Banca Sella

What Banca Sella does

Banca Sella S.p.A. is an Italian private bank headquartered in Biella and operating as a subsidiary of Banca Sella Holding within Gruppo Sella. Founded in 1886, the bank serves approximately 3.1 million retail, business, and corporate clients across Italy with a full-service product suite: current accounts (starting at €2/month for retail, €10/month for business), debit/credit cards, personal loans and mortgages (including green variants), investment products, insurance, and wealth advisory. The bank also operates specialized trading platforms (App Sella Trader, Sella XTrading, Sella Extreme, Sella Trading Bridge API) targeting semi-professional and professional traders, plus a Wealth & Business Advisory unit for HNW and entrepreneur clients.

The bank operates a platform-plus-modules architecture combining core banking with innovation layers. These include (1) an Open Banking API platform with 150+ endpoints delivered via strategic partnership with Fabrick, enabling Banking-as-a-Service distribution to fintechs and enterprises; (2) MiCA-regulated digital asset custody, transfer, and receipt services — Banca Sella is the first Italian bank authorized under EU MiCA following Bank of Italy notification in May 2026, built on Fireblocks infrastructure piloted since July 2025; (3) the Hype digital banking app, fully acquired in November 2025 for €85 million, serving 1.9 million mobile-first customers with payments, crypto, savings, credit, and insurance; (4) Sella Investment Banking offering M&A advisory, leveraged finance, and private debt; (5) the Qivalis euro stablecoin consortium with 12+ European banks targeting H2 2026 launch. Underlying assets include approximately €34 billion in assets under custody and €50 billion in AUM.

Banca Sella generates revenue across six streams: traditional net interest income (lending, mortgages, green loans); subscription/recurring fees (account fees, cards); transaction-based trading commissions; digital asset custody service fees under MiCA; BaaS/API revenue from enterprise and fintech clients; and professional services fees from Sella Investment Banking (M&A advisory, leveraged finance, private debt, corporate venture capital via Sella.ventures). Distribution combines physical Italian branches, digital channels (App Sella, web banking), enterprise B2B relationships, and API-based embedded finance partnerships.

Name

Banca Sella

Legal name

Banca Sella S.p.A.

Website

https://sella.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Banca Sella is an Italian private bank serving 3.1 million retail, business, and corporate clients with traditional banking, trading platforms, Open Banking APIs, and MiCA-regulated digital asset custody services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail and Commercial Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022), Finance Services (6199), Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement (FSAGALAA), Tokenized Bank Deposit & Commercial Bank Money Issuers (FSADADAB), Risk, Compliance & Controls for Embedded Finance (KYB/KYC/AML, Fraud, Disputes) (FSAGALAK)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Corporate banking solutions
• Online trading platforms
• Open banking APIs
• Wealth management advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Biella

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Traditional banking interest income from lending products including personal loans, mortgages, green loans, and business financing.
2. Account and Card Fees: Monthly account fees starting at €2/month for retail (Conto Start), €10/month for business accounts, with debit/credit card issuance and maintenance fees.
3. Trading Commissions: Commission-based trading with discounted rates for high-volume traders, free account with 5 operations/month for trader accounts.
4. Digital Asset Custody Services: Fees for digital asset custody, transfer, and receipt services under MiCA license, targeting corporate and institutional clients.
5. Open Banking API Services: Banking as a Service revenue from API access, payment orchestration, and white-label banking infrastructure for enterprise clients.
6. Investment Banking Services: M&A advisory, leveraged finance, private debt, and corporate venture capital through Sella Investment Banking.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Banca Sella is an Italian private bank providing retail, business, and corporate banking services including current accounts (€2/month for retail, €10/month for business), payment cards, personal loans and mortgages, trading platforms, investment and wealth advisory, insurance brokerage, and investment banking services (M&A, leveraged finance, private debt). The bank also operates Open Banking APIs (150+ through Fabrick partnership), Banking-as-a-Service infrastructure, and MiCA-regulated digital asset custody services as the first Italian bank authorized under EU crypto regulations.

Product overview

Banca Sella operates as a multi-channel Italian bank offering a comprehensive suite of financial products across retail, business, and institutional segments. The bank utilizes a platform-plus-modules architecture, combining core banking services (current accounts, cards, loans, mortgages) with specialized platforms: (1) Trading platforms (App Sella Trader, Sella XTrading, Sella Extreme, Sella Trading Bridge API) for professional traders; (2) Open Finance/Banking as a Service for enterprise clients via over 150 Fabrick-powered APIs; (3) Wealth & Business Advisory for high-net-worth clients; (4) Digital Asset Custody Services under MiCA regulation. Recent strategic initiatives include the Hype acquisition (€85M, 1.9M customers) and Qivalis euro stablecoin consortium participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sella Personal Credit: Personal credit services
• Sella Leasing
• Sella Investment Banking
• Sella Broker
• Sella SGR
• Sellalab
• Fabrick
• Nephis

Products and services

• Conto Corrente (Current Accounts) Digital current accounts offered to retail customers starting at €2/month (Conto Start), business accounts starting at €10/month (Azienda Be Light/Plus/Full), and trader accounts with free monthly operations. Includes debit card issuance and maintenance.
• App Sella Mobile banking application for iOS and Android enabling account management, payments, transactions, and digital banking access for Banca Sella retail and business customers.
• App Sella Trader Mobile trading platform for professional and semi-professional traders with real-time market access, order placement, and portfolio management on the go.
• Sella XTrading Advanced desktop trading platform for active traders offering extended features, charting tools, and access to equity, derivative, and bond markets.
• Sella Extreme Professional-grade trading platform with advanced tools, direct market access, short selling, leverage, and conditional order strategies for professional traders.
• Sella Trading Bridge API API and plugin solution enabling algorithmic and automated trading connectivity for traders who require programmatic market access and integration with third-party trading tools.
• Conto Consulenza Indipendente (Independent Financial Advisory) Web platform and dedicated current account enabling independent financial advisory relationships, with access to over 25,000 tradable financial instruments. Facilitates investment execution and communication between financial advisors, banks, and clients.
• Wealth & Business Advisory Comprehensive advisory service for high-net-worth families and entrepreneurs covering personal wealth management, investment services, and business strategy consulting.
• Open Banking API Platform Open Banking API platform providing 150+ APIs for enterprise clients through the Fabrick partnership, covering current account management, credit/debit/prepaid card management, payment processing, POS solutions, equity crowdfunding, and independent financial advisory. API documentation available at docs.fabrick.com.
• Banking as a Service (BaaS) Open Finance/Banking-as-a-Service offering providing Banca Sella's banking licenses, processes, competencies, and infrastructure to enable third-party fintechs and enterprises to offer financial services to their own customers.
• Digital Asset Custody Services MiCA-regulated digital asset custody, transfer, and receipt services. First Italian bank authorized under EU crypto regulations, initially targeting corporate and institutional clients with a custody-and-transfer model (not spot trading, brokerage, or lending). Launched 2026 following Bank of Italy MiCA notification completion on May 27, 2026.
• Prestito Sella Smart (Personal Loans) Personal loan product (Prestito Sella Smart) with promotional TAN 6.90% rate, including specialized variants for green loans, home renovation, honor loans, and TFS advances. Also includes mortgage products (Mutuo, Mutuo Green, Mutuo under 36) and salary/pension fifth-secession (Cessione del quinto) lending.
• Payment Cards (Credit, Debit, Prepaid) Payment card portfolio including Carta di debito Mastercard, Carta di credito Visa Classic, Carta Mastercard Platinum, Carta prepagata Mastercard, and Carta di credito Visa Signature, with annual fees varying by card tier and balance or installment repayment options.
• Hype Mobile Banking Mobile banking app offering payments, cryptocurrency, savings, credit, and insurance services to 1.9 million customers. Originally founded under Banca Sella in 2015; full ownership regained by Banca Sella in November 2025 through €85 million acquisition of Illimity's 50% stake.
• Sella Investment Banking Investment banking services for corporates and PE firms including M&A advisory, leveraged and acquisition finance, private debt, and corporate venture capital. Operates as a dedicated division within Gruppo Sella.
• Open Payments Traditional payment services for businesses including wire transfers, F24 tax payments, e-commerce collections, POS management, and credit card issuance for merchants and businesses.
• Insurance Products (Sella Broker) Insurance brokerage products distributed through Sella Broker subsidiary, covering auto/motor, home and family, natural catastrophes, mortgage fire, health and prevention, personal, and life insurance protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Italian bank authorized under MiCA for crypto services
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Qivalis Consortium (European Banking Stablecoin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2025Banca Sella is a founding member of Qivalis, a Netherlands-based consortium of 12+ European banks developing a euro-pegged stablecoin. The consortium includes ING, UniCredit, CaixaBank, Danske Bank, KBC, Raiffeisen Bank International, SEB, DekaBank, BNP Paribas, and BBVA. Target launch H2 2026 under MiCAR regulation with Dutch Central Bank supervision.
• Hype (Digital Banking Fintech)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2025Banca Sella acquiring Illimity's 50% stake in Hype for €85 million, gaining full control of the fintech company it originally founded in 2015. Hype serves 1.9 million customers with payments, crypto, savings, credit, and insurance via mobile app.
• FabrickcoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic Open Banking partnership where Fabrick provides API banking infrastructure. Banca Sella was the first Italian bank to launch an API banking platform. Partnership enables 150+ APIs for account management, payments, cards, and financial services through Fabrick platform.
• Doorway (Venture Investing Platform)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for venture investing platform enabling campaigns for startups and innovative SMEs.
• BBVA (Open Finance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Open Finance partnership between Sella and BBVA for financial services innovation.
• Fireblocks (Crypto Custody Infrastructure)coreTechnology or IntegrationFireblocks infrastructure used for Banca Sella's internal crypto custody pilot in July 2025 as preparation for MiCA-compliant services.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• FinecoBank: Italian online bank with strong trading platform and multi-asset brokerage, serving retail investors, traders, and affluent clients. Directly comparable to Banca Sella given its digital-first retail model, advanced trading platforms, and Italian market focus.
• Banca Mediolanum: Italian private bank with hybrid digital/advisory model serving retail and affluent customers with banking, trading, and wealth management. Comparable to Banca Sella in its multi-channel GTM and focus on independent financial advisory in the Italian market.
• Illimity Bank: Italian digital-native challenger bank focused on SME lending, distressed credit, and digital banking. Comparable as an Italian innovative private bank with technology-led positioning; notably the counterparty from which Banca Sella acquired Hype.
• Banca Generali: Italian private bank specializing in wealth management, financial advisory, and asset gathering through financial advisor networks. Comparable to Banca Sella's wealth management and independent advisory offerings in the Italian HNW segment.

Broad incumbents

• UniCredit: Italy's largest commercial bank offering retail, corporate, investment banking, and wealth management across Europe. Comparable as a major Italian banking incumbent; also a Qivalis consortium partner with overlapping strategic interests in digital assets and stablecoin infrastructure.
• Intesa Sanpaolo: Italy's largest retail and corporate bank with full-service banking including wealth management and investment banking. Comparable as the dominant Italian banking incumbent competing with Banca Sella across retail, SME, and HNW segments.
• ING Group: Dutch bank with leading European Open Banking strategy, API platforms, and embedded finance capabilities. Comparable as a fellow Qivalis consortium member and European bank with advanced digital banking and Open Finance positioning.
• BBVA: Spanish global bank with strong Open Banking and digital asset initiatives. Comparable as a fellow Qivalis consortium member and European bank investing in API banking, embedded finance, and crypto infrastructure alongside Banca Sella.
• CaixaBank: Spanish retail and commercial bank with significant digital banking and Open Finance initiatives. Comparable as a fellow Qivalis consortium member and European bank competing in digital transformation and embedded finance.

Regional players

• KBC Group: Belgian bank with strong digital banking, Open Banking APIs, and embedded finance offerings primarily serving Belgium and Central Europe. Comparable as a fellow Qivalis consortium member and European bank with digital-first retail strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bancasella
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/banca-sella
• Instagraminstagram.com/banca_sella/?hl=it
• Xx.com/bancasella

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments13 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Banca Sella