ClearBank

What ClearBank does

ClearBank is a dual-jurisdiction clearing and embedded banking platform founded in 2015, regulated as a bank in both the United Kingdom (PRA/FCA, FRN 754568) and the European Union (ECB/DNB via ClearBank Europe N.V.). The company provides financial institutions — including fintechs, traditional banks, digital asset platforms, corporates, acquirers, building societies, non-bank financial institutions, and pre-regulated firms — with API-driven access to UK payment schemes (Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs) and European schemes (SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Instant, T2), along with multi-currency accounts supporting 12 currencies, FSCS-protected embedded banking infrastructure, and MiCA-compliant digital asset services for EURC and USDC stablecoins. The platform is cloud-native (built on Microsoft Azure) and API-first, supporting up to 6 million virtual accounts per real account, ISO 20022 messaging, a sandbox testing environment, Confirmation of Payee, and integrated stablecoin minting and redemption via Circle Mint. As of FY2025, ClearBank's infrastructure underpins more than 17 million accounts and processed 262 million payment transactions (a 57% year-on-year increase), holds £18 billion in customer deposits, and employs 800–850 staff across the UK, the Netherlands, and France.

ClearBank monetises primarily through transaction-based fees on payment clearing and digital asset services, recurring fees for embedded banking infrastructure and account services, and platform fees on stablecoin operations. In FY2025 the company reported £121.6 million in normalised group revenue (up 34% year-on-year) and £12.2 million in UK pretax profit (up 53% year-on-year), marking its third consecutive year of UK profitability; fee-based income grew 51% and now accounts for the majority of revenue. Distribution is exclusively B2B via API integration with dedicated relationship managers, with major client logos spanning Tide, Coinbase, Kraken, Airwallex, OakNorth, Allica Bank, PingPong, PhotonPay, LemFi, PayCaptain, YeePay, Tazapay, and ByBit EU.

The firm holds an S&P BBB- investment grade credit rating and was selected into the inaugural UK FCA/PRA Scale-Up Unit cohort in 2025. Strategic priorities visible in the data are geographic expansion (EU passporting, Singapore entry via Tazapay, Paris branch), vertical expansion (corporate embedded banking via PayCaptain, residential services via Braiin/Home.cc), and product-line expansion in regulated digital assets following the April 2026 MiCA CASP confirmation — the first Dutch credit institution to complete the Article 60 notification process.

Name

ClearBank

Legal name

ClearBank Limited

Website

https://clear.bank

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

ClearBank is a UK and EU-regulated clearing and embedded banking platform providing API-driven payment scheme access, multi-currency accounts, FSCS-protected embedded banking, and MiCA-compliant stablecoin services to fintechs, banks, corporates, and digital asset platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Banking-as-a-Service Infrastructure

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Commercial Banks, Nec (6029)

akta.pro primary industry

Core Banking & Ledger Systems (Cloud Core, Deposits, Accounts) (FSAGAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

A2A Reconciliation, Reporting & Treasury Ops (FSAMAFAJ), A2A Collections & Direct Account Funding (FSAMAFAH), Enterprise Payments & Tokenized Money (stablecoins, tokenized deposits, CBDC rails) (FSAPAIAJ), Payables & Disbursements (ACH/SEPA, wires, checks, virtual cards) (FSABAIAB)

Keywords

• Clearing bank services
• Embedded banking infrastructure
• Real-time payments
• Digital asset banking
• API banking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clearing and Payment Processing: ClearBank generates revenue by providing financial institutions with indirect access to UK and EU payment schemes (Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS, SEPA, T2) via a single API. Clients pay for scheme access, payment initiation, and transaction processing.
2. Embedded Banking: Revenue from enabling partners (fintechs, corporates) to offer FSCS-protected accounts, savings accounts, and Cash ISAs leveraging ClearBank's banking licence. Partners pay for account infrastructure, virtual account issuance, and safeguarding services. In FY2025, fee-based income grew 51% and accounts for the majority of revenues.
3. Digital Asset Services (EMT Minting & Redemption): ClearBank Europe generates revenue from crypto-asset services (EURC/USDC minting and redemption) through implementation fees, monthly platform fees, and redemption fees. Fees are disclosed prior to execution. No spreads applied on at-par minting/redemption.
4. Multi-currency and FX Services: Revenue from multi-currency accounts supporting 12 currencies and associated FX services for business customers making international payments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ClearBank is a purpose-built, cloud-native clearing bank that provides financial institutions with indirect access to UK payment schemes (Faster Payments, BACS, CHAPS) and European schemes (SEPA, SEPA Instant, T2) via a single API. It offers fully regulated accounts, embedded banking infrastructure enabling partners to provide FSCS-protected accounts, and digital asset rails supporting regulated stablecoin (EURC/USDC) minting and redemption through Circle Mint integration.

Product overview

ClearBank is a dual-entity technology-enabled clearing bank (UK: ClearBank Limited; Europe: ClearBank Europe N.V.) operating as a B2B banking infrastructure provider. The company offers four integrated product lines: (1) Accounts providing operating, customer segregated, client money, and multi-currency accounts with 12 currencies; (2) Clearing enabling access to UK schemes (Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs) and European schemes (SEPA, SEPA Instant, T2) via single API; (3) Embedded Banking allowing firms to offer FSCS-protected accounts including savings and Cash ISAs through ClearBank's license; and (4) Digital Assets providing MiCA-compliant stablecoin services (EURC, USDC) via Circle integration with 24/7 fiat settlement. The company processes over 262 million transactions supporting more than 17 million accounts, serving fintechs, banks, corporates, digital asset platforms, and non-bank financial institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CTBB (ClearBank Tide Business Banking): A joint proposition with Tide (UK's leading challenger in business banking) and ClearBank (banking infrastructure provider), deployed under the RBS Alternative Remedies Package, focusing on transforming UK SME banking.
• Home.cc

Products and services

• Accounts Fully regulated account solutions for businesses including operating accounts, customer segregated accounts, client money accounts, and multi-currency accounts supporting 12 currencies. All GBP funds held at Bank of England and euro funds at European Central Bank.
• Clearing Payment processing and clearing services connecting to UK payment schemes (Faster Payments System, CHAPS, Bacs) and European schemes (SEPA Credit Transfer, SEPA Instant Credit Transfer, T2) via single API with real-time settlement and ISO 20022 messaging.
• Embedded Banking Banking-as-a-Service solution enabling firms to offer FSCS-protected accounts including interest-bearing current accounts, savings accounts, and Cash ISAs by leveraging ClearBank's banking license, with full regulatory compliance and no shared propositions or customer overlap.
• Digital Assets Digital Asset Rails enabling programmable liquidity for cross-border flows with 24/7 fiat settlement via SEPA Instant, supporting stablecoin operations including EURC and USDC minting and redemption through Circle Mint integration under MiCA regulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• UK business achieved 53% year-on-year profit growth to £12.2 million pretax profit in FY2025, third consecutive year of UK profitability
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• BraiinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 June 2026Braiin Limited deployed ClearBank's embedded banking infrastructure integrated into Home.cc, creating a unified residential services ecosystem targeting the $3 trillion global residential services market. The UK market serves as a launchpad for international expansion.
• The PaypersminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 May 2026ClearBank promoted an upcoming industry webinar with The Paypers focused on instant payments and SEPA Instant growth in Europe, highlighting its role in helping banks and fintechs navigate real-time payments infrastructure and comply with European regulatory requirements.
• Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)flagshipOthers · 23 April 2026ClearBank Europe received confirmation from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) to operate as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) under MiCA, becoming the first Dutch credit institution to complete the Article 60 notification process. This regulatory approval enables ClearBank Europe to offer regulated digital asset services across the EU.
• YeePaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 April 2026Chinese paytech company YeePay partnered with ClearBank as its safeguarding banking provider to support expansion into UK and European markets. YeePay will apply for Electronic Money Institution licences with the UK's FCA and the Netherlands' DNB. Once approved, ClearBank's infrastructure will enable YeePay to issue virtual IBANs and access UK and European payment schemes.
• ByBit EUcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 April 2026ClearBank Europe signed an agreement with ByBit EU to provide banking infrastructure and safeguarding across Europe, enabling ByBit to offer regulated banking services to its European customers.
• TideflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 March 2026Tide launched an easy access cash ISA for UK sole traders integrated directly into its existing business management platform, with ClearBank providing the underlying banking infrastructure and FSCS protection. The CTBB (ClearBank Tide Business Banking) proposition is a landmark partnership combining Tide's challenger brand with ClearBank's banking infrastructure.
• BitgetminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 March 2026ClearBank supports Bitget with cloud-based infrastructure for real-time payment processing, enabling the convergence of traditional banking and digital assets and ensuring secure, instant GBP transactions for the digital platform's users.
• PhotonPaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 January 2026ClearBank announced a collaboration with PhotonPay, an AI-powered global digital financial infrastructure provider, to expand PhotonPay's access to UK payment rails. Through ClearBank's API-based banking infrastructure, PhotonPay's business customers gain access to virtual accounts, GBP collections and payouts, and real-time connectivity to Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS.
• TauruscoreTechnology or Integration · 13 January 2026ClearBank selected Taurus-PROTECT as its wallet infrastructure provider to support stablecoin services and digital asset operations. The integration with Circle Mint enables MiCAR-compliant minting and redemption of USDC and EURC stablecoins. Taurus already collaborates with major banks including Deutsche Bank and State Street for regulated digital asset settlement.
• FinsetaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 December 2025ClearBank partnered with Finseta to offer international payments services for UK customers using ClearBank's virtual IBAN technology and real-time payment infrastructure. The collaboration supports high-value international transactions and expansion into Europe via SEPA payment rails.
• PlaidcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 December 2025ClearBank partnered with Plaid to enhance real-time open banking payments in the UK, leveraging ClearBank's virtual accounts and Faster Payments Service. The collaboration aims to deliver faster, more secure, and reliable Pay by Bank experiences for businesses and consumers, improving payment reconciliation and transaction security.
• LemFicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 November 2025LemFi, a financial platform for immigrants, launched its Instant Access Savings Account in the UK powered by ClearBank, offering competitive interest rates and FSCS protection. Over 7,000 customers used the product since beta release.
• AutoRekcoreTechnology or Integration · 5 November 2025ClearBank selected AutoRek, a financial control platform, to enhance its reconciliation capabilities amid 55% growth in transactions in 2024. AutoRek's no-code reconciliation platform enables real-time, scalable reconciliation across multiple payment schemes, improving operational efficiency and compliance.
• CoinbaseflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025ClearBank partnered with Coinbase to launch savings accounts in the UK — the first such arrangement for a digital asset exchange in the country. The new savings accounts offer customers high interest rates and FSCS protection, supporting closer integration between traditional finance and digital assets. The partnership was deepened to include savings accounts covered by FSCS.
• CircleflagshipTechnology or Integration · 27 October 2025ClearBank partnered with Circle to integrate its cloud-based banking system with Circle's MiCA-compliant USDC and EURC tokens via the Circle Payments Network and Circle Mint. This enables ClearBank's institutional clients to access regulated stablecoins for cross-border payments, treasury, and liquidity solutions. The partnership positions ClearBank as one of the first European banks in Circle's network.
• TazapayminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 October 2025Singapore-based Tazapay signed as ClearBank's first client in Singapore, providing access to UK and European payment rails for cross-border B2B transactions. The partnership enables real-time settlement and compliant fiat interoperability through ClearBank's API-based infrastructure, replacing traditional correspondent banking networks.
• PayCaptaincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2025PayCaptain partnered with ClearBank to enable real-time payroll payments and embedded savings accounts for over 300 UK corporate clients. Employees can automatically transfer a portion of their salary into FSCS-protected savings accounts with competitive interest rates. This was ClearBank's first corporate embedded banking client, marking entry into higher-value B2B segments.
• PingPongcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 August 2025PingPong selected ClearBank to enable its clients access to UK payment schemes including Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS. The partnership enhances PingPong's global payment capabilities by providing real-time access to UK payment rails through ClearBank's API infrastructure.
• ZBDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2025ZBD secured an EU EMI licence and announced a partnership with ClearBank to merge digital assets with traditional finance, integrating ClearBank's banking infrastructure with ZBD's digital payment capabilities.
• Tribe PaymentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 April 2025Tribe Payments partnered with ClearBank to provide banking access for fintechs, combining Tribe Payments' payment processing capabilities with ClearBank's clearing and banking infrastructure.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Solaris SE: German-headquartered Banking-as-a-Service platform with its own EU banking licence, offering API-based accounts, payments, lending, and digital-asset services to fintechs and corporates. Directly comparable to ClearBank's model of licensed, API-first banking infrastructure for embedded use cases.
• Modulr: UK-based payments and BaaS provider offering FCA-authorised e-money accounts and access to Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS via API. Competes head-to-head with ClearBank in serving fintechs and corporates needing UK payment-scheme access and embedded accounts.
• Treezor: French EMI licensed by the ACPR (backed by Société Générale) offering API-based banking-as-a-service and SEPA scheme access across the EU. Closest French/EU analogue to ClearBank Europe's regulated embedded-banking proposition.
• Thought Machine: UK cloud-native core banking software vendor whose Vault platform powers challenger and incumbent banks. Competes with ClearBank in the cloud-first core/ledger space, though delivered as software rather than a regulated utility.

Emerging players

• Unit: US-based Banking-as-a-Service platform offering embedded accounts, cards, and payments APIs to fintechs and tech companies. Comparable business model to ClearBank's embedded banking offering, though focused on the US market via partner banks.
• Synctera: US-based BaaS platform partnering with sponsor banks to deliver embedded banking and payments APIs. Same end-customer segments (fintechs, digital asset platforms) as ClearBank but operating primarily in the US via partner banks rather than its own licences.
• Banked: UK payments-as-a-service provider offering account-to-account pay-by-bank solutions and Open Banking connectivity. Smaller scale than ClearBank but competes for the same fintech and corporate demand for real-time A2A payments.

Broad incumbents

• Starling Bank: UK challenger bank with a full banking licence that also offers Banking-as-a-Service ('Starling Engine') to other fintechs. Broader retail bank than ClearBank, but overlapping on embedded banking infrastructure for UK financial institutions.
• Currencycloud (Visa): UK cross-border payments infrastructure provider (now part of Visa) offering multi-currency accounts and FX APIs. Comparable in cross-border/multi-currency and API-first positioning, but specialised in FX rather than full clearing/embedded banking.

Others

• Plaid: Open-banking connectivity and payments-initiation network that ClearBank explicitly partners with for Pay by Bank. Adjacent enabling technology rather than a direct competitor; however, both compete to be default infrastructure for fintech payment experiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clear_bank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clear.bank

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ClearBank