Merchants Eye — Payments & Ecommerce News

Riverty Secures EU Banking Licence to Launch Embedded Finance Hub in Luxembourg

By Georgia Stubbs · 27 May 2026

Press Release: Riverty Secures EU Banking Licence to Launch Embedded Finance Hub in Luxembourg | Featured Image by FF Spotlight

Quick Summary

Riverty has secured a full EU CRR banking licence in Luxembourg, transitioning from a PSD2 payment institution to a fully licensed bank. This move allows Riverty to offer embedded financial services, including credit and liquidity solutions, directly to its 1,800+ merchants and 25 million European customers starting July 2026.

How does the new Riverty banking licence benefit European merchants?

The acquisition of a full EU CRR banking licence allows Riverty to move beyond simple payment processing to become a comprehensive embedded financial services provider. By establishing a bank in Luxembourg, Riverty can now offer integrated credit and liquidity solutions that are natively embedded into the merchant's checkout experience. This verticalization of payments ensures that financial decision-making happens seamlessly within the customer journey, reducing friction and increasing conversion rates.

  • Access to trusted financial infrastructure across 10 European markets.
  • Direct risk and compliance management by Riverty, ensuring faster execution at scale.
  • Enhanced customer lifetime value through co-created financial products like loyalty-linked credit.

What scale of operations will the new Luxembourg bank support?

Riverty is not starting from scratch; it is migrating a massive existing ecosystem into its new banking structure. The bank will support a business that already processes over 235 million transactions annually. By taking direct responsibility for risk and execution, Riverty can better serve its current base of 1,800 merchants and approximately 25 million unique customers. The 10-month application process highlights the company's commitment to regulatory excellence and long-term stability in the volatile fintech sector.

  • Operations across 10 European countries.
  • Workforce of over 4,000 employees supporting the transition.
  • Legacy of 60 years experience in financial services since 1960.

How does this move impact the future of embedded financial services?

The transition from a payment institution to a bank signals a shift toward the verticalization of payments. Riverty aims to become the "European gateway" for merchants, where embedded financial services are no longer third-party add-ons but core components of the retail ecosystem. This allows merchants to maintain control of customer relationships while leveraging Riverty's balance sheet to offer flexible financing. The goal is to transform consumer finance from a utility into a primary driver for merchant growth and cash flow optimization.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This move absolutely moves the needle. By securing a full EU CRR banking licence, Riverty is escaping the limitations of PSD2 and positioning itself as a formidable competitor to traditional banks and legacy acquirers. Their focus on embedded financial services in Luxembourg provides a centralized regulatory springboard to dominate the European merchant ecosystem. For an industry moving toward "everything-as-a-service," Riverty’s transition from processor to bank is a masterclass in strategic scaling.

Companies in this story: Riverty, Bertelsmann

People in this story: Andreas Barth, Carsten Coesfeld, Oliver Kuhaupt

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