In the fast-paced world of financial technology, partnerships mark new milestones, but the recent collaboration between FIS and BMW Bank introduces strategies that are worth dissecting. With the aim of improving digital banking experiences and operational mechanisms, the agreement between FIS, a notable financial technology company, and BMW Bank GmbH in Germany offers valuable insights into the direction banks and financial institutions are moving.
What This Partnership Means for BMW Bank
The deal centers around FIS’s "deposits-as-a-service" solution, built on their K-CORE24 and K-e-Banking platforms. This isn’t just a tech setup; it’s a strategy to simplify banking services. BMW Bank’s decision to migrate over 300,000 deposit accounts onto FIS’s platform, as detailed in a press release from BusinessWire, went live by the second quarter of 2025. The goal? To build stronger customer relationships while creating a more streamlined financial system.
As someone deeply familiar with the challenges of entrepreneurship and navigating corporate systems, this partnership strikes me as a big move––not without risks but filled with opportunities. The transition to a new operational base is no child’s play, but modern banking calls for bold changes.
Three Reasons This Matters for Financial Entrepreneurs
1. Shaping Customer Expectations
The platform enables BMW Bank to offer seamless digital banking. Customers can expect faster transactions and integrated deposit services. In my experience, the financial sector focuses heavily on keeping consumers happy, and partnerships like this are stepping stones towards advanced, simplified banking solutions.
2. Leveraging Embedded Financial Services
FIS’s tech is anything but old-school. With embedded services, BMW Bank can better streamline operations. This is an aspect small business owners should observe. Embedded services aren’t restricted to multinational banks, these solutions are becoming more accessible even for smaller firms.
3. Staying Ahead in Changing Markets
The FIS partnership reveals how German financial institutions are embracing digitization to handle market shifts. For entrepreneurs, it’s a reminder: evolve or risk falling behind. Functional systems impact not only growth but how fast enterprises adapt to consumer and market dynamics.
A Quick “How-To” Guide for Choosing Reliable Financial Technology for Your Business
Whether you’re running a startup or a mature business, selecting the right financial technology partner can save resources and stress. Here's how:
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Match Capabilities to Needs
Assess what your current systems lack. Do you need better payment processing, predictive tools for expense management, or improved customer interfaces? Platforms like FIS K-CORE24 stand out because they offer targeted solutions. -
Check Scalability
Ensure the technology accommodates your business as it grows. BMW Bank’s transition shows how systems can handle a large number of accounts, an important feature. -
Analyze Vendor Expertise
Choose vendors with proven track records in your sector. BMW Bank partnered with an established player in FIS, whose financial technology leads across banking sectors. -
Request Specific Case Studies
Don’t just trust a company’s sales pitch. Ask for detailed examples of how technology revamped existing businesses. -
Prioritize Support
A flashy platform might grab attention, but responsive customer support will keep your operations running smoothly.
Mistakes to Dodge When Partnering in Fintech
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Ignoring Regulatory Compliance
Financial services thrive on trust, so younger firms must ensure they align with regulations. For BMW Bank, this partnership likely addressed the stringent compliance needs of German banking laws, an issue startups shouldn’t underestimate. -
Cutting Costs Over Quality
Opting for less-expensive platforms may appear savvy. However, inadequate uptime or flaws in transaction systems could cost more in the long run. -
Delaying Adaptation
Technology updates are not just a luxury, they’re a necessity. Waiting for others to implement them first might prove costly. -
Underestimating Change Management
From personal experience, I can confirm how critical internal communication is during transitions. Employees must understand new processes early to avoid disruption later.
Insights from Industry Experts
Kanv Pandit of FIS says, “Many businesses…are looking to streamline their operations to address disharmonies across the money lifecycle.” This narrative rings true for startups too. If inefficiencies plague your company, consider adapting technology that not only fixes the issue but also positions you competitively in challenging sectors.
Key Takeaway for Entrepreneurs: Learn from the Big Players
The FIS and BMW Bank collaboration isn’t just beneficial for multinational banks; there are direct lessons for startup founders and small enterprises. Embed smoother payment systems and enhance customer experience solutions to grow your business sustainably. Modern banking education offers a wealth of accessible tools founders can leverage to avoid basic mistakes while building smarter, adaptable systems. This type of foresight could differentiate you from being “another player” to becoming the player in your niche.
Banking success today is not about keeping up, it’s about moving faster and creating genuine customer value. So, as we look to the Q2 deployment of the FIS-BMW Bank agreement, I ask this: when will you take your next bold step?
FAQ
1. What companies are involved in the FIS-BMW Bank partnership?
The partnership involves FIS (Fidelity National Information Services), a global financial technology company, and BMW Bank GmbH, the German automotive financial services provider. Learn more about FIS Global News on Finextra
2. What is the main goal of the FIS and BMW Bank collaboration?
The main aim of the partnership is to enhance digital banking operations and accelerate deposit growth for BMW Bank using FIS’s deposits-as-a-service offering. Explore more at Finextra Press Article – FIS inks deal with BMW Bank
3. What technology is BMW Bank integrating under this partnership?
BMW Bank is using FIS K-CORE24, a core banking solution, and FIS K-e-Banking, a user-friendly digital banking platform. Learn more about BMW Bank’s transition
4. How many accounts are being migrated to FIS’s platform?
Over 300,000 deposit accounts at BMW Bank were transitioned to FIS technology by Q2 2025. Read more about the migration process here
5. What benefits does the FIS platform offer to BMW Bank?
The FIS platforms help BMW Bank improve customer experience, achieve operational efficiency, and increase competitiveness with faster transactions and integrated deposit services. Understand more about FIS and BMW Bank partnership benefits
6. What is "deposits-as-a-service"?
Deposits-as-a-Service enables banks like BMW Bank to integrate deposit accounts into digital platforms, enhancing operational efficiency and customer service. Dive deeper into FIS Deposits-as-a-Service
7. What does this collaboration mean for the banking industry?
This partnership indicates a trend among financial institutions adopting advanced technologies, like embedded finance solutions, to remain competitive and meet the demands of a digitally savvy customer base. See what FinTech Futures says about FIS’s platform for deposit services
8. Who can learn from this partnership model?
Startups and small businesses operating in the fintech sector can gain insights into leveraging scalable and customer-centric financial technology solutions.
9. What are the major industry trends that align with this partnership?
The collaboration highlights trends like core banking upgrades, embedded finance, and cloud-native platforms, which are crucial for modern banking success. Read about core banking system announcements
10. How does the collaboration address customer expectations in financial services?
The partnership empowers BMW Bank to exceed customer expectations through a secure, digital-first approach, integrated banking services, and operational efficiency. Check out how BMW Bank meets evolving customer expectations here
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
