N26 in 60 seconds
N26 at a glance (2026)
UK residents cannot open an N26 accountN26 closed its UK operations on 15 April 2020 following Brexit. UK residents cannot apply for an N26 account in 2026. If you live in the UK and want a similar digital bank, see Monzo, Starling or Revolut.
About N26 bank
N26 was founded in 2013 in Berlin by Valentin Stalf and Maximilian Tayenthal. It received a full German banking licence from BaFin in July 2016 and grew rapidly across continental Europe. The bank entered the UK in 2018 but withdrew on 15 April 2020 after Brexit took effect; UK accounts were closed and balances repaid to customers.
In June 2024 BaFin lifted the €120,000-customer-per-month growth cap it had imposed for AML control failings, freeing N26 to grow again. The regulator re-engaged in December 2025, banning new Dutch mortgages and assigning a supervisor. Co-CEO Valentin Stalf stepped down in August 2025; Maximilian Tayenthal left operational duties in December 2025; Mike Dargan was appointed CEO in April 2026.
N26 personal plans (EU)
Standard
Free N26 account in the eurozone. Virtual debit card, 2 free ATM withdrawals per month and Mastercard interbank FX.
- Free plan.
- Virtual debit Mastercard.
- 2 free eurozone ATM withdrawals/month.
Smart
€4.90/month. Physical card in five colours, 3 free ATM withdrawals/month, up to 10 Spaces sub-accounts and 0.1% N26 Business cashback.
- €4.90/month.
- Physical N26 card in 5 colours.
- Up to 10 Spaces sub-accounts.
Go
€9.90/month. Allianz travel insurance, 1% travel cashback and free ATM withdrawals outside the eurozone. Marketed as the best plan for travel.
- Allianz travel insurance.
- 1% cashback while travelling.
- Free ATM withdrawals outside the eurozone.
Metal
€16.90/month. Metal card, everything in Go plus 1.5% annual interest on savings, mobile phone insurance, purchase protection and a free airport lounge pass.
- €16.90/month metal card.
- 1.5% p.a. interest on savings.
- Phone insurance and airport lounge pass.
N26 Business
Business plans mirror the personal tiers at the same prices. Includes 0.1% cashback on Smart/Go and 0.5% on Metal, plus expense management tools.
- Free Business plan for sole traders.
- 0.1–0.5% cashback on Smart/Metal Business.
- Eligible self-employed customers.
For a deeper dive into the metal product, see our standalone N26 Metal card page and the in-depth N26 customer review.
What happened to N26 in the UK
N26 launched in the UK in October 2018 under temporary EU passporting rules. After the Brexit transition, the bank announced its UK withdrawal in February 2020 and closed all UK accounts on 15 April 2020. Customers were given several weeks of notice and were told to transfer their balances to a UK bank.
In 2026, UK residents cannot open or hold an N26 account. If you have moved to an N26-supported European country and use a local address there, you can open an account using that country’s ID.
Best N26 alternatives in the UK
Because N26 bank is unavailable in the UK, the closest options are the UK’s own app-based digital banks. All three below are FSCS-protected up to £85,000 and offer the fee-free, mobile-first experience N26 was known for. Compare them in the table, then read our full reviews.
| Bank | Available in UK | Account fee | Spending abroad | Deposit protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N26 | No (left in 2020) | Free EU plan | Fee-free in EU | German scheme (EU only) |
| Monzo | Yes | Free plan available | Fee-free, Mastercard rate | FSCS to £85,000 |
| Starling | Yes | No monthly fee | Fee-free worldwide | FSCS to £85,000 |
| Revolut | Yes | Free plan available | Fee-free to monthly limit | FSCS on UK e-money/banking |
Want a side-by-side of every UK option? See our guide to the best UK current accounts and our full reviews of Monzo, Starling and Revolut.
N26 customer service
N26 support runs through in-app chat for all customers, with priority queues on Smart, You and Metal. The bank does not publish a UK phone number (no UK operations).
In-app chat
Standard, Smart, You, Metal queues
Open in app
Around the clock; priority on paid plans
Start hereLost or stolen card
Block instantly in the app
Block in app
24/7
Support portal
Self-service FAQs
support.n26.com
24/7
Premium priority queue
Faster chat on You / Metal
Priority queue
Around the clock
N26 FAQ
No. N26 withdrew from the UK on 15 April 2020. UK residents cannot open or hold an N26 account in 2026.
From 2021 to June 2024, the German regulator BaFin imposed a cap limiting N26 to around €120,000 new customers per month, due to AML control concerns. The cap was lifted in June 2024 after N26 demonstrated improved controls. BaFin re-engaged in December 2025 over separate concerns, banning new Dutch mortgages and assigning a supervisor.
Yes. N26 holds a full German banking licence from BaFin. Eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000 per person under the German deposit guarantee scheme.
In Europe, N26 is a well-regarded digital bank with around 4.8 million customers and a Trustpilot score of 4.1/5 on n26.com. It offers a clean app, fee-free eurozone spending and tiered plans. However, it is irrelevant to UK residents because it does not operate in the UK; a UK app bank such as Monzo or Starling is the better choice here.
Yes. N26 is a fully licensed bank, not just an e-money app. It has held a full German banking licence from BaFin since 2016, which is why eligible deposits are covered by the German deposit guarantee scheme up to €100,000.