Zilch's $100M Bet: Inside the Payments Unicorn's Bold London Expansion

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-19

Zilch, the British payments unicorn with 6 million customers, just made a move that says a lot about where it's headed. The company is committing €91 million (about $100 million) to double its London office capacity with a new headquarters in Victoria. And this isn't just about nicer desks—it's a statement of intent. ### The Deal Behind the Move The new space at 40 Grosvenor Place spans 33,160 square feet across two floors and can seat more than 400 employees. The investment covers a 10-year lease, giving Zilch plenty of room to grow. This comes on the heels of a €150 million debt and equity raise in November 2025, so the company clearly has momentum. Philip Belamant, co-founder and CEO, didn't hold back: "It has been a transformational year for the business with a number of significant milestones, and our customers moving beyond £8 billion of spend across every region in the UK." He added that the new HQ "reflects the scale of our ambition" and will help attract top talent. ### A FinTech Boom in the UK Zilch's expansion is part of a broader surge in European consumer credit and payments. In 2026 alone, several UK fintechs have raised significant rounds: - Primer raised €86.2 million for AI-powered payments infrastructure. - Vuelo secured €64 million for travel financing. - Plend obtained a credit facility of up to €58.3 million. - Sokin raised €83 million, and Ryft closed a €23 million Series B. Across Europe, Barcelona's ID Finance secured €545 million, and Madrid's BCAS raised €30 million. All told, these deals represent approximately €889.5 million in disclosed financing and credit facilities during 2026—a clear sign that the fintech ecosystem is thriving. ### What This Means for Zilch's Future The new headquarters is just one piece of Zilch's growth story. The company recently announced the acquisition of Fjord Bank, expected to complete in the first half of 2027, which will lay the foundation for its European expansion. Zilch also has a multi-year strategic partnership with Visa and became Arsenal FC's Official Way to Pay. City Minister Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP praised the move: "This is a major milestone for Zilch and it's brilliant to see their continued success. The UK is a FinTech powerhouse and I'm committed to backing the sector to thrive and grow." Founded in 2018, Zilch combines debit, credit, instalments, earned wage access, credit building, deals, and rewards into one platform. With this latest investment, the company is clearly positioning itself for the next phase of growth—and doing it in style.