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How do I write a partnership proposal to a bank as a digital wallet startup company?

Here’s a step-by-step framework to craft a compelling partnership proposal that speaks a bank’s language (risk mitigation, compliance, and customer growth).

Phase 1: Pre-Writing Research (Critical)

Before writing, identify the specific partnership model you’re proposing:

  • Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS): You use their charter/FDIC insurance (you hold balances, they handle compliance)
  • White-Label Digital Wallet: They brand your tech as their own product
  • Referral/Co-marketing: You drive users to their deposit accounts/credit products; they promote your wallet
  • API Integration: Your wallet connects to their core banking system for real-time transfers

Research specifics:

  • Review their recent earnings calls for digital strategy keywords (usually “embedded finance” or “fintech partnerships”)
  • Check their innovation lab or venture arm (if they have one, pitch there first)
  • Identify their pain point: Are they losing younger customers? Lagging in digital adoption? Expanding to SMEs?

Phase 2: Proposal Structure

1. Executive Summary (1 page max)

Hook: Lead with THEIR goal, not your product.

“[Bank Name] aims to capture Gen Z market share by 2025. Our white-label digital wallet solution can accelerate this roadmap by 18 months without internal dev resource strain.”

Include:

  • Partnership type (be specific)
  • High-level value exchange (you get compliance rails; they get tech speed/customers)
  • Timeline to pilot (banks move slow—suggest a 90-day MVP pilot)

2. The Strategic “Why” (Market Context)

Prove you understand their position:

  • Gap Analysis: “While [Bank Name] has strong branch presence, digital onboarding averages 8 minutes vs. neobanks’ 2 minutes.”
  • Regulatory Tailwinds: Reference open banking regulations or real-time payment schemes (FedNow, UPI, etc.) they need to adopt.

3. Your Value Proposition (Quantify Everything)

Banks think in terms of COST AVOIDANCE and DEPOSIT GROWTH.

What You OfferBank’s BenefitMetric
Pre-built mobile SDKZero dev build cost$1M+ savings vs. internal build
AI fraud detection layerReduces chargeback liability40% reduction in false declines
Younger demographics (18-35)Net new deposit growthAccess to 500k unbanked prospects

Key phrase to use: “Revenue-sharing model” (shows you’re invested in their success, not just a vendor).

4. Risk Mitigation & Compliance (The Most Important Section)

Banks are risk-averse. Address this head-on:

  • SOC 2 Type II & PCI DSS: State your certifications upfront
  • Segregation of Funds: “Customer funds held in FBO (For Benefit Of) accounts at [Bank Name], ensuring FDIC pass-through insurance”
  • Compliance Layer: Detail your KYC/AML vendor (e.g., Jumio, Persona) and how you handle OFAC screening
  • Audit Rights: Offer them quarterly access to your security audits

5. Technical Integration Plan

Keep it simple for non-technical banking executives, but detailed enough for their CTO:

Phase 1 (Month 1-2): API sandbox testing for account opening Phase 2 (Month 3): Limited beta (1,000 users) Phase 3 (Month 6): Full rollout
  • Mention core banking system agnosticism (if true): “Compatible with Fiserv, Jack Henry, or Temenos via REST APIs”
  • Highlight fallback protocols for system outages (banks hate single points of failure)

6. Commercial Terms (High Level)

Don’t get bogged down in decimals, but show structure:

  • Interchange Split: If you’re processing payments, propose a revenue share (e.g., 60/40 bank/you on interchange)
  • SaaS Fee: If white-labeling, suggest a per-MAU (Monthly Active User) fee vs. fixed cost (reduces their risk)
  • Exclusivity: Offer regional exclusivity for 12 months if they commit to pilot funding

7. Your Team/Track Record

Banks bet on teams, not just tech:

  • Highlight founders with prior banking/compliance experience
  • Name-drop existing bank partners (even small credit unions count)
  • Include 1-2 case studies: “Partnered with [Regional Bank X] to onboard 50k users in 6 months”

Phase 3: Formatting & Delivery Tips

Length: 8-12 pages max. Banks receive 50+ page decks that never get read.

Visuals to Include:

  • Architecture Diagram: Show how your system connects to theirs without touching core banking directly (reduces their perceived risk)
  • Regulatory Map: Highlight which licenses you hold (MSB, money transmitter, EMI) vs. what you need from them

Subject Line (if emailing):

“Partnership Proposal: Accelerating [Bank Name]’s Digital Wallet Strategy | [Your Company]”

Who to Send It To:

  • Primary: Head of Digital Banking or Chief Innovation Officer
  • CC: Head of Compliance (shows you’re serious about risk) and Head of Strategy/Business Development

Phase 4: Post-Submission Strategy

Week 1: Follow up with a one-page “Leave-Behind” summary (the proposal in bullet points). Week 3: Offer a technical demo to their architecture team (gets engineers advocating for you). Month 2: If no response, reference a competitor’s move: “Wanted to flag that [Competitor Bank] just launched a similar integration—we’d still love to discuss first-mover advantage for [Bank Name].”

Immediate Next Steps You Can Take Today

  1. Draft the “Risk Mitigation” section first—this is usually the hardest part and the make-or-break section for banks.
  2. Create a redacted architecture diagram showing data flows (where PII lives, where encryption happens).
  3. Prepare a “Compliance One-Pager” listing your licenses, audit dates, and banking partners.

To tailor this further:

  • Are you pitching a specific tier of bank (Top 10 national, regional/community bank, or credit union)? The risk tolerance and decision-making speed vary dramatically.
  • Do you need their charter/licensing (BaaS), or are you looking for them to resell/integrate your existing wallet?
  • What’s your current regulatory status—do you have money transmitter licenses, or are you banking on their regulatory umbrella?

Let me know these details, and I can help you refine specific language for the executive summary and risk sections.

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