What is Embedded Finance?
Embedded finance is the integration of financial services—payments, banking, lending, insurance—directly into non-financial products and platforms. Instead of redirecting users to traditional banks, companies can now offer branded financial experiences within their own apps and websites using API-based infrastructure from specialized providers.
Top Embedded Finance Providers by Category
| Category | Provider | Best For | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| BaaS | Unit | All-in-one BaaS | US |
| Card Issuing | Marqeta | Card issuing at scale | Global |
| Payroll | Check | Embedded payroll APIs | US |
| AP/AR | Monite | AP/AR for vertical SaaS | EU, US |
| Ledger | Modern Treasury | Payment operations | US |
| Lending | Kanmon | B2B lending for SaaS | US |
| Compliance | Alloy | KYC/KYB decisioning | US |
| Insurance | Cover Genius | Embedded insurance | Global |
Types of Embedded Finance Providers
- Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) – Full-stack banking infrastructure with bank partnerships (Unit, Treasury Prime, Swan)
- Card Issuing – Virtual and physical card programs with real-time controls (Marqeta, Lithic, Thredd)
- Embedded AP/AR – Invoicing, bill pay, and collections for SaaS (Monite, BILL)
- Embedded Expenses – Spend management and corporate cards (Pleo, Cardlay)
- Embedded Ledger – Double-entry accounting and reconciliation (Modern Treasury, Formance)
- Embedded Lending – Working capital, B2B BNPL, and invoice financing (Parafin, Kanmon, Defacto)
- Embedded Payroll – Payroll processing and compliance for platforms (Gusto Embedded, Check, Remote)
- Embedded Payments – Payment facilitation and merchant services (Adyen, Mollie, Rainforest)
- Cross-Border & FX – International payments and hedging (Currencycloud, Convera, Okoora)
- Compliance & KYC – Identity verification and fraud prevention (Alloy, Persona, Sardine)
- Embedded Insurance – Embedded coverage at point of transaction (Cover Genius, Hokodo)
- Vertical SaaS + Finance – Industry-specific platforms with embedded finance (Toast, Procore, ServiceTitan)
How Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) Works
Banking-as-a-Service enables non-banks to offer regulated financial products by connecting them with licensed banks through APIs. The BaaS provider handles the technical integration, while the sponsor bank provides regulatory coverage (banking charter, FDIC insurance). This model allows fintechs to launch banking products in weeks rather than years.
Card Issuing: Build Your Own Card Program
Card issuing platforms enable companies to launch branded payment cards with:
- Virtual Cards – Instant issuance for online payments and digital wallets
- Physical Cards – Branded Visa/Mastercard for point-of-sale
- Real-Time Controls – Spending limits, merchant restrictions, authorization rules
- Tokenization – Apple Pay, Google Pay, and wallet provisioning
How to Select an Embedded Finance Provider
- Product Coverage – Banking, cards, lending, payments, or all-in-one
- Geographic Reach – US-only, EU, or global capabilities
- Bank Partners – Sponsor bank quality, stability, and risk appetite
- Compliance Support – KYC, AML, and regulatory tooling included
- Pricing Model – Per-account, per-transaction, or hybrid pricing
- API Quality – Documentation, sandbox, and developer experience
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BaaS and embedded finance?
BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service) is a subset of embedded finance specifically focused on banking products—deposits, accounts, and regulated services. Embedded finance is the broader category that includes BaaS plus non-bank services like card issuing, payments, and lending that may not require a banking charter.
Do I need a banking license to offer embedded finance?
No. BaaS providers partner with licensed banks that provide the regulatory coverage. You integrate with the BaaS platform's APIs, and the sponsor bank handles compliance and regulatory requirements. However, you'll still need to implement KYC/AML processes and may need state money transmitter licenses for certain payment activities.
How much does it cost to launch embedded banking?
Costs vary significantly by provider and scale. Expect monthly platform fees of $5,000-$25,000 for BaaS, plus per-account ($1-5/month), per-card ($0.50-2/card), and per-transaction fees (0.1-1%). Card issuing can add BIN sponsorship fees. Total costs for a small fintech might be $10,000-50,000/month at launch.
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