UK challenger bank Monzo is raising more than $500 million

UK challenger bank Monzo is raising more than $500 million at a valuation of $4.5 billion.

The startup said Wednesday that it has closed $475 million and expects to close the remainder of the round in the next few weeks. The Financial Times previously reported on the fundraising efforts, led by Abu Dhabi Growth Fund and involving new investors Coatue Management and Alpha Wave Ventures as well as existing backers like Accel and Goodwater. 

CEO TS Anil said of the funding round: "This investment means we’ll grow further and faster as we continue on our journey to reinvent banking, and become the one app that sits at the centre of our customers’ financial lives.”

The new valuation represents a reversal of fortunes for the company, which has had two warnings previously in its annual reports over its ability to continue financially. However, thanks to a swell in new customer sign-ups, revenues have doubled, according to the Financial Times report.

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The startup is also planning to push into new product areas, having recently launched a buy now, pay later (BNPL) tool. 

“We’ve seen record revenues, launched new products and tools, and continued to top the charts for our services. We’ve hired some incredible talent," Monzo CEO TS Anil told the Financial Times. 

The neobank's valuation still pales in comparison to some of its European rivals. In July, Revolut's valuation ballooned to $33 billion after an $800 million round led by SoftBank Vision Fund and Tiger Global. Most recently, N26 was valued at $9 billion after a $900 million Series E round. The bank has, however, outshined old rival Starling, which is valued at $1.5 billion. 

Editor's Note: This report and its headline have been updated with additional context about Monzo's funding efforts.

About Author

Tom is a deals reporter at The Block covering venture capital, fundraises, fintech and M&A. Before joining, he was an editorial intern at the FT-backed platform Sifted where he reported on neobanks, payment firms and blockchain startups. You can reach him by email at [email protected] or Telegram @tommatsuda.