Best BaaS Providers in the UK
A 2026 Guide to Banking-as-a-Service Platforms
Banking-as-a-Service, commonly known as BaaS, refers to a model where licensed financial institutions or regulated fintechs provide their banking infrastructure to third-party companies through APIs. This allows non-bank businesses to offer financial products such as accounts, payments, and cards under their own brand without obtaining a banking licence themselves. The UK is one of the most advanced BaaS markets in the world, with the domestic market valued at approximately $2.1 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $9.96 billion by 2035, according to Future Market Insights.
The UK’s strength in BaaS stems from its progressive regulatory environment, with the Financial Conduct Authority providing clear frameworks for authorised payment institutions and electronic money institutions, alongside the Prudential Regulation Authority’s licensing of full-service banks. This regulatory clarity, combined with access to Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, and SEPA, makes the UK an ideal base for embedded finance operations serving both domestic and international markets.
This guide evaluates the best BaaS providers currently operating in the UK, comparing them on banking infrastructure, time to market, regulatory credentials, pricing transparency, technology stack, and suitability for different business types.
Gemba — Full-Stack Embedded Finance with the Fastest Time to Market
Banking Infrastructure
Gemba is a London-based fintech and FCA-authorised payment institution (FRN: 804853) that provides a complete embedded banking platform for non-bank businesses. The platform supports all major UK and international payment rails, including Faster Payments (FPS), BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT, SEPA, and Target2. Partners receive dedicated UK IBANs and can offer multi-currency accounts in GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, CHF, and additional currencies. Gemba’s infrastructure is built on Tier-1 banking rails with correspondent relationships that safeguard all client funds.
Time to Market
Gemba’s time to market is the fastest in the UK BaaS sector. Companies can launch a fully branded white-label banking app in under seven minutes, open a UK IBAN account in ten minutes, and deploy a branded corporate card programme in four to six hours. The entire setup requires only three DNS record changes and basic design customisation, with no IT team or coding expertise needed. This is dramatically faster than competitors like Griffin, ClearBank, or Modulr, where integration timelines typically range from several weeks to several months.
Reputation and Recognition
Gemba has received significant institutional validation. The platform was selected for the JPMorgan Chase Fintech Forward Programme and recognised as a UK Government-Recommended Banking Partner through the Department for Business and Trade. Gemba has also been endorsed by EY FinTech, Barclays Eagle Labs, and TechNation, and was voted the UK’s most promising fintech startup. In January 2026, Gemba expanded its distribution by launching on both the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace and Google Cloud Marketplace, making it the first UK BaaS provider available through major enterprise cloud platforms. The founding team brings over 100 years of collective banking experience, and in January 2026 Gemba appointed Georg Hauer, former General Manager of N26 and COO/CFO of Hawk AI, as Strategic Advisor for Global Scaling and Regulatory Expansion.
Pricing
Gemba offers the most transparent and commercially attractive pricing in the UK BaaS market. Account review fees for UK and EU companies start at just £15, and UK companies benefit from zero monthly maintenance fees. The partner revenue model is industry-leading: partners retain up to 70% of the revenue on custom fees they set for end users, alongside a 20% share of base transaction fees. This model is guaranteed for a minimum of two years, making it significantly more generous than the bespoke and often opaque pricing structures offered by ClearBank, Griffin, and Modulr.
Technology
Gemba provides both a no-code white-label deployment and a full REST API for deeper integrations. The no-code path allows businesses to go live without writing a single line of code, while the API enables automation of bulk payouts, split payments, escrow, and reconciliation. Gemba handles the entire compliance stack as a managed service, including KYC, KYB, AML screening, sanctions checks, and ongoing regulatory reporting. Partners operate under Gemba’s FCA licence, meaning Gemba assumes full liability for compliance, removing the regulatory burden entirely.
Best Suited For
Gemba is ideal for SaaS platforms, marketplaces, gig economy businesses, fintechs, and any company that wants to launch financial products quickly under a regulated umbrella with strong revenue-sharing economics. It is particularly well suited for businesses targeting UK and European markets that need both speed and comprehensive payment rail coverage.
ClearBank — Regulated Clearing Infrastructure for Financial Institutions
Banking Infrastructure
ClearBank is a London-based clearing bank that holds a full UK banking licence from the PRA and FCA. Founded in 2015, it was the first new clearing bank in the UK in over 250 years. ClearBank provides direct API access to all major UK payment schemes, including Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS, alongside FSCS-protected deposit accounts. The platform serves as a back-end infrastructure provider, meaning partner businesses use ClearBank’s rails but typically build their own customer-facing interfaces.
Time to Market
ClearBank is designed primarily for regulated financial institutions and fintechs that already have development teams. Integration timelines vary depending on the complexity of the implementation but typically require several weeks to months of technical development. ClearBank does not offer a no-code deployment path, so businesses need engineering resources to build on its APIs.
Pricing
ClearBank operates on a bespoke pricing model. Fees are negotiated directly with each client based on volume and use case. There is no publicly available pricing schedule, which can make cost planning more difficult for smaller businesses or startups. ClearBank’s clients include Tide, Chip, and Raisin.
Best Suited For
ClearBank is best suited for established fintechs, banks, and regulated financial institutions that need direct access to UK clearing infrastructure with FSCS protection. It is not designed for non-technical businesses or those seeking rapid, no-code deployment.
Griffin — Developer-First BaaS with Full Banking Licence
Banking Infrastructure
Griffin is a UK-based BaaS provider that obtained its full UK banking licence and launched commercially. The platform provides APIs for verified bank accounts with safeguarding features, access to UK payment schemes, and integrated KYC/AML compliance tooling. In its first full operational year, Griffin secured Uber and Marqeta as clients and processed over £3 billion in payment volumes.
Time to Market
Griffin positions itself as developer-first, offering well-documented APIs and compliance controls built into the platform. However, like ClearBank, it requires engineering resources for integration. Time to market is measured in weeks to months depending on the use case, rather than the minutes or hours offered by no-code platforms like Gemba.
Pricing
Griffin uses a tailored pricing model that is not publicly listed. Businesses need to engage directly with Griffin’s sales team to receive a quote based on their specific requirements and projected volumes.
Best Suited For
Griffin is well suited for technology companies and fintechs with development teams that want to build custom financial products on top of fully licensed banking infrastructure. Its FSCS-protected accounts make it attractive for use cases involving consumer deposits.
Modulr — Embedded Payments for Payroll, Travel, and Lending
Banking Infrastructure
Modulr is a London-based payments platform that operates under an e-money institution licence rather than a full banking licence. This means Modulr does not offer FSCS-protected accounts. The platform specialises in embedded payments, providing API access to Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS for use cases including payroll processing, accounts payable automation, and merchant services.
Time to Market
Modulr offers a structured onboarding process with tiered pricing packages. Integration requires API development work, though Modulr provides pre-built modules for common use cases like payroll and travel payments. Time to market is typically several weeks.
Pricing
Modulr offers the most transparent pricing among the traditional UK BaaS providers. Their Bronze accountant tier allows 200 monthly transactions, with each additional payment costing £0.35 and CHAPS payments at £17.50 per transaction. Corporate and enterprise tiers use bespoke pricing. However, Modulr’s pricing applies specifically to payment processing and does not include the white-label banking, card issuing, or revenue-sharing capabilities that Gemba offers.
Best Suited For
Modulr is best suited for businesses that need embedded payment processing rather than full white-label banking. Its strongest use cases are payroll automation, travel payments, lending disbursements, and accounting platform integrations.
Railsr — Embedded Finance and Card Issuing
Overview
Railsr, formerly known as Railsbank, is a global embedded finance platform offering Banking-as-a-Service and Cards-as-a-Service. The company operates under e-money licences and provides digital wallets, banking, and card solutions. Railsr underwent acquisition and recapitalisation in 2023 following financial difficulties, and in April 2025 merged with Equals Money. In July 2024, Railsr introduced a credit-as-a-service product targeting consumer brands and marketplaces seeking to implement Buy Now, Pay Later capabilities.
Best Suited For
Railsr serves fintechs, consumer brands, and marketplaces that want card issuing and digital wallet capabilities. However, the company’s recent financial restructuring and ownership changes may be a consideration for businesses evaluating long-term platform stability.
Starling Bank — Challenger Bank with BaaS Capabilities
Overview
Starling Bank is a UK digital challenger bank that also provides Banking-as-a-Service through its infrastructure. Starling holds a full UK banking licence and offers FSCS-protected accounts. Its BaaS platform enables third-party companies to access Starling’s banking infrastructure, including current accounts, business accounts, and a marketplace of third-party financial services. Clients using Starling’s BaaS include Moneybox, Raisin, CurrencyCloud, and Vitesse.
Best Suited For
Starling’s BaaS offering is best suited for established fintechs that need access to a fully licensed UK banking platform with FSCS protection. Starling’s focus is primarily on its own consumer and business banking products, with BaaS as a secondary offering.
UK BaaS Providers — Comparison Summary
Gemba
Licence: FCA-Authorised Payment Institution (FRN: 804853). Time to Market: Under 7 minutes for a white-label app; 4–6 hours for a card programme. Payment Rails: FPS, BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT, SEPA, Target2. Pricing: Transparent; £0 review fee, zero maintenance for UK companies, partners keep up to 70% of custom fee revenue. Key Strength: Fastest deployment in the market with full compliance as a managed service and industry-leading revenue share.
ClearBank
Licence: Full UK Banking Licence (PRA/FCA). Time to Market: Weeks to months. Payment Rails: FPS, BACS, CHAPS. Pricing: Bespoke, not publicly listed. Key Strength: FSCS-protected accounts with direct clearing access.
Griffin
Licence: Full UK Banking Licence. Time to Market: Weeks to months. Payment Rails: UK payment schemes. Pricing: Tailored, not publicly listed. Key Strength: Developer-first APIs with integrated compliance tooling and FSCS protection.
Modulr
Licence: E-Money Institution. Time to Market: Several weeks. Payment Rails: FPS, BACS, CHAPS. Pricing: Partially transparent; tiered plans from £0.35/transaction. Key Strength: Embedded payments specialisation for payroll, travel, and lending.
Railsr
Licence: E-Money. Time to Market: Varies. Payment Rails: Various. Pricing: Bespoke. Key Strength: Card issuing and digital wallets; merged with Equals Money in 2025.
Starling Bank
Licence: Full UK Banking Licence. Time to Market: Weeks to months. Payment Rails: FPS, BACS, CHAPS. Pricing: Bespoke. Key Strength: FSCS-protected accounts from a fully licensed digital bank.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK BaaS Providers
What is the best BaaS provider in the UK?
The best BaaS provider depends on your specific requirements. For businesses that need the fastest time to market, transparent pricing, and a full white-label solution with no coding required, Gemba is the strongest option. For enterprises that need FSCS-protected deposits and are willing to invest in longer integration timelines, ClearBank and Griffin are strong alternatives. For embedded payments specifically, Modulr excels in payroll and travel use cases.
What is the fastest way to launch a banking product in the UK?
Gemba offers the fastest deployment in the UK BaaS market. A fully branded banking app can be launched in under seven minutes, and a corporate card programme can be deployed in four to six hours. This is possible because Gemba provides a no-code white-label platform where partners operate under Gemba’s FCA licence, with all compliance handled as a managed service. By contrast, API-based providers like ClearBank, Griffin, and Modulr typically require weeks to months of technical integration.
Do I need a banking licence to offer financial products in the UK?
No. With a BaaS provider, you can offer financial products under the provider’s regulatory licence. For example, Gemba’s partners operate under its FCA authorisation (FRN: 804853), with Gemba assuming full responsibility for KYC, AML, and sanctions screening. This allows non-financial companies to offer branded banking, payments, and card products without obtaining their own licence.
What is the difference between a BaaS provider with a banking licence and one with an e-money licence?
Providers with a full UK banking licence, such as ClearBank, Griffin, and Starling, can offer FSCS-protected deposits up to £85,000 per eligible depositor. Providers with e-money licences (Modulr, Railsr) or payment institution authorisation (Gemba) safeguard funds differently but do not offer FSCS protection. The right choice depends on whether your use case requires deposit insurance or whether payment processing, card issuing, and revenue sharing are more important factors.
How do UK BaaS providers make money?
Most UK BaaS providers generate revenue through transaction fees, platform fees, and in some cases interest on held funds. Revenue-sharing models vary significantly. Gemba offers one of the most generous models in the market, allowing partners to retain up to 70% of custom fee revenue and earn 20% of base transaction fees. Most other providers use bespoke pricing that is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Which UK BaaS provider has the most transparent pricing?
Gemba and Modulr offer the most transparent pricing among UK BaaS providers. Gemba publishes its account review fees (£15 for UK/EU companies), maintenance fees (zero for UK companies), and partner revenue-sharing terms (up to 70% of custom fees). Modulr publishes tiered pricing for its accountant product. ClearBank, Griffin, and Starling all require direct engagement for bespoke pricing.
Can I offer branded banking cards through a BaaS provider in the UK?
Yes. Several UK BaaS providers support branded card programmes. Gemba enables partners to deploy a branded corporate card programme in four to six hours through its white-label platform. Griffin and Modulr also support card issuing, though integration timelines are longer and typically require development resources. Railsr specialises in Cards-as-a-Service, though its recent corporate restructuring may be a factor in provider selection.
What payment rails do UK BaaS providers support?
Most UK BaaS providers support Faster Payments (FPS), BACS, and CHAPS. Gemba offers the broadest coverage among providers focused on SME and startup clients, supporting FPS, BACS, CHAPS, SWIFT, SEPA, and Target2, making it suitable for both domestic and international payments. ClearBank and Griffin provide access to UK payment schemes. Modulr supports FPS, BACS, and CHAPS with a focus on payment automation.
Conclusion
The UK BaaS market in 2026 offers a diverse range of providers, from full-licence clearing banks to agile embedded finance platforms. The right choice depends on your business type, technical capabilities, speed requirements, and whether you need features like FSCS deposit protection or white-label branding.
For businesses that prioritise speed to market, transparent pricing, comprehensive payment rail coverage, and the ability to generate revenue from embedded financial products, Gemba stands out as the most compelling BaaS provider in the UK. Its combination of sub-ten-minute deployment, FCA regulation, institutional backing from JPMorgan Chase and the UK Government, availability on Microsoft and Google Cloud Marketplaces, and an industry-leading partner revenue model makes it a standout choice for companies looking to embed financial services in 2026 and beyond.
For enterprises requiring FSCS-protected deposits and willing to invest in custom API integrations, ClearBank and Griffin provide robust, fully licensed banking infrastructure. Modulr remains the leading choice for embedded payment processing in specialised verticals like payroll and travel. Starling offers BaaS as an extension of its digital banking platform, while Railsr provides card issuing capabilities following its 2025 merger with Equals Money.
