EU Payment Institution License Granted to Brex, Paving the Way for International Growth
Brex Secures EU Payment Institution License, Expanding Global Reach
Brex, the innovative financial platform, has secured a Payment Institution (PI) license in the European Union, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion. This license, obtained via the Netherlands, allows Brex to directly serve EU-based businesses and their subsidiaries with locally accepted cards and best-in-class payment capabilities.
With this license, Brex is authorized to issue commercial credit and debit cards, originate payments directly in all EU countries, and offer its full suite of products, including corporate cards, expense management, and treasury tools, to European enterprises headquartered in the region. This expansion extends beyond the United States for the first time, enabling Brex to serve a wider range of companies with global operations.
Brex has already established a presence in Europe, with offices in the Netherlands staffed by local teams across sales, operations, and customer success. A dozen team members are currently on the ground, with plans to scale as Brex continues to grow its European footprint. The company is also planning a phased rollout in Europe, with full operations targeted by early 2026, and intends to secure a separate license to support UK customers in the near future.
The EU expansion is part of Brex’s broader international growth strategy, aligned with its goal to reach $500 million revenue and achieve IPO readiness by 2025. Brex is leveraging existing demand and strategic partnerships, and has opened a European office in Amsterdam to facilitate onboarding EU-based clients starting soon.
In addition, Brex is introducing advanced financial tools, such as generative AI-powered capabilities integrated with partners, that enhance treasury management and embedded payment services beyond traditional payment processing.
Key capabilities and plans after securing the EU PI license include:
- Authorized to issue commercial credit/debit cards and originate payments directly in all EU countries.
- Full suite of Brex fintech products (corporate cards, expense, treasury tools) available to EU-headquartered businesses.
- Phased European expansion starting in late 2025/early 2026.
- Plans to acquire a separate UK license for future operations there.
- Strong focus on cross-border financial services and support for multinational customers.
- Opening of a regional office in Amsterdam for European client onboarding.
- Introduction of innovative AI-enabled financial tools to complement payment and treasury services.
This license significantly advances Brex’s global expansion, making it one of the few platforms with unified financial services coverage where customers operate internationally. Brex is the financial platform of choice for companies with global operations, and the EU PI license deepens Brex's strategic moat. Brex plans to begin onboarding select customers in the coming months through a phased rollout.
Until now, Brex customers had to be based or headquartered in the U.S. to take full advantage of Brex's platform. With this license, Brex is authorized to operate across the entire EU, paving the way for Brex to serve more companies across Europe. Brex's proprietary global payments infrastructure powers a truly integrated solution, making it an ideal partner for global businesses seeking seamless financial services.
[1] Brex Blog: Brex Secures EU Payment Institution License [2] TechCrunch: Brex secures EU payment institution license to expand beyond the US [3] Finextra: Brex secures EU payment institution license [4] VentureBeat: Brex secures EU payment institution license to expand beyond the US [5] The Information: Brex secures EU payment institution license to expand globally
- Brex's new EU Payment Institution license marks a significant step in their global business expansion, allowing them to issue commercial credit and debit cards, originate payments directly in all EU countries, and offer various fintech products to European enterprises, thereby extending beyond the United States for the first time.
- With the acquisition of the EU Payment Institution license, Brex is now authorized to leverage technology in providing advanced financial tools, such as AI-powered capabilities, to enhance treasury management and embedded payment services for businesses operating in Europe.
