In an increasingly digital, smart and hyperconnected world, where a single click is enough to complete a purchase, ATM machines seem now an outdated concept, a place bound to change and maybe one day, to be forgotten.

The forge of innovation has generated some years ago “N26”, the fintech startup to watch. Born in Berlin but internationally adopted, it was the first startup to ever obtain the licence to operate as a bank all over Europe by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the European Central Bank.

No branches, no intermediaries and no queues, a real revolution of the concept of bank as a physical location.

Such models were already present in Italy, Ing Direct and Fineco are two examples, however what defines N26 are other aspects: the opportunity of opening (or closing) an account through the app and the total lack of activation fees and operating costs.

Last but not least, the possibility to open a bank account with just a selfie. The real standout is the identification software called IDnow, capable of recognizing faces and passports using Artificial Intelligence, ousting the good old banking professionals.

After outrunning the competition and winning the hearts of Europeans in their 30s, N26 is preparing for his debut in the United States, a very profitable market that has always been open towards online transactions.