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Swan is a French e-money institution that lets platforms open accounts with local IBANs, issue cards, and send SEPA transfers and direct debits across the European Economic Area, under Swan's own licence.
Swan is ranked in 3 Buckingham Intelligence indices. Its highest score is 3.9 out of 5 (78 out of 100) in the Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index, where it ranks 1 of 11. It is strongest for european software platforms wanting accounts and cards fast, with no-code screens, with 5 out of 5 for integration. Not published or not stated on the pages read: product range, compliance support and integration.
Also ranked in: Embedded Finance and Insurance Index (2.8 out of 5, rank 5 of 14) and Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index (2.8 out of 5, rank 5 of 10).
Scores from the Banking-as-a-Service and Sponsor Banks Index, Embedded Finance and Insurance Index and Virtual Accounts and IBANs Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For fintechs launching accounts and cards | 79 | 2 of 11 |
| For software platforms embedding finance | 77 | 1 of 11 |
| For regulated payment and e-money firms | 79 | 2 of 11 |
No award in the Embedded Finance and Insurance Index 2026.
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For software and platform companies | 56 | 5 of 14 |
| For retailers, travel and marketplaces | 60 | 6 of 14 |
| For regulated firms adding products | 52 | 6 of 14 |
| Segment | Score out of 100 | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| For payment and e-money firms | 66 | 6 of 10 |
| For marketplaces and platforms | 58 | 5 of 10 |
| For businesses collecting from abroad | 45 | 8 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.
European software platforms wanting accounts and cards fast, with no-code screens.
European software firms wanting accounts and cards under their own brand.
European platforms issuing euro accounts with local IBANs to their customers.
What Swan publishes on its own pages, read on 26 October 2026.
Swan is a French e-money institution that lets platforms open accounts with local IBANs, issue cards, and send SEPA transfers and direct debits across the European Economic Area, under Swan's own licence. It publishes its licence, safeguarding banks, a sandbox and no-code screens. Its plan price is published only as "starting from".
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Product range | Accounts with IBANs starting FR, DE, ES, NL and IT; virtual IBANs; physical, virtual and Apple Pay or Google Pay cards; SEPA transfers and SEPA Direct Debit. Lending not described. |
| Pricing | Sandbox free; Swan on demand "Starting from 2990€/m"; Enterprise custom; non-euro card payments 2%; physical cards 5€ each; no set-up fees. |
| Licence and deposit protection | Licensed electronic money institution authorised by the ACPR (REGAFI 86245) on 04/06/2020; client funds safeguarded at BNP Paribas and Natixis. |
| Compliance support | "No banking license required"; clients do not need an internal compliance team; "Swan takes on all the risk for you." KYC and onboarding listed in the sandbox. |
| Integration | Sandbox with API explorer, Postman collection and event simulator; "#nocode interfaces let you create your white-labeled MVP in minutes"; "launch in weeks, not months". |
| Markets | Services across the EEA; FAQ lists 31 countries. |
| 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: swan.io/pricing, swan.io/use-cases/fintech, swan.io/faq.
A French e-money institution offering accounts with local IBANs, payments and cards to software platforms, with a free sandbox and a white-labelled banking app. It publishes its ACPR authorisation and where client money is safeguarded. Its price is a "from" figure only and no security certificates are published on the pages read.
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Products | Business accounts with "Local accounts with IBANs starting with FR, DE, ES, NL and IT"; "SEPA and multi-currency transfers"; payment acceptance; physical and virtual cards; expense and employee benefit cards. |
| Pricing | Swan on demand: "Starting from 2990 € /m"; Swan Enterprise: custom; "flexible, revenue-sharing pricing". |
| Regulatory standing | "Swan is a licensed electronic money institution authorised by the French Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR), under the REGAFI identifier 86245 and identification code 17328 K". |
| Integration | "The Sandbox is free to explore!"; "White-labeled banking app (your brand, your settings)"; API explorer and Postman collection. |
| Safeguarding | Client funds "are segregated and deposited with our banking partners, BNP Paribas and Natixis - Groupe BPCE". |
| 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: swan.io, swan.io/pricing.
Swan issues euro accounts with local IBANs from France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, plus virtual IBANs, under its own French e-money licence. It publishes its register number, safeguarding banks, a sandbox and a launch time. It serves euro only, and its plan price is published as "starting from".
| Fact | What the provider publishes |
|---|---|
| Currencies and markets | Euro accounts with IBANs starting FR, DE, ES, NL and IT; services across the EEA. |
| Account ownership | "All accounts come with an IBAN"; virtual IBANs listed; accounts opened for the client's users. |
| Pricing | "Starting from 2990€/m" for Swan on demand; no set-up fees; sandbox free. |
| Local rails | SEPA transfers and SEPA Direct Debit; SEPA Instant not mentioned. |
| Regulatory standing | Electronic money institution authorised by the ACPR, REGAFI 86245; client funds safeguarded at BNP Paribas and Natixis. |
| Integration | Sandbox with API explorer and event simulator; no-code white-label screens; "launch in weeks, not months". |
| 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: swan.io/pricing, swan.io/use-cases/fintech, swan.io/faq.
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 Embedded Finance and Insurance 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Column | 2.6 | 8 of 11 | US fintechs wanting to build directly on a chartered bank rather than through a middle layer |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qover | 4.2 | 1 of 14 | Firms selling cover across Europe and the UK |
| Cover Genius | 3.6 | 2 of 14 | Global retailers, airlines and marketplaces selling cover in many countries |
| Weavr | 3.6 | 3 of 14 | UK and EU software firms adding accounts and cards at a published price |
| Unit | 3.0 | 4 of 14 | US software firms adding accounts, cards and credit |
| Solaris | 2.7 | 6 of 14 | European brands wanting accounts, cards and consumer lending under a bank licence |
| bolttech | 2.6 | 7 of 14 | Telecoms, retailers and banks selling device and travel cover in many markets |
| YouLend | 2.5 | 8 of 14 | Marketplaces and payment firms offering merchant finance quickly |
| Liberis | 2.5 | 9 of 14 | Payment and software platforms offering funding to small businesses |
| Igloo | 2.4 | 10 of 14 | Ecommerce, telecoms and finance firms selling cover in Southeast Asia |
| Treasury Prime | 2.1 | 11 of 14 | US fintechs wanting a choice of sponsor banks |
| Synctera | 2.1 | 12 of 14 | US and Canadian fintechs launching accounts and cards with a sponsor bank |
| Boost Insurance | 2.0 | 13 of 14 | US insurtechs and platforms launching their own branded programmes |
| Railsr | 1.8 | 14 of 14 | Brands testing card and wallet products through staged sandboxes |
Full Embedded Finance and Insurance 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 |
| 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 |
| Column | 2.5 | 9 of 10 | US fintechs needing FBO accounts and account numbers at a chartered bank |
| Increase | 2.4 | 10 of 10 | US platforms creating many account numbers for reconciliation |
Side by side on every criterion, fact and award.
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