Custom fintech development: next-gen financial technology
We build fintech software that meets the strictest regulatory requirements while delivering the user experience of a consumer app. From payment orchestration to digital onboarding, we deliver technology that makes the difference in financial services.
Why have fintech built by a specialist agency?
Financial technology operates at the intersection of strict regulation, high availability requirements and rapid innovation. Generic software developers lack the domain knowledge to implement PSD2-compliant payment flows, real-time fraud detection and KYC processes correctly.
Appfront combines deep fintech expertise with proven engineering principles. We understand that a transaction processed two seconds late is not "a bug" but a compliance incident. Our architectures are designed for auditability, zero-downtime deployments and sub-100ms response times under peak load.
- Event-driven microservices for transaction processing
- End-to-end encryption and tokenisation of financial data
- DORA-compliant observability and incident response
- Automated compliance reporting (DNB, AFM)
- Multi-tenant architecture for BaaS platforms
- Horizontally scalable to millions of transactions per day
Our fintech development capabilities
From payment infrastructure to regulatory technology, we build the full stack for financial innovation.
Payment Orchestration
Multi-PSP routing with intelligent failover. Support for iDEAL 2.0, SEPA Instant, Wero, credit cards and emerging payment methods. Reconciliation engines that automatically match settlement files with internal transactions.
Open Banking & PSD2/PSD3
Account Information Services (AIS) and Payment Initiation Services (PIS) that comply with the RTS requirements. Consent management, Strong Customer Authentication flows and ongoing compliance monitoring for the upcoming PSD3 requirements.
Fraud Detection & Risk Scoring
Real-time transaction monitoring with rule engines and ML models. Behavioural biometrics, device fingerprinting and network analysis to intercept fraudulent transactions before they are processed, without friction for legitimate users.
Digital Onboarding (KYC/AML)
Automated identity verification with document scanning (OCR), liveness detection and PEP/sanctions screening. Integration with registers such as the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Handelsregister), the UBO register and international watchlists. Customer onboarding reduced from days to minutes.
Crypto & Digital Assets
Custody solutions, wallet infrastructure and DeFi integrations built with enterprise-grade security. MiCA-compliant architecture for crypto exchanges, tokenisation platforms and stablecoin payments within European regulation.
RegTech & Compliance Automation
Automated regulatory reporting (DORA, MiFID II, AMLD6), transaction monitoring dashboards and audit trail systems. Reduce compliance costs whilst improving the quality and speed of reporting to regulators.
If you fall under DORA and are designated as such, your defensive team must be able to show, step by step for each attack, what was detected. That is what the blue team app is for.
Building a fintech app: proven use cases
Our fintech software runs in production at payment providers, neobanks, lending platforms and insurers. Below are the verticals where we make the difference.
Neobanking & BaaS
White-label banking platforms with multi-currency accounts, instant payments and integrated card issuing. Built on Banking-as-a-Service infrastructure with full support for DNB licensing.
Lending & Credit
Automated credit decisioning engines with real-time data enrichment. From application to disbursement in minutes, with built-in affordability checks and responsible lending safeguards.
InsurTech
Claims processing automation, parametric insurance triggers and usage-based pricing engines. An API-first architecture that integrates seamlessly with legacy policy administration systems.
WealthTech & Trading
Portfolio management dashboards, robo-advisory engines and real-time market data feeds. Low-latency order execution with audit trails that meet MiFID II best-execution requirements.
Our approach: from compliance architecture to production
Building fintech software requires a methodology that builds in security and compliance from day one, rather than bolting them on afterwards. Our four-phase approach ensures every component meets regulators' requirements before it goes live.
Regulatory Assessment
Inventory of applicable regulation (PSD2, DORA, AMLD, MiCA), threat modelling and definition of security controls. Outcome: a compliance blueprint that serves as the foundation for the architecture.
Secure Architecture Design
Event-driven microservices with immutable audit logs, zero-trust networking and data classification. Choice of managed versus self-hosted services based on data residency requirements and vendor lock-in risk.
Iterative Development
Two-weekly sprints with integrated security reviews. Automated SAST/DAST scanning in the CI/CD pipeline, and peer code review under the four-eyes principle for anything touching financial logic.
Compliance Validation & Launch
Penetration testing by certified ethical hackers, load testing at production scale and a complete audit package for regulators. Go-live with real-time monitoring, alerting and a runbook for incident response.
Integrations & technology ecosystem
Our fintech software integrates seamlessly with the payment providers, banking APIs and compliance services you already use, or plan to adopt.
Technology choices for fintech
- Kotlin / Go for high-throughput transaction services
- Node.js / TypeScript for API gateways and BFF layers
- React / Next.js for real-time dashboards
- PostgreSQL with row-level security for multi-tenancy
- Apache Kafka for event sourcing and CQRS
- Kubernetes with a service mesh (Istio) for zero trust
Security-by-design principles
- HSM-backed key management for cryptographic operations
- mTLS between all internal services
- Field-level encryption of PII and financial data
- Immutable audit logs with tamper-evident hashing
- Automated secrets rotation via HashiCorp Vault
- SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001 aligned processes
Frequently asked questions about fintech development
How much does it cost to build fintech software?
The cost of fintech development depends heavily on complexity and regulatory requirements. An MVP for a payment app typically starts at around €40,000. Full banking platforms or multi-PSP orchestration engines with compliance modules range from €100,000 to €300,000. We work with a transparent sprint model so you can steer each iteration.
How do you ensure PSD2 compliance in the software?
Compliance is not bolted on afterwards; it is an architectural decision. We implement Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) flows in line with the RTS, build consent management systems that combine GDPR and PSD2 requirements, and integrate with qualified Trust Service Providers. Every component is tested against the EBA guidelines before it goes into production.
Can you integrate with our existing banking infrastructure?
Yes. We have experience exposing legacy core banking systems through API layers, integrating with SWIFT networks, and connecting modern front ends to AS/400-based back-office systems. Our approach is a strangler fig pattern: migrating functionality gradually without big-bang risk.
How long does it take to build a fintech app?
We can deliver a compliant MVP with basic payment functionality and KYC onboarding in 3 to 4 months. More complex platforms with multiple payment methods, fraud detection and regulatory reporting take 6 to 9 months. After launch, we remain available for further development and compliance updates whenever regulations change.
Do you provide support with licence applications?
We supply the technical documentation and architecture descriptions that supervisors (DNB, AFM) require in licence applications for payment or e-money institutions. This includes IT risk analyses, business continuity plans, outsourcing registers and security architecture documents in line with DORA requirements.
How do you handle the security of financial data?
Financial data is protected by a defence-in-depth strategy: field-level encryption, tokenisation of card numbers (PCI DSS), HSM-backed key management, and strict access control based on the least-privilege principle. All data flows are logged in immutable audit trails, and our platform is audited annually by an independent penetration testing partner.
Ready to bring your fintech idea to life?
From concept to compliant production, we build the financial technology that moves your business forward. Schedule a no-obligation architecture session with our fintech team.
Fintech development by Appfront
Payment apps, banking platforms, lending engines and compliance systems. We combine fintech domain knowledge with engineering excellence, built in Amsterdam and ready for Europe.
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