German bank Trade Republic has announced its intention to open a branch in Spain during 2025 in order to accelerate its international growth. Although its services have been available in Spain since 2021, this new step will allow the German bank to offer a Spanish IBAN, in addition to local banking and savings products.

Trade Republic was founded in 2015 and started operations in 2019. During 2024 it doubled its customer base to eight million people. Specialising in offering a savings and investment platform, it provides its clients with access to all types of assets, from stocks and bonds to cryptocurrencies. Already available in 17 European countries, its clients hold assets worth 100 billion euros, making it the largest broker on the continent.

Local bank branches
Following exponential growth in 2024, one third of Trade Republic's customers now come from outside Germany. As a result, the bank has decided to boost its internationalisation this year by opening local bank branches in Spain, France and Italy, three of the first markets in which it began to operate. The company plans to deploy local banking and savings products that will be supported by its securities settlement and custody system.

European licensing structure
In December 2023, Trade Republic obtained a full banking licence from the European Central Bank. The proprietary technology it has developed, together with its European licensing structure, facilitates the bank’s process of adapting to the different markets in which it operates, each with its own characteristics. In 2024, it made significant investments in its infrastructure to undertake a new phase in its growth.

Christian Hecker, Co-founder of Trade Republic, explains, “By establishing national bank branches and our own securities settlement and custody system, we have built a European platform. As the first truly European bank, we aim to offer the most attractive local banking and savings products across all markets.”

Julian Collin, General Manager for International Markets, says the bank has already reached a potential market of 340 million people across Europe, and explains, “A significant proportion still lacks access to affordable and easy-to-use savings solutions. Trade Republic will become the first bank in Europe to cover the largest markets with deeply localised offerings.”

^{Photo: Trade Republic}