What is Banking as a Service (BaaS)? 

Banking as a Service (BaaS) is a business model where licensed banks and fintech companies offer their infrastructure and APIs to other businesses.

This framework permits non-financial companies to integrate products like payments, loans, and accounts, possibly circumventing the need for a banking license.  

BaaS follows these steps:  

1. Regulated banks create infrastructure and expose it through financial APIs (FAPIs) 
2. Non-financial companies integrate these APIs into their systems.  
3. Businesses can then offer white-labeled financial products (credit cards, accounts, payments) under their own brand

Baas is different from traditional banking in the following ways:  

• 라이선스: BaaS companies rely on banks’ licenses; traditional banks operate their own. 
• Infrastructure: BaaS uses APIs, while banks build end-to-end infrastructure. 
• 경험: BaaS offers embedded, customized services; banks offer standardized ones.
• Innovation speed: BaaS enables faster product launches.

BaaS is used by a number of business types:  

• Banks: New revenue streams and extended reach 
• Fintechs: Rapid innovation without heavy infrastructure investment 
• Non-financial brands: Stronger customer loyalty with embedded products
• 소비자: More convenient, personalized, and accessible financial services

Here are the reasons why the BaaS model is relevant:  

• reaching new audiences relates to the scope of financial inclusion.s 
• this approach may lead to cost adjustments for companies due to a possible reduction in reliance on in-house banking infrastructure.
• bank competitiveness may be affected by innovation and partnerships. 
• allows for the connection of financial products to standard digital interfaces.

BaaS has both advantages and disadvantages like any other business models: 

BaaS is an option for: 

• startups and SMEs wanting quick deployment of financial services 
• non-financial businesses looking to add embedded financial products 
• banks seeking to modernize and expand their digital offerings 
• companies needing agility, scalability, and reduced upfront investment

Some of the risks that merchants need to be aware of when using BaaS include:  

• cybersecurity threats (breaches, fraud, attacks) 
• service outages or disruptions from the provider 
• 규제 준수 risks (data protection, financial laws) 
• financial risks from provider errors or fraud 
• reputational risks if customer data is compromised 
• integration challenges with existing systems 
• vendor dependency, making switching costly or difficult 

Consider the following aspects if you are looking for a BaaS provider:  

• define business needs and required features 
• assess scalability, compliance, and security standards 
• review integration compatibility with existing systems 
• compare pricing and contractual flexibility 
• prioritize regulatory alignment (e.g., HIPAA for healthcare) 
• run a Proof of Concept (PoC) before fully committing