenues now exceeding €500 million, we expect to conclude 2025 profitably, driven by high customer activity and a constantly expanding product offering. I remain committed to actively leveraging my experience and knowledge to further shape N26's long-term strategic direction and organizational development. This new, evolved role offers an opportunity to build on our successes and tackle new challenges, ensuring we remain at the forefront of digital banking. I am looking forward to shaping the next chapter of N26’s development from a new perspective and continue building the bank the world loves to use.