Product Designer

Qonto launches Credit Card and Overdraft to address SMEs cash flow gaps. European SMEs continue to face short-term cash flow gaps, and Qonto is responding with two new financing tools: credit card and overdraft built directly into its business banking platform. Qonto, Europe's business finance management platform, has launched two new products aimed at helping small and medium-sized businesses manage cash flow gaps: a Credit Card, available immediately in several markets, and an Overdraft, rolling out in the coming months. The move follows internal research by Qonto showing that half of its customers face short-term cash flow gaps, while 84% expect to need short-term financing in the next 12 months. Nearly 45% of customers have explicitly requested credit card products, indicating clear demand for embedded credit solutions. These findings substantially underpinned Qonto's decision to introduce the new tools as part of its core banking stack. The Credit Card, Qonto's first business credit card, is now available to eligible customers in France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. The card allows users to switch between credit and debit modes, enabling flexibility in how payments are processed. Purchases can be made throughout the month and are debited once on the first day of the following month, offering up to 30 days of payment flexibility. Customers receive a monthly credit limit of up to €15,000, and interest is applied only if the full amount cannot be collected on the debit date. The Overdraft product will be introduced across France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy in the coming months. It allows business accounts to go negative up to a pre-approved limit, ensuring essential payments such as payroll, rent, or supplier invoices are not declined when cash balances run low. Interest is charged only on the amount used and for the days it is used, and Qonto has stated there are no activation fees. Qonto described the product launches as a continuation of its work to support cash flow management, building on earlier initiatives such as Pay Later, its first in-house financing solution for supplier invoices, and Account Remuneration, which offers a reward on account balances. The company has also filed for a credit institution license with France's ACPR, and the new products are positioned as demonstrating progress toward that licensing goal. More than 600,000 companies currently use Qonto's services across multiple European markets, and the new Credit Card and Overdraft options expand the company's financing capabilities within its existing business banking ecosystem.

Fintech specialist Qonto opens office in Amsterdam. European business service provider Qonto is significantly ramping up its operations in the Netherlands. The fintech company, which focuses on SMEs and freelancers, announced the opening of a physical office in Amsterdam on Thursday. To guide the Dutch growth effectively, Georg Nüchtern, former manager at payment company Mollie, has been appointed as the first Managing Director for the Netherlands. With this step, Qonto promotes the Netherlands to one of its strategic core markets, alongside its home country France and Germany. The company had already started offering services in the Netherlands last year but is now opting for a physical presence to better serve the local market. The Amsterdam team currently consists of 20 employees, with the intention to expand this to 25 FTEs in the short term. Under Nüchtern's leadership, Qonto aims to distinguish itself through deep integrations with systems that Dutch entrepreneurs already use. For example, strategic partnerships have been established with homegrown tech giants such as Adyen and Mollie, and connections have been made with popular accounting packages like Yuki and Exact. 'Dutch entrepreneurs need overview, control, and simplicity in their financial management,' states Nüchtern. 'With Qonto's local team and European roots, Dutchitleaders support them in a way that aligns with their specific needs.' Expansion of banking services. Qonto operates as a regulated payment institution under the joint supervision of the French regulator ACPR and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB). In 2024, the license was already expanded, allowing the company to offer a broader package of business banking services. This now includes a 'Payment Acceptance Suite', enabling entrepreneurs to receive payments via card terminals, online links, and 'tap-to-pay' solutions. Alexandre Prot, co-founder and CEO of Qonto, emphasizes the importance of the local approach: 'Expanding its European strategy requires efficiency at both international and local levels. With Georg's experience in scaling B2B fintechs, Dutchitleaders is ready to further build out its presence in the Netherlands.'