US fintech Meow, which offers businesses a cash management and banking platform, has raised $31.6 million in a Series B round led by Stifel Financial with participation from Archetype. The company's total funding now exceeds $60 million. As part of the partnership, Stifel Bank plans to offer its corporate clients a version of the platform under its own brand from early 2027.
What it means: The deal shows a shift in the relationship between banks and fintechs. Instead of competing for the same customer, a bank invests in a startup and at the same time buys its technology to offer under its own name. For Stifel, that is a faster route than building from scratch a modern digital tool for small businesses and startups, which now expect a user experience on par with Mercury and Brex. For Meow, the white-label model means access to customers without high acquisition costs and a steadier revenue stream from licensing. Business treasury management includes accounts, payments, cards and placing surplus cash in products such as Treasury bills, an area where interest rates make the difference. The trend is reaching Europe too, where banks partner with software providers to offer modern tools to companies. For Greek banks investing in digital business banking, buying a ready platform and branding it could shorten delivery times considerably. The risk is dependence on the technology provider, which the EU's DORA rules require to be assessed.
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