Spendesk Launches Payment Institution for Mid-Sized Businesses

French corporate expense management platform Spendesk has launched a payment institution, enabling it to offer a broader range of financial services to mid-sized businesses across Europe. The new licence expands Spendesk's capabilities beyond expense management into payment processing.

The payment institution licence allows Spendesk to issue payment instruments, process transactions and hold funds directly, reducing its dependence on third-party banking partners. This gives the company greater control over its product offering and economics.

The move reflects a broader trend of fintech companies seeking to verticalise their operations by obtaining their own financial licences, reducing costs and enabling more integrated product experiences for their customers.