STARTUP FOUNDER BUYS WASHINGTON BANK TO EXTEND FINTECH PUSH

Summary from the TLDR Fintech newsletter

Increase founder and former Stripe engineer Darragh Buckley has acquired and rebranded a Washington community bank, giving his fintech direct control over regulated banking infrastructure instead of relying on partner banks. The move positions Increase to compete with banking-as-a-service providers like Lead Bank and Column, offering fintechs a more integrated platform that combines banking technology with a licensed bank while continuing to serve the local community.