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A nationally chartered US bank sold directly to developers, with accounts, ACH, wires, FedNow, cards, checks and lending through one API. It is an FDIC member bank and publishes deposit insurance terms.
Column is ranked in 2 Buckingham Intelligence indices. Its highest score is 2.6 out of 5 (53 out of 100) in the Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index, where it ranks 8 of 11. It is strongest for US fintechs wanting to build directly on a chartered bank rather than through a middle layer, with 5 out of 5 for product range and licence and deposit protection. Not published or not stated on the pages read: pricing.
Also ranked in: Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index (2.5 out of 5, rank 9 of 10).
Scores from the Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index and Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For fintechs launching accounts and cards | 51 | 9 of 11 |
| For software platforms embedding finance | 47 | 10 of 11 |
| For regulated payment and e-money firms | 62 | 7 of 11 |
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For payment and e-money firms | 63 | 7 of 10 |
| For marketplaces and platforms | 49 | 8 of 10 |
| For businesses collecting from abroad | 39 | 10 of 10 |
The score out of 5 is the overall score out of 100 divided by 20. Leader goes to the top three overall, Best for to the first in each segment, and Top rated for to a score of 5 out of 5 on a criterion. Awards cannot be bought.
Where it scores best, and where to check closely, as shown in each ranking.
US fintechs wanting to build directly on a chartered bank rather than through a middle layer.
US fintechs needing FBO accounts and account numbers at a chartered bank.
What Column publishes on its own pages, read on 26 October 2026.
A nationally chartered US bank sold directly to developers, with accounts, ACH, wires, FedNow, cards, checks and lending through one API. It is an FDIC member bank and publishes deposit insurance terms. It does not publish prices, compliance support or security audits on the pages read.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Product range | Accounts "in one API call"; ACH credits and debits; FedWire; FedNow; "Build a card program"; "national lending program"; checks; "Direct access to Swift and international routing". |
| Pricing | Not published on the pages read. |
| Licence and deposit protection | "Column N.A. is a nationally chartered bank built for developers"; "Column N.A. Member FDIC"; demand deposit accounts "FDIC insurance up to $250,000". |
| Accounts | Supports "FBO, sweep, clearing and custom account types"; FBO accounts use virtual sub-accounts; dynamic account numbers. |
| Integration | API with documentation at docs.column.com; "Start building in sandbox." |
| Security | "As a federally regulated bank, we are subject to governmental audits"; programme based on NIST and FFIEC guidance. No SOC 2 or PCI certification on the pages read. |
| Date read | 26 October 2026 |
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 26 October 2026 from: column.com/llms.txt, column.com/llms-full.txt, column.com/bank-accounts, column.com/security.
Column is a nationally chartered US bank whose API creates FBO accounts (accounts held "for the benefit of" a platform's customers) with virtual sub-accounts and dynamic account numbers, receiving on ACH, Fedwire and FedNow. It states FDIC insurance terms. It does not publish prices and serves US dollars only.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Currencies | US dollar accounts; international wires through "Direct access to Swift". |
| Account ownership | FBO accounts "Open accounts on behalf of others" using virtual sub-accounts; dynamic account numbers that each point to one bank account with their own permissions and limits. |
| Pricing | Not published on the pages read. |
| Local rails | ACH, FedWire and FedNow. |
| Regulatory standing | "Column N.A. is a nationally chartered bank"; "Member FDIC"; demand deposit accounts "FDIC insurance up to $250,000". |
| Integration | Accounts "in one API call"; "Start building in sandbox." |
| Date read | 26 October 2026 |
A fact that is not published is scored as not offered or, for a fee, as if it were high. It is never estimated.
Facts read on 26 October 2026 from: column.com/bank-accounts, column.com/llms.txt, column.com/security.
Each score with the evidence behind it.
Each criterion is scored 0 to 5 against the best published offer in the Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index. 0 means not offered or not published. How it is scored
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
The other providers in the same ranking, ordered by score.
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swan | 3.9 | 1 of 11 | European software platforms wanting accounts and cards fast, with no-code screens |
| Solaris | 3.9 | 2 of 11 | European fintechs wanting a licensed bank that carries the compliance work |
| Airwallex | 3.8 | 3 of 11 | Platforms serving business customers in many countries from one integration |
| Weavr | 3.2 | 4 of 11 | UK and EU business software adding accounts and cards at a fixed monthly price |
| Griffin | 3.2 | 5 of 11 | UK fintechs and platforms wanting a bank with published plan tiers and fast onboarding |
| ClearBank | 3.2 | 6 of 11 | UK payment and e-money firms wanting FSCS-protected accounts and direct UK payment access |
| Synctera | 2.8 | 7 of 11 | Fintechs in the US and Canada wanting onboarding and monitoring built in |
| Increase | 2.6 | 9 of 11 | US platforms wanting a fully priced payments and accounts API |
| Unit | 2.4 | 10 of 11 | US software platforms wanting ready-made banking screens |
| Treasury Prime | 1.9 | 11 of 11 | US banks running their own fintech programmes |
Full Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index ranking
| Provider | Score out of 5 | Rank | Strongest for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airwallex | 4.3 | 1 of 10 | Platforms and businesses needing local receiving details in many currencies at published prices |
| Wise Business | 4.0 | 2 of 10 | Small and mid-sized businesses collecting from customers abroad |
| Nium | 3.8 | 3 of 10 | Payment firms and platforms issuing accounts in their customers' names under their own brand |
| ClearBank | 3.3 | 4 of 10 | UK payment and e-money firms needing safeguarding and virtual accounts at a bank |
| Swan | 2.8 | 5 of 10 | European platforms issuing euro accounts with local IBANs to their customers |
| Griffin | 2.8 | 6 of 10 | UK payment, e-money and investment firms needing safeguarding or client money accounts |
| Weavr | 2.6 | 7 of 10 | UK and EU business software giving each client account an IBAN at a fixed monthly price |
| Payoneer | 2.6 | 8 of 10 | Sellers and freelancers collecting from marketplaces and overseas clients |
| Increase | 2.4 | 10 of 10 | US platforms creating many account numbers for reconciliation |
Side by side on every criterion, fact and award.
Head-to-head comparisons cover pairs within the top five of each ranking. Column is compared with its alternatives in the table above.
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