Comparison · 2026 edition
ClearBank vs Swan: virtual accounts compared 2026.
ClearBank and Swan side by side in the Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index 2026: scores, evidence, published facts and awards.
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ClearBank and Swan side by side in the Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index 2026: scores, evidence, published facts and awards.
In the Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index, ClearBank scores higher overall: 3.3 out of 5 (66 out of 100) against 2.8 (56), ranking 4 and 5 of 10. ClearBank also scores higher in every segment.
Overall and segment scores out of 100, and the score out of 5.
| Score | ClearBank | Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Score out of 5 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| Score out of 100 | 66 | 56 |
| Overall rank | 4 of 10 | 5 of 10 |
| For payment and e-money firms (out of 100) | 76, rank 3 | 66, rank 6 |
| For marketplaces and platforms (out of 100) | 67, rank 4 | 58, rank 5 |
| For businesses collecting from abroad (out of 100) | 55, rank 4 | 45, rank 8 |
| Type | UK clearing bank with virtual IBANs | Euro accounts and virtual IBANs under a French e-money licence |
Each score with the evidence behind it.
| Criterion | ClearBank | Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies and markets | 3/5 12 currencies on one IBAN published, UK only. | 1/5 Euro only, with IBANs from five countries. |
| Account ownership | 5/5 Virtual IBANs, virtual safeguarding accounts and physical accounts with own sort codes published. | 4/5 Accounts with IBANs for the client's users and virtual IBANs published; naming of each account not stated. |
| Published pricing | 0/5 Not published on the pages read. | 1/5 Only a "starting from" plan price published. |
| Local rails and speed | 3/5 Direct UK payment systems published; EU instant receipt not described. | 2/5 SEPA receipt published; instant receipt not published. |
| Regulatory standing | 5/5 Own UK banking licence with FRN, FSCS terms and a safeguarding letter. | 5/5 Own e-money licence with register number and named safeguarding banks. |
| Integration | 4/5 API, sandbox and a stated integration time; self-serve sign-up not offered. | 5/5 API, sandbox, no-code screens and a stated launch time. |
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
What each provider publishes on its own pages, read on 26 October 2026.
| Fact | ClearBank | Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies and markets | Multi-currency IBAN in GBP plus 11 currencies (USD, EUR, CAD, CHF, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, CZK, HUF, RON); multi-currency accounts listed as UK only. | Euro accounts with IBANs starting FR, DE, ES, NL and IT; services across the EEA. |
| Account ownership | "Allocate up to 6 million virtual IBANs from a single parent account"; up to 6 million virtual customer segregated or client money accounts; agency banking "Physical accounts, each with their own sort code". | "All accounts come with an IBAN"; virtual IBANs listed; accounts opened for the client's users. |
| Pricing | Not published on the pages read; "no minimum volume requirements". | "Starting from 2990€/m" for Swan on demand; no set-up fees; sandbox free. |
| Local rails | Direct connection to Faster Payments, Bacs (including Direct Debit) and CHAPS; EUR held at the European Central Bank. | SEPA transfers and SEPA Direct Debit; SEPA Instant not mentioned. |
| Regulatory standing | ClearBank Limited authorised by the PRA, FRN 754568; FSCS "up to £120,000 per depositor"; ClearBank Europe N.V. authorised by the ECB and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank; FCA-compliant safeguarding letter available. | Electronic money institution authorised by the ACPR, REGAFI 86245; client funds safeguarded at BNP Paribas and Natixis. |
| Integration | API; sandbox; "Average API integration takes 30 to 45 days". | Sandbox with API explorer and event simulator; no-code white-label screens; "launch in weeks, not months". |
| Date read | 26 October 2026 | 26 October 2026 |
Not published or not stated by ClearBank: pricing and local rails and speed.
Not published or not stated by Swan: account ownership, local rails and speed and integration.
Facts read on 26 October 2026 from: clear.bank/products/accounts, clear.bank/faqs/accounts-and-agency-banking, clear.bank/products/multi-currency-and-fx, clear.bank/solutions/embedded-banking; and swan.io/pricing, swan.io/use-cases/fintech, swan.io/faq.
Awards follow from the published scores and cannot be bought.
From each provider's strongest criteria and published terms.
UK payment and e-money firms needing safeguarding and virtual accounts at a bank.
European platforms issuing euro accounts with local IBANs to their customers.
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