Kraken’s parent company Payward to acquire Finland’s Saldo Bank, adding deposit and lending services to its crypto‑trading platform

Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, agreed on Oct. 14 to buy Saldo Finance Oy, the Finnish owner of Lithuania’s Saldo Bank. The deal, expected to close in 2027 pending regulatory approval, would give Payward access to deposit accounts, lending and payment services, expanding its reach beyond crypto trading. Saldo Bank’s statutory deposit‑guarantee scheme protects up to €100,000 per depositor, while Payward’s existing electronic‑money entity safeguards funds but does not offer the same guarantee. The acquisition also brings a credit business whose audited accounts show a sharp rise in loans overdue by more than 90 days in 2025, highlighting the importance of loan quality. Customers will need to understand how moving money between Payward’s products changes the legal relationship and the level of protection applied to each balance.