Bunq

Bunq B.V. (English: , Dutch: [bʏŋk]; stylized in all lowercase), is a fintech and neobank licensed in the Netherlands and operating within 30 European countries. It is headquartered in Amsterdam. The company was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Ali Niknam, the founder of the web hosting provider TransIP and Team.Blue. Bunq's subscription services offer multiple currencies, allow multiple International Bank Account Numbers, provide both personal and business bank accounts, and have a public API. In 2021, the company secured the largest Series A round for a European fintech company to date, giving it unicorn status. In 2022, it purchased Belgium-based fintech organisation Tricount, making it the second largest neobank in the European Union. Bunq has been subject to repeated controversy and scrutiny from customers, the press, its own employees, and others. The bank is reportedly being used extensively by criminals due to its lax security procedures and its failures to offer timely support to customers impacted by fraud. Former employees have addressed the latter and criticised Bunq's prioritisation of ease of access over safety. The bank has faced further criticism for its lack of privacy measures. Namely, Bunq has allegedly failed to address the unrestricted access by employees to the personal information of the bank's customers. Bunq has also contacted and intimidated those who have criticised the bank online or edited its Wikipedia page.