← Embedded Finance Index 2026

Helix

Also a provider — view Helix’s profile →

“Can a cloud-native, API-first BaaS layer built by an established banking software company (Q2) win the embedded banking infrastructure race against pure-play BaaS startups?”

HQAustin, Texas, United States
IndustryInfrastructure / BaaS
The story

Helix by Q2 was built as Q2 Holdings' answer to the BaaS market — an API-first embedded banking platform designed for fintechs, brands, and non-bank companies that want to offer checking, savings, and card products under their own brand. Unlike Q2's core community banking product, Helix is purpose-built for high-volume consumer fintech use cases, with a cloud-native core, real-time messaging bus, and support for multiple bank partners. The platform targets companies that want to own the user experience without holding a bank charter, embedding FDIC-insured deposit accounts and branded debit cards via a single API integration.

Last 12 months
—
Product timeline
2020
Q2 Holdings launched Helix as an API-first embedded banking platform targeting fintechs and brands seeking to offer banking products without becoming a bank.· banking
2021
Helix expanded card issuing capabilities including physical, virtual, and tokenized card provisioning into Apple Wallet, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.· card
2022
Helix added minor accounts, HSA accounts, and goal-based savings products to its account suite, broadening from DDA-only to a full deposit product library.· banking
The stack
3 layers disclosed in Helix’s embedded-finance stack
Banking / BaaS
Helix by Q2 (self-operated)
Card issuing
in the full report
Sponsor bank
in the full report
Accounting gap: none
2 more providers across 2 layers, with confidence-scored evidence and source URLs, are in the Embedded Finance Index report.