How subscription ecosystems are reshaping banking services in 2026

A recent article from the Financial Times explores how banks are increasingly taking inspiration from the subscription economy to grow revenue and expand their customer base.

One of the key themes that stood out for us at BaseKit is the move away from banks offering only core financial products such as current accounts, loans and credit cards. Instead, banks are starting to position themselves as broader digital ecosystems or one stop shops that provide small business customers with a wider range of tools and services to support their everyday needs.

From core banking to subscription ecosystems

The Financial Times highlights how digital first banks are leading this shift. In particular, Tide and Holvi are referenced as examples of neobanks that have begun to introduce non-core services alongside their banking products.

These additional services include tools such as invoicing and business registration, designed to make the bank more central to how small businesses run and manage their operations. By extending their product offering in this way, these banks are able to drive higher subscription adoption and create more reasons for customers to return to their platforms regularly.

This ecosystem driven approach helps increase customer engagement while creating new, predictable revenue streams through bundled or standalone subscriptions.

Supporting small businesses beyond financial services

At BaseKit, this model closely reflects how we already work with partners across the banking and financial services sector. Our partners integrate BaseKit directly into their existing platforms and digital channels, enabling them to offer website building and e-commerce capabilities to their small business customers alongside their core financial services.

Banks can choose to offer these tools either as a standalone subscription or as part of a wider bundled proposition for small business customers. This enables banks to go beyond traditional banking relationships and support customers with practical tools that help them establish and grow their online presence.

By embedding digital enablement services into their platforms, banks become more closely involved in the day-to-day operations of small businesses, strengthening relationships and increasing the overall value delivered to customers.

Increasing retention and average revenue per user

Offering non-core services such as website builders and e-commerce tools plays an important role in improving both retention and average revenue per user. When small business customers actively use multiple services through the same provider, they are more likely to remain loyal and less likely to switch to competitors.

This subscription led ecosystem approach also allows banks to introduce additional services over time, creating opportunities to grow revenue without relying solely on traditional financial products.

How traditional banks may respond in 2026

As neobanks continue to expand their product ecosystems and take market share, it will be increasingly important for traditional banks to respond with their own digital services strategies. The range of tools and services available to small business customers is likely to look very different by the end of 2026 compared to today.

For banks looking to evolve their propositions, partnering with platforms such as BaseKit offers a proven way to extend their product suite, strengthen customer relationships and compete effectively in an increasingly subscription driven market.