Open Banking: Why the Smart Money Isn’t Just Checking Boxes

Lars Rottweiler, CTO of Mbanq, on how banks and brands turn regulation into revenue.  

A few years ago, I worked with a regional bank that saw Open Banking purely as a compliance issue. Legal led the process, tech grumbled about timelines, and nobody saw it as a growth lever. Today, that same bank is generating new revenue by licensing its APIs to fintech partners. They didn’t change the regulation — they changed their mindset.  

Let’s be clear: Open Banking isn’t about ticking a box. It’s about access. Access to data, yes — but more importantly, access to new customers, new business models, and new revenue streams.  

 Here’s a concrete example: a retail app can now offer card-linked credit, loyalty programs, or savings features — all embedded directly into the user experience. This isn’t future-gazing. Mbanq clients are already embedding full banking functionality into apps by leveraging Mbanq’s licensed bank partnerships — allowing them to offer services without holding a banking license themselves. We handle the regulatory and banking stack — so they can focus on the customer.  

Banks aren’t left behind here. Far from it. APIs are no longer just tech plumbing — they’re a product. Price them properly and you unlock a scalable, high-margin revenue stream that extends far beyond your local footprint. And the market is growing fast:  

Globally, Open Banking revenues are projected to exceed $100 billion by 2027, driven by embedded finance, API monetization, and regulatory tailwinds.  

In Europe, strong regulatory frameworks like PSD2 have fueled early growth and market maturity, with revenues expected to reach $47 billion by 2027.   

In the United States, the curve is steeper — with Open Banking revenues expected to grow from $4 billion in 2023 to over $18 billion by 2027, as commercial adoption accelerates.   

Fintechs benefit too. Open Banking lets startups plug into core banking infrastructure instantly — no need to build from scratch. That means faster launches, lower costs, and more freedom to experiment. At Mbanq, we’re watching founders go from concept to MVP in weeks, not quarters.  

Looking ahead: finance will become invisible. It will be part of the product experience — whether it’s in e-commerce, ridesharing, or wellness apps. Consumers won’t ask who the bank is — they’ll expect frictionless, embedded financial services everywhere. If your brand or institution isn’t building toward that, you’re already behind.  

Yes, regulation forced the door open. What you do with that open door is a business decision. You can treat Open Banking as a burden — or see it for what it is: a gateway to your next customer.  

The bank I mentioned earlier? It still operates under the same compliance rules. But today, it has more fintech partners than physical branches.  

Follow us in social networks to get news faster