Solaris (credit institution)
Solaris SE (previously known as Solarisbank AG until November 2022) is a credit institution licensed in Germany, with its main office located in Berlin. The company operates multiple branches throughout Europe, including key cities such as London, Paris, Milan, Madrid, and Vilnius. Its primary offerings encompass digital banking products like bank accounts, debit and credit card services, consumer financing options including buy-now-pay-later solutions, electronic money services, and payment processing.
Background
Overview
Established in 2015 under the umbrella of Finleap—a Berlin-based fintech incubator—Solaris commenced operations in March 2016 following the acquisition of its banking license. Founders Andreas Bittner and Marko Wenthin played pivotal roles in shaping the company's focus on Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) as its core business model.
In October 2016, Solaris formed a strategic alliance with MasterCard aimed at co-developing cutting-edge banking solutions.
The company secured €26.3 million through a Series A funding round in February 2017, attracting investors such as Yabeo Capital, Arvato Financial Solutions, Finleap, Unicredit, and Japan’s SBI Group. Around this time, Dr. Roland Folz was appointed CEO to spearhead Solaris' expansion efforts.
By March 2017, Solaris had successfully onboarded more than 20 partners onto its platform and extended its banking license coverage to six European countries.
Subsequent financing rounds included a $70 million Series B in March 2018 led by Arvato Financial Solutions alongside SBI Group, BBVA, Visa, Lakestar, and ABN AMRO’s Digital Impact Fund. Later, in June 2020, Solaris closed a €60 million Series C round with HV Capital at the forefront, supported by Vulcan Capital, Samsung Catalyst Fund, and Storm Ventures.
In March 2025, following a €140 million Series G funding round led by SBI Group, the latter became the majority shareholder—a milestone that underscored Solaris' ongoing global growth trajectory and financial success.
Technology
Solaris provides a white label banking solution that allows digital enterprises and fintech startups to embed diverse banking functionalities directly into their websites or mobile apps, facilitating effortless access to financial services.
Special audit
In January 2022, Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) ordered a special audit due to organizational shortcomings identified during a 2020 supervisory examination. Independent auditors are currently evaluating Solaris' adherence to the corrective actions agreed upon, in accordance with Art. 44 KWG regulations. CEO Folz expressed support for the audit, highlighting the company's commitment to openness.
Awards and recognition
At the 2016 Global Banking Awards held in Spain, Solaris SE was recognized as a finalist for the "Most Disruptive Innovation" Award, underscoring its significant influence within the fintech sector.