In conversation with Daniel Llano Manibardo

Read time: 3 Minutes

Daniel Llano Manibardo, Head of Chase in Germany, joined FIBE 2026 for a fireside chat titled “What it takes to build a bank in Berlin”. Following his stage appearance, he stayed on to answer four additional questions.

With Chase you are about to launch in Germany this year. Why Germany? Why now?

Daniel Llano Manibardo: Germany is an obvious choice in the European market. It's the country with the largest GDP, the largest population, and the largest retail banking business. But it's not only about the size of the market, it's also about the consumers. 

I have over 25 years of experience in banking and have been living and working in Germany for the past eight years. In my observation German consumers today are genuinely more open to exploring new digital banking options. You see many people with two or three accounts, investing with different banks, using different payment methods. Society here is more open to new players now.

With that combination of market size and consumer openness, Germany is a fantastic market in which to start. At the same time, there is also room for further digitization and opportunities to provide Germans innovative digital banking solutions that help them make the most of their money. We are starting with savings, recognizing that Germany is a nation of savers with significant untapped potential that we aim to help consumers unlock. 

So, there clearly is strong competition in Germany for new digital banks. What is JP Morgan Chase's unique selling proposition?

Manibardo: We combine the best of both worlds: the reliability and expertise of a trusted global bank like JPMorganChase - with the advantages of a fresh, digital offering specifically tailored for the German market.

The first aspect is trustworthiness. We are part of one of the largest financial institutions in the world, already serving more than 80 million customers worldwide in retail banking. We have earned their trust, and we sustain and value it.

Second, we have built a technical platform that is scalable, and we've established and fine-tuned it in the UK market over the last four and a half years. In Germany, we tailor the offer to local needs and regulation, so that it is easy to use and reliable.

Third, we are a highly efficient organization. By leveraging the latest technology and maintaining lean operations, we keep our costs low. This allows us to pass on value to our customers, offering them exceptional value for their money.

So, this combination of trustworthiness, a freshly built digital platform, and good value for money - I think that is genuinely unique.

Four and a half years of fine-tuning in the UK provides a solid foundation. Is there anything from that playbook that you can take and implement here?

Manibardo: One key advantage we have is that our platform is highly modular. We leverage everything we built in the UK, but we can also customize it for the German market, which I believe is crucial. We take what works for us and adapt it to meet the specific needs of local consumers.

For example, it’s very important for German customers to be able to onboard through eID. While this feature isn’t available in the UK market, we are fully committed to making the additional investment required to provide what German consumers need.

Why did you choose Berlin and not Frankfurt for the bank?

Manibardo: Berlin has an exceptionally strong fintech and technology ecosystem that is unmatched in continental Europe. The city is home to many talented individuals and innovative companies, creating an environment that continually attracts professionals and, in turn, new firms. This makes Berlin the ideal launchpad for our digital bank.

Additionally, our history in Berlin dates back to 1924, when one of our predecessor companies opened its first representative office here. In many ways, this feels like a homecoming for us.