Stockholm-based payments executive Johan Tjärnberg has led Trustly as Group CEO since January 2022. Before that, he founded Bambora, which Ingenico bought in 2017. Now his company powers instant bank deposits and withdrawals at US sportsbooks, including Hard Rock Bet.
Who Is Johan Tjärnberg?
Johan Tjärnberg runs Trustly, a Swedish firm that lets people pay from a linked checking account. Many US readers search for him as Johan Tjarnberg, without the “ä.” He has worked in finance and payments since 1994.
Trustly runs on open banking. Instead of typing card numbers, you log in to your online bank and approve the payment. Trustly calls this “pay by bank,” and it connects more than 9,000 merchants to 12,000 banks.
Johan Tjärnberg’s Career Before Trustly
Johan Tjärnberg began his career in 1994, auditing companies for PwC. He later moved to the firm’s deal advisory side and worked across over 40 deals in Europe.
In 2005, he took charge of Point Transaction Systems, a Nordic payments business recently bought by Nordic Capital. Point had over 900 staff spread across 13 countries. When VeriFone bought Point in 2011, he became its executive vice president for Europe.
Next, he founded Bambora in 2014 to handle card and online payments for shops and web stores. Ingenico bought Bambora in 2017. Tjärnberg then served as an Ingenico EVP, first for small business and later for retail.
| Year | Milestone |
| 1994 | Joins PwC’s audit team |
| 2005 | Takes the top job at Point |
| 2011 | Becomes EVP Europe at VeriFone after it buys Point |
| 2014 | Founds Bambora |
| 2017 | Ingenico acquires Bambora; he joins Ingenico as an EVP |
| 2020 | Appointed Chairman of Trustly’s board |
| 2022 | Becomes Trustly Group CEO on January 17 |
| 2026 | Leads job cuts and a $40 million+ capital raise |
How Johan Tjärnberg Took Charge at Trustly
Trustly named Tjärnberg chairman of its board in January 2020. Two years later, the board moved him into the CEO role.
His early moves targeted the UK and the US. In 2022, Trustly brought back PayWithMyBank founder Alex Gonthier to run Trustly’s Americas business. Then in January 2023, Trustly closed its purchase of UK open banking platform Ecospend.
In May 2023, Trustly launched Azura, a data engine that recognizes returning users. It shows players their last-used bank account, so deposits take fewer steps. Trustly also won Payment Solution of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Why Trustly Matters to US Casino and Sportsbook Players
For US bettors, Johan Tjärnberg’s biggest impact shows up on the cashier page. Trustly works with US sportsbooks and online casinos under state-by-state licensing.
In March 2025, Trustly became the bank payment partner for Hard Rock Bet. Trustly says players link their bank account once for instant deposits and withdrawals. Hard Rock also gained Trustly’s VIP program, which can approve deposits up to $1 million.
Once the site approves a cashout, Trustly says most payouts reach your bank within 24 hours. Our guide to how casino withdrawals work walks through each step.
The table below compares pay by bank with two other common online casino banking options.
| Feature | Pay by Bank (Trustly) | Debit Card | Wire Transfer |
| How it works | You approve the payment in your online bank | The card network moves the funds | Your bank sends funds to the operator’s bank |
| Card details shared | No | Yes | No |
| Deposit speed | Instant | Instant | Up to several business days |
| Withdrawal speed | Usually within 24 hours of approval | Instant to a few days, if your card supports it | Several business days, often with fees |
| Best for | Fast cashouts without a card | Quick deposits with a card you own | Large transfers |
If speed matters most, compare our picks for same-day payout casinos.
Trustly’s 2026 Reset Under Johan Tjärnberg
Trustly hit a rough patch in 2025, and Johan Tjärnberg answered with a turnaround plan. Full-year revenue fell 12% in constant currency to about SEK 2.43 billion. Even so, the company processed more than $100 billion in payments that year.
Growth picked back up in 2026. In April, Trustly passed 120 million users worldwide. In the second quarter, payment volume rose 26%, and US revenue grew 24%.
The reset still brought hard choices. In September 2026, Trustly moved to cut about 200 jobs, about one in four employees. Weeks later, owners Alfvén & Didrikson and Nordic Capital committed more than $40 million in new equity.
The money will fund AI-driven products, and the raise should close in November 2026.
The Bottom Line
Johan Tjärnberg has spent three decades in finance and payments, and Trustly is his toughest test yet. US revenue is climbing, but the 2026 job cuts show the pressure he faces. For US players, his strategy points toward faster bank deposits and cashouts.
Faster deposits also make it easier to overspend. Set deposit limits and other responsible gambling tools before you play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the CEO of Trustly?
Since January 17, 2022, Johan Tjärnberg has served as Trustly’s Group CEO. He took over from Oscar Berglund after two years as board chairman.
What did Johan Tjärnberg do before Trustly?
He worked at PwC, ran Point Transaction Systems, and led VeriFone in Europe before founding Bambora in 2014. Ingenico bought Bambora in 2017.
Does Trustly work at US online casinos and sportsbooks?
Yes, but availability depends on the operator and your state. Check the cashier details in our US sportsbook reviews before you sign up.
Is Trustly safe for casino deposits?
Trustly holds payment licenses in Europe and follows US state rules. You approve each payment in your own online bank, so the site never sees card details. Compare it with other low-risk ways to fund a casino account first.
Why did Trustly cut jobs in 2026?
After revenue fell by more than $50 million in 2025, Trustly cut about 200 roles in September 2026. Its main owners then committed more than $40 million to fund new AI products.
