New bank contender Debut champions niche over scale

New bank contender Debut champions niche over scale
Co-founder Sulabh Sharma said being a licensed bank will allow the company to release the products they want, how they want them. (Image: BusinessDesk)
Ben Moore
A New Zealand financial technology startup is preparing to submit an application to the Reserve Bank for a bank licence, aiming to become a fully digital bank.Debut was founded by two New Zealanders, Sulabh Sharma and Sheenu Chawla, who also own Sush Labs, the company that built Kiwibank’s banking app.The pair were in the UK in the late 2010s when Monzo and Starling, two UK digital banks, were being launched.A digital bank, also called a neobank, is a registered bank with no physical branches and usually limited phone support that offers...

More Finance

TVNZ targets one million digital viewers logged in by 2030
Finance

TVNZ targets one million digital viewers logged in by 2030

The latest performance forecast unfolds the broadcaster’s online ambitions.

JPMorgan is revamping Its bank for the superrich
Finance

JPMorgan is revamping Its bank for the superrich

There is a minimum required balance of US$10 million. 

Port of Auckland to pay $45m special dividend to council
Finance

Port of Auckland to pay $45m special dividend to council

The divestment proceeds will be used to top up the Auckland Future Fund.

Oliver Lewis 27 Jun 2025