Abstract

The case “N26: Europe’s Leading Challenger Bank” talks about the factors that led to N26, a Germany-based neobank, becoming the highest valued German startup and one of the highest valued FinTechs in the world. The case starts with a brief history of N26. It covers the innovative products and services launched by N26 which helped it to connect with millions of customers. The case also highlights the competition faced by N26 from FinTech companies like Revolut, Monzo Bank Ltd. (Monzo), and Atom Bank and how it was placed vis-à-vis the competition. The case ends with the future plans of N26 which include redesigning its banking operations and expanding geographically.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the business strategy used by a digital bank startup to reach the maximum number of customers.
• Identify the strategies used by a digital bank to achieve a competitive advantage over its competitors.
• Examine the challenges faced by a startup as it tries to grow and expand its business beyond the home country.

Keywords

Competitive Strategies; Competition to Retail Banks; The Digital Age of Banking; Evolution of Startups; Differentiation; Technology; Innovation; Digital Banking; Challenger Bank; Startups; Fintech; N26; Monzo; Atom Bank; Revolut