Remember when transferring money, no matter how little or small, to another bank account was a significant hassle? Most people today may not recall this as vividly, thanks to the advent of internet banking, which gradually made these transactions easier, though they still took time for verification, updates, final payment, etc.
But today, instant digital payments seem to be everywhere. And it doesn’t stop there. A vast number of online applications offer services ranging from wallets and budgeting to investments, savings, credit payments, all accessible at your fingertips.
But with such convenience, the question arises: are customers’ sensitive personal and financial data safe? The good news is that banking information remains secure, thanks to an intermediary – the Application Programming Interface (API).
APIs serve as the bridge between different applications, facilitating secure communication of customer data. With secure banking APIs, you can now pave the way for a secure financial experience for your customers with ease.
What is API Banking?
API banking refers to APIs that integrate with banks to retrieve and communicate relevant data to other FinTech or non-financial applications. API integration in banking has revolutionized business operations across the board, enabling seamless data exchange and communication.
This is the era of the API economy.
How Does API Banking Work?
For banks, APIs extend their reach beyond traditional boundaries. By partnering with FinTech companies or non-financial businesses without banking licenses, banks can access new customer segments while maintaining data security.
Take Revolut, a popular neobank based in the UK. It operates on a digital-first approach and initially held an e-money license. With the help of several APIs, Revolut created a flexible and scalable platform offering core banking services, payments, currency exchange, open banking, and more. Banking APIs played a phenomenal role in how Revolut scaled up, with an expected user base of 47.5 million by the end of 2024.
Types of API Banking
There are three main types of API banking that businesses can utilize:
- Open APIs: Publicly available interfaces that allow any developer to access and integrate certain banking functionalities into their applications.
- Internal APIs: Used within financial institutions to improve efficiency and communication between different departments or systems.
- Partner APIs: Shared with specific business partners to enable collaborative services or products, offering a balance between openness and control.
Examples of API Banking
There are various real-world examples of businesses across different sectors leveraging API banking to transform their offerings and create new revenue streams. But mainly their functions can be categorized into two: embedded finance and Banking as a Service (BaaS) or Banking SaaS.
According to a detailed study conducted by Finastra in Nov 2023, it was found that the areas of technology that will see a significant year on year investment in the US over the next 12 months would be BaaS, embedded finance and AI with 30% focused on open API implementation.
These are a few specific examples:
Embedded Payments for E-commerce Platforms
In an e-commerce platform or marketplace, integrating payment APIs can significantly enhance user experience. Merchants get the ability to accept payments directly on the platform, without redirecting customers to external payment gateways. This simplifies the checkout process and creates a new revenue stream through transaction fees
BaaS for FinTech Startups
For FinTech entrepreneurs, BaaS APIs can be a game-changer. Instead of going through the complex and time-consuming process of obtaining a banking license, you can leverage BaaS APIs to offer digital banking services under your own brand. This allows you to focus on your unique value proposition and customer experience, while leaving the backend digital banking operations to established partners.
Lending APIs for Traditional Banks
If you're a traditional bank looking to modernize your lending process, integrating lending APIs can help you automate credit decisions and offer instant loans. Doing so improves your operational efficiency and enhances customer satisfaction by providing quick, hassle-free lending experiences.
Account Aggregation for Personal Finance Apps
FinTech companies building personal finance management tools can use account aggregation APIs to give users a holistic view of their finances across multiple financial institutions. This creates a sticky product that keeps users engaged and provides opportunities for personalized financial advice.
KYC and Identity Verification for Non-financial Businesses
Non-financial businesses can leverage Know Your Customer (KYC) APIs to streamline customer onboarding processes. Whether you're running a real estate company, a car rental service, or an online marketplace, these APIs can help you verify customer identities quickly and securely, reducing fraud risks and improving compliance.
The Role of APIs in Embedded Finance
Embedded finance represents a significant shift in how financial services are delivered to consumers. It involves integrating financial services directly into non-financial platforms, apps, or products. This integration is made possible through the power of APIs.
API banking integrations save time and resources and allow companies to focus on their core competencies while providing value-added financial services to customers.
Real-world Examples of Embedded Finance
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Services
E-commerce platforms can integrate BNPL options at checkout, allowing customers to split their purchases into installments.
According to a report, the global BNPL market is expected to reach $3.98 trillion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 45.7% from 2021 to 2030.
Insurance in E-commerce Platforms
Online marketplaces can offer product insurance at the point of sale, enhancing customer experience and generating additional revenue streams.
FinTech Apps Offering Banking Services
Mobile applications can now provide a full range of banking services, from account opening to loan applications, all powered by APIs. In a report by Plaid, consumers in the US have said that they are 79% comfortable with using FinTech companies to open an account. A very narrow gap in their comfort level compared to traditional banks (87%) has been observed.
How APIs Power Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS)
BaaS is a model that allows non-banking companies to offer financial services by leveraging the infrastructure and licenses of traditional banks through APIs. Unlike traditional banking, where services are provided directly by banks to customers, BaaS enables third-party providers to integrate banking services into their own offerings.
APIs are the backbone of BaaS, facilitating the modular and flexible integration of various banking services. They allow BaaS providers to offer a menu of financial services that can be easily plugged into other companies' products or platforms.
Key Components of BaaS Powered by APIs
- Digital Account Creation: Instant account opening and KYC processes.
- Payment Processing: Integration of various payment methods and real-time transaction processing.
- Compliance and Regulatory Services: Automated checks and reporting to ensure adherence to financial regulations.
A survey by Finextra found that 52% of 25-34 year olds have mentioned that they prefer using their favorite brand’s financial services over traditional banks. This underscores the increasing adoption of API-powered BaaS solutions among the next generation of users.
Benefits of API Banking
API banking offers numerous advantages to different stakeholders in the financial ecosystem.
For Banks
- Innovation and Faster Time-to-Market: APIs letbanks quickly launch new products and services by leveraging existing infrastructure.
- New Revenue Streams Through Partnerships: Banks can monetize their APIs by partnering with FinTech companies and other businesses.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Integrating with popular apps and platforms allows banks to offer services where customers already spend their time.
For Businesses
- Simplified Integration of Financial Services: Companies can easily add banking capabilities to their products without building complex financial infrastructure.
- Customization and Flexibility in Offerings: APIs authorize businesses to pick and choose the specific banking features they want to offer.
- Increased Customer Engagement and Loyalty: Offering a wider range of services keeps customers within the business’s ecosystem.
Challenges and Considerations
While API banking offers numerous benefits, it also presents challenges:
- Security Concerns: As financial data is shared across multiple platforms, ensuring robust security measures is paramount. According to a report by Salt Security, 95% of respondents have experienced security breaches in their production APIs while only 7.5% of organizations have implemented dedicated API threat testing.
- Regulatory Compliance: The evolving nature of financial regulations poses a challenge for API banking. Companies must ensure that their API integrations comply with local and international financial regulations, such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) in India.
- Integration Complexity: While APIs simplify integration, the process can still be complex, especially for companies without strong technical expertise. Ensuring seamless integration across different systems and maintaining API performance can be challenging.
Addressing these challenges requires ongoing collaboration between banks, FinTech companies, and regulators to establish best practices and standards for API banking.
How to Implement APIs in Banking
Implementing APIs in banking requires a strategic approach:
- Identifying key services to expose via APIs
- Developing a robust API strategy aligned with business goals
- Ensuring strong security measures and compliance with regulations
- Creating comprehensive documentation for developers
- Establishing a developer portal for easy API access and support
- Continuously monitoring and optimizing API performance
How APIs Drive Innovation in Banking
APIs drive innovation in banking by:
- Enabling personalized financial services through data-driven insights
- Fostering collaborative ecosystems between banks and FinTech companies
- Facilitating rapid prototyping and testing of new financial products
- Integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain into banking services
The Future Impact of APIs on Banking
Financial APIs are set to transform banking by encouraging open financial ecosystems and greater inclusivity, known as open banking. They are enabling personalized banking experiences and driving the integration of financial services into various industries through embedded finance. This API-powered transformation is spurring competition and innovation, ultimately reshaping how we interact with financial services in our daily lives.
Final Thoughts
API banking represents more than just a technological advancement; it's a paradigm shift in how financial services are delivered and consumed. As we've explored, financial APIs are enabling unprecedented levels of innovation, collaboration, and customer-centricity in the banking sector.
Neokred is dedicated to empowering businesses with the API solutions they need to thrive in this new era of embedded finance and BaaS. Our comprehensive suite of APIs enables seamless integration of financial services, helping companies of all sizes innovate and expand their offerings.
Interested in exploring how APIs can transform your financial capabilities? Visit Neokred to learn more about our solutions.
Conclusion
FAQs
API in banking refers to Application Programming Interfaces that allow different software systems to communicate with each other. Banking APIs enable secure data exchange between banks' systems and third-party applications, facilitating services like account information retrieval, payment processing, and financial product integration.
In open banking, API stands for Application Programming Interface, just as it does in general banking contexts. Open banking specifically refers to the practice of banks sharing customer data with third-party providers through secure APIs, enabling these providers to develop new financial products and services.
API banking has numerous use cases, including account aggregation (viewing multiple bank accounts in one app), payment initiation, personal finance management, lending decisions, and integrating banking services into non-financial apps. It enables banks to partner with FinTechs, improves customer experiences, and fosters innovation in financial services.
