Zero One Bank adopts BaaS by GMO Aozora

01Bank (Zero One Bank, currently under preparation, subject to approval from relevant authorities) of Ikeda Senshu Holdings has decided to adopt GMO Aozora Net Bank’s “BaaS by GMO Aozora” for the services 01Bank plans to provide.

This initiative, whereby a bank provides banking services and functions to another bank in a BaaS format, represents an innovative undertaking and presents new options for building bank systems. As a “behind-the-scenes bank,” GMO Aozora pledges to continue supporting the development and provision of services that genuinely meet end user needs, without being constrained by traditional concepts of financial institutions, for both financial and non-financial businesses.

GMO Aozora has been strengthening its proposal and provision of BaaS, which compartmentalizes various banking functions including banking APIs (application programming interfaces) and provides them as components. GMO Aozora already has signed over 550 contracts, contributing to the creation of new digital services and enhancement of customer experience value.

This time, BaaS by GMO Aozora has been adopted based on Ikeda Senshu HD’s high evaluation of GMO Aozora’s software engineering skills, high technological capabilities, development capabilities and mobility, as well as its BaaS provision track record encompassing diverse businesses.

GMO Aozora plans to provide banking functions such as deposits, loans and credit screening analysis to the new bank 01Bank in a BaaS format. By doing so, GMO Aozora will contribute to 01Bank’s stated goal of building a “data-driven” banking system that provides “security,” “flexibility,” and “low cost” with “high quality UI/UX.”

01Bank (Zero One Bank)

Ikeda Senshu Holdings established a digital bank incorporation preparation company on February 1, 2024. The preparation company aims to complete preparations to commence operations during 2024, on the prerequisite of obtaining approval from relevant authorities.

The initial customer base when commencing operations will be businesses such as small to medium enterprises and sole proprietors actively using cloud services provided by Pfers (platformers) for purposes including improving business operations. By collaborating with Pfers providing cloud services used daily by businesses, and utilizing not just customer bank account transaction and accounting/financial data but also data held by Pfers, 01Bank will support user growth through multifaceted and appropriate evaluation of business viability via a “Pfer data model.”

GMO Aozora Net Bank

GMO Aozora Net Bank was established in July 2018 as a new internet bank under the corporate vision “Everything for our customers. Aiming to be the №1 techno bank.” By internalizing system development, GMO Aozora provides financial and settlement services tailored to customers at speed.

Due to reasons including online account opening applications, speed from application to commencement of use, low fees, highly convenient fundraising services, and substantial banking APIs, use has been growing rapidly, mainly by small and startup corporate customers.

In light of this, GMO Aozora has set three major pillars as its medium- to long-term strategy:

• “№1 bank for small & startup companies,”
• “№1 embedded finance services,” and
• “№1 tech-first bank,”

and under the concept of “customer business growth = our company’s growth,” GMO Aozora is working to develop new systems and provide services as a bank that grows together with its customers.

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