5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a BaaS Platform

5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a BaaS Platform (Part I)

This article is a little segue from the usual content—but if you’re building in fintech or embedding financial services into your product, this one’s for you.

One of the most exciting parts of my work is helping teams reimagine how they operate—through better systems, smarter automation, and occasionally, helping them navigate the maze of fintech infrastructure.

Lately, I’ve been chatting with a number of founders and operators exploring embedded finance. Everyone’s excited about launching financial features—wallets, cards, credit lines—but almost every conversation eventually lands on the same question:

“How do we pick the right BaaS partner?”

There’s no shortage of options out there. Most promise speed, scalability, and an easy API. But not all platforms are created equal—and the choice you make will directly shape your ability to build, launch, and grow.

Here are 5 key questions I always recommend asking:

1. Is this a full-stack solution or more of a connector?

Some BaaS platforms handle everything—banking relationships, compliance, licensing, APIs, even card issuance—all under one roof. Others are essentially matchmakers: they introduce you to banks or third parties, then leave you to stitch everything together.

If you’re looking to launch fast and avoid managing 10+ integrations, lean toward a full-stack provider. Examples worth looking into: Railsr, Unit, or Intergiro. They manage more of the stack so your team can focus on building product—not compliance workflows or bank negotiations.

2. How fast can we build and test?

Developers shouldn’t need to wait a week for sandbox access or struggle with half-baked documentation.

Platforms like Unit or Solid offer comprehensive sandboxes where you can build with real-feeling accounts, transactions, and cards in under an hour. If you’re a startup with limited engineering time, rapid prototyping like this is gold.

3. Do you support both debit and credit products?

Most companies start with a debit or prepaid card, but true growth often means expanding into credit, lending, or even rewards.

Look for a provider that supports the full product lifecycle, not just one piece. Synapse, Stripe Issuing, or Mbanq are good examples of platforms with broader financial product support. Ask about live customers running multiple offerings—not just what’s on the roadmap.

4. How many banks are you connected to?

Working with just one bank might feel simpler at the start—but it can limit your growth later. If that bank changes its policy or your needs evolve, you could be stuck.

Multi-bank platforms—like Treezor in the EU or Mbanq in the US—give you more flexibility. Different banks specialize in different things (deposits, lending, issuing), so having options lets you adapt over time without tearing down your infrastructure.

5. How hands-on is their compliance support?

Let’s be honest: compliance isn’t the fun part. But it’s where a lot of fintech projects get delayed—or die.

Some platforms will hand you a checklist. Others will act like true partners—helping you think through onboarding flows, fraud risk, and KYC logic. Look for teams with real-world experience here—not just API docs. Intergiro and Weavr both stand out for offering embedded compliance and ongoing support.

TL;DR:

Picking a BaaS platform isn’t just a tech decision—it’s a strategic one. You’re choosing infrastructure that can either unlock speed and scale… or become a bottleneck down the line.

Ask the hard questions. Don’t be afraid to get specific. And try to build something in the sandbox before you commit—it’ll tell you more than any sales pitch.

Part II coming soon: I’ll dive into pricing models, roadmap alignment, and how to vet a platform for long-term fit.

If you’re in the middle of this decision and want a second opinion—my DMs are always open.

🧠 If this was helpful, send it to your team.

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