Neo-Broker lemon.markets Boosts dwpbank’s €2.2 Trillion Custody Services

By Ali Raza October 9, 2025, 9:07 am • Posted in Forex

Deutsche WertpapierService Bank (dwpbank) recently completed its acquisition of Berlin-based fintech lemon.markets on September 30, following approval from Germany’s financial regulator.

The deal gives dwpbank a digital trading platform alongside its usual custody services. This lets the bank serve both big financial institutions and new fintech companies. dwpbank manages €2.2 trillion in assets and handles securities transactions for about two-thirds of German banks.

lemon.markets and dwpbank Aims To Enhance Services And Technology

lemon.markets runs a platform using APIs that lets financial companies give stock and ETF trading to their customers. The Berlin company has a BaFin investment license and works with fintechs like Pleo, Holvi, Optio, and Tomorrow.

However, both companies will keep their own names and businesses separate, but work together on technology. dwpbank’s WP3 platform manages complex custody for many assets and trading places, while lemon.markets focus on simple services like fractional share trading and automated processes.

Kristina Lindenbaum, dwpbank board member for client and digital transformation, said that there is no “typical” securities customer. She explained that investors vary a lot, from first-time investors who want simple services to institutional investors with complex custody and investment needs.

This move reflects a wider trend where traditional banks try to win customers from digital-first competitors. New online brokers have challenged old banks on price and added features like real-time trading, which older systems find hard to offer.

dwpbank handles 5.3 million securities accounts and processed 53 million transactions last year. Its clients include cooperative, private, and savings banks across Germany.

lemon.markets Secures Funding And BaFin License To Expand Services In Europe

lemon.markets has raised €28 million since it started a few years ago, including €12 million in its most recent funding round led by CommerzVentures. The company got a BaFin license recently, allowing it to do services like contract broking and portfolio management.

Max Linden, founder and Chief Executive Officer of lemon.markets, said the company will keep its focus on Europe. He added that they aim to provide a top Brokerage-as-a-Service platform for banks, asset managers, and fintechs, and that working with dwpbank will help shape the securities market.

The move follows lemon.markets’ recent partnership with big banks BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank to start its Brokerage-as-a-Service product.

The dwpbank group now includes the main bank and three subsidiaries: dwp Software Kft, dwp Service GmbH, and lemon.markets. dwpbank is considered an important bank under German rules.

Conclusion

Following dwpbank’s recent acquisition of lemon.markets, it will help serve both big financial institutions and new fintech companies while improving innovation in Europe’s securities market.