Banking and payment partners for fintechs

A licence without a bank account is a licence that cannot operate. Payment institutions need safeguarding accounts, crypto-asset service providers need fiat rails, card programmes need a BIN sponsor — and each of these partners runs its own, often long, onboarding. This guide explains what regulated and fintech businesses need from banking partners, why onboarding fails, how an introduction actually works step by step, and what our introductions deliver.

The guide is general information. Every bank and payment provider decides on its own customers; an introduction is not a guarantee of an account.

What different businesses need

• Payment and e-money institutions — an operating account and a safeguarding account with a credit institution, designated as holding customers' funds;
• crypto-asset service providers — a bank or e-money institution that accepts crypto-related flows for fiat deposits and withdrawals;
• businesses with international flows — multi-currency IBAN accounts with local payment rails in several currencies;
• card programmes — a BIN sponsor (a principal member of a card scheme) and a processor.

The legal basis for safeguarding — segregation, trust or insurance — is explained in AML rules and safeguarding for licensed companies and in bank account for a licensed company, which also lists what a strong onboarding file contains.

Why onboarding fails

• the file does not explain the business model, the flows of funds and the customer base in the partner's language;
• the AML framework is not ready, or does not match the business described;
• the jurisdictions of customers or owners are outside the partner's risk appetite — which only the right introduction reveals early;
• the firm has no local substance yet the services described require it — no staff, office or management in the country of the licence;
• the application goes to many partners at once with different answers.

Extended vs premium onboarding — what is different

Both services start from the same prepared onboarding file, but the reach and the follow-up differ:

• Extended banking onboarding introduces your company to six banking and payment partners selected to fit your profile, typically over 2–6 weeks.
• Premium banking onboarding works with a wider partner network, builds a file tailored to each partner rather than one file for all of them, and follows up every application individually, typically over 2–8 weeks.

Which one fits depends on how specialised the business is: a simple payment flow usually needs fewer, well-matched introductions, while a crypto, high-risk-country or card-related profile benefits from the wider reach and the tailored files of the premium service.

How an introduction works, step by step

1. Onboarding file. We build the file that answers the questions partners ask: business model, flows of funds, customer base, AML framework and ownership.
2. Partner selection. We match your profile against partners whose risk appetite is likely to accept it, instead of sending the same file everywhere at once.
3. Introduction. We present the file and the company to the selected partners.
4. Follow-up. We follow up on questions from each partner until it decides, and, where it refuses, we use its reasons to improve the next introduction.

Our introductions

• extended banking onboarding — from €3,900: a prepared onboarding file and introductions to six banking and payment partners that fit your profile;
• premium banking onboarding — from €5,600: a wider network, a tailored file for each partner and follow-up of every application;
• introduction to a crypto-friendly e-money institution — from €2,200;
• multi-currency IBAN account set-up — from €2,800;
• card issuing / BIN sponsor introduction — from €4,500.

A company with a simple business and no licence usually starts with a Revolut Business or Wise account. For licensed businesses see also bank accounts for licensed companies and AML rules and safeguarding.

Typical timelines

• extended banking onboarding — 2–6 weeks;
• premium banking onboarding — 2–8 weeks;
• crypto-friendly e-money institution introduction — 2–4 weeks;
• multi-currency IBAN set-up — 2–4 weeks;
• card issuing / BIN sponsor introduction — 4–8 weeks, reflecting the card scheme's own programme approval.

These are typical durations once the onboarding file is ready; a profile that needs several rounds of questions from a partner, or a refusal and a second introduction, will take longer.

What is not included

Our fee is our professional fee for preparing the file and making the introductions. It does not include the partner's own account fees, card scheme programme fees, or the partner's ongoing monitoring of the relationship once the account is open — those are between you and the partner. We also do not operate your account or file your transaction reports; that stays with your own compliance function, supported where relevant by our AML rules and safeguarding or compliance audit services.

What you receive

• an onboarding file that answers the questions partners ask;
• introductions to partners that accept your profile;
• follow-up until each partner decides.

The amounts are our fees for the standard scope; no VAT is added; partners' own fees are paid to them. All communication takes place by email.

Ready to start? Choose the banking onboarding or introduction you need. Order.

To see which of our services your company needs, open the Business Navigator.

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• DORA: ICT risk framework and register of information
• Compliance audit for regulated firms
• Supervisory reporting after authorisation

More on this topic: Compliance services.