Kraken's parent wants a place in your everyday banking, and it has agreed to buy a European lender to get there.

Payward announced on October 14 that it had signed an agreement to acquire Saldo Finance Oy, the Finnish holding company behind Lithuania's Saldo Bank. Its announcement puts the expected closing in 2027. Regulatory approvals and other closing conditions still stand between the agreement and completion. For European crypto customers, the interesting part is what Payward hopes to build once that happens.

The company says the purchase would help it offer interest-bearing deposits and lending products through Payward Banking. Card issuance and services for other financial technology companies are also part of the plan. That coul...