What Akcenta does

Akcenta (legal entity AKCENTA CZ a.s.) is a Czech-licensed payment institution founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hradec Králové with a registered office in Prague. The company provides three core financial services: foreign exchange trading, international payments, and FX risk hedging via derivative instruments (standard forwards, par forwards, window forwards, amortizing forwards, currency options, and swaps). These services are delivered through a proprietary web-based Online Broker (OLB) platform accessible 24/7, a mobile authentication app (Akcenta Key), and a multi-currency Internal Payment Account system supporting up to 17 currencies. Akcenta holds Payment Institution and Securities Trading licenses from the Czech National Bank, plus OCP licenses in Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, and serves over 58,000 clients across six Central and Western European markets (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Germany, with Austria and France as additional operating geographies).

The company operates a sales-led go-to-market model, employing 130+ staff including 100+ dedicated sales representatives providing phone-based trading in seven languages. Akcenta monetizes through foreign exchange bid-ask spreads on individually negotiated rates, transaction fees on cross-border payments (with SEPA and select CZK/EUR/PLN incoming payments free), derivative bid-ask spreads on hedging instruments, and ancillary fees such as the Avizo accelerated settlement service. Client pricing is fully individualized based on trade volume, relationship, and market conditions, with the company claiming savings of up to 8,380 CZK per 10,000 EUR versus major Czech banks and an average client savings of 108,000 CZK per year. D+0 settlement is available to Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. The company also distributes through a Partner Program (currently being modernized) and a network of regional trading partners and country managers.

Since 2021, Akcenta has been a majority-owned subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (70% stake) with Raiffeisenbank a.s. holding the remaining 30%. The company positions itself as the largest payment institution in Central Europe and processes over CZK 50 billion in annual transaction volume. Customer segments are horizontal — importers, exporters, and companies/entrepreneurs engaged in international trade — with no disclosed concentration in any single enterprise vertical. Recent strategic priorities under new CEO Jacek Jurczynski (appointed February 2024) include geographic expansion into Austria and France, product innovation (DigiSign electronic signature, Akcenta Key biometric authentication, PSD2 Open Banking API), and continued scaling of the sales and partner distribution footprint.

Name

Akcenta

Legal name

AKCENTA CZ a.s.

Website

https://akcenta.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Akcenta is a Czech-licensed payment institution providing foreign exchange trading, international payments, and FX hedging services to 58,000+ companies and entrepreneurs across Central and Western Europe, operating as a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG since 2021.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foreign Exchange and Payment Institution Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade & Invoice Payments (Cross-Border B2B) (FSAMAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cross-Border & FX Payments Platforms (BPAMAFAK), Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG), A2A Payment Initiation Service Providers (PISPs) (FSAMAFAB)

Keywords

• Foreign exchange services
• International payment services
• FX risk hedging
• Currency exchange trading
• Cross-border payments

Headquarters

HQ city

Hradec Kralove

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foreign Exchange Spread: Revenue generated from the spread between buy and sell exchange rates offered to clients. Individual exchange rates compiled for each client at moment of trade negotiation. No fees charged for currency exchange transactions.
2. Payment Services Fees: Fees for incoming and outgoing international payments. Free incoming payments in CZK, EUR within partner banks; SEPA payments free. Outgoing payments have varying fees (SHA outgoing in USD for CZK 40, urgent payments CZK 250, other foreign payments CZK 400).
3. Derivative/Hedging Products: Forward contracts, swap trades, and currency options for hedging exchange rate risk. Standard forwards up to 2 years, with no fees for completing forward contracts. Revenue from bid-ask spreads on derivative instruments.
4. Avizo Limit Service: Fee for using Avizo limit product that speeds up settlement by not waiting for actual credit of funds. Penalty interest of 0.07% daily for failure to credit amount within 5 business days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Akcenta provides foreign currency exchange trading, international payment services in up to 17 currencies, and FX risk hedging through derivative instruments (forwards, options, swaps) for companies and entrepreneurs engaged in cross-border trade. Services are delivered via a proprietary Online Broker (OLB) web platform, a mobile authentication app, multi-currency Internal Payment Accounts, and a sales force of 100+ representatives across six Central European markets.

Product overview

Akcenta is a FOREX trading specialist and the largest payment institution in Central Europe, offering a unified platform for currency exchange, international payments, and FX risk hedging. The core product portfolio consists of Foreign Exchange Trades (instant currency exchange with individual rates), Foreign Payments (international transfers in 17 currencies), and Forward Transactions (derivative hedging instruments including Standard Forwards, Par Forwards, Window Forwards, Amortizing Forwards, Currency Options, and Swaps). These core services are supported by the Online Broker (OLB) web platform for real-time trading, Akcenta Key mobile app for secure authentication, Internal Payment Accounts (IPA) for multi-currency management, the Savings Calculator for rate comparisons, Avizo for accelerated settlement, and DigiSign for electronic document signing. The company serves over 54,000 clients across 6 markets (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Germany) with services certified by the Czech National Bank.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foreign Exchange Trades (Forex) Currency exchange services offering individualized exchange rates compiled for each client at the moment of trade. Supports 16 standard currencies (CZK, EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, PLN, CAD, DKK, NOK, SEK, AUD, JPY, HUF, RON, CNY, TRY) with immediate execution and no fees. Targeted at companies and entrepreneurs engaged in international trade.
• Foreign Payments Domestic and international payment services enabling efficient, fast, and reliable fund transfers in 17 currencies as an alternative to traditional bank payments. Free incoming payments in CZK, EUR (within partner banks), and PLN; SEPA payments in EUR free within EEA. D+0 settlement available to Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania.
• Forward Transactions (FX Risk Hedging) Derivative transaction products that hedge against adverse exchange rate movements for up to 2 years. Includes Standard Forward (fixed future settlement), Par Forward (series of forwards with regular maturities), Window Forward Contracts (3-week settlement window), Amortizing Forward (ongoing settlements), Currency Options (right to buy/sell at pre-agreed rate), and Swap Trades (adjusting forward settlement dates). Hedging available from EUR 10,000 with no fees on forward contract completion.
• Online Broker (OLB) Proprietary web-based trading platform providing real-time exchange rates, payment order entry, complete 24/7 transaction history, automatic trades at predefined exchange rates, and reduced fees. Available on desktop, tablet, and mobile, with trading hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm.
• Akcenta Key Mobile App Mobile authentication app for Android and iOS providing secure two-factor authentication for payments and transactions in Akcenta online banking using biometrics, replacing legacy SMS-based authentication.
• Internal Payment Accounts (IPA) Multi-currency payment accounts allowing clients to hold up to 17 different currencies, enabling efficient outgoing and incoming international payments and currency conversions without maintaining multiple bank accounts. Opening and administration free; electronic monthly statements free.
• Avizo Credit Limit Service Credit limit service enabling faster trade settlement by providing funds before actual credit reaches Akcenta account, reducing settlement time by one business day for both clients and their foreign business partners.
• DigiSign Electronic Signature Electronic signature tool enabling faster and more convenient document signing for clients, simplifying processes and enhancing satisfaction for both clients and employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Savings of up to 8,380 CZK per 10,000 EUR compared to Czech bank rates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Czech National Bank (ČNB)coreOthersRegulatory body that certifies and licenses Akcenta as a payment institution and securities trader. Conducted inspections for license issuance.
• Partner Banks NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationBanking relationships across 6 countries: Czech Republic (Česká spořitelna, FIO Banka, Komerční banka, MONETA Money Bank, Raiffeisenbank), Slovakia (Tatra banka), Poland (Alior Bank, PEKAO, PKO BP, Santander, Millennium, BNP Paribas, mBank), Hungary (OTP, CIB, MKB, Raiffeisen), Romania (BCR, BRD, Raiffeisen). Used for free internal transfers and payment settlement.
• Czech Chamber of CommerceminorOthersIndustry association partnership.
• CzechFintech AssociationminorOthersMember of CzechFintech Association for industry collaboration and standards.
• German-Czech Chamber of Commerce (AHK)minorOthersChamber of commerce partnership for German-Czech business relations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kantox: Kantox is a London-based fintech providing FX hedging solutions (dynamic hedging, forward contracts) and currency management tools to mid-market companies. Highly comparable to Akcenta's derivatives-heavy offering and B2B focus on international trade.
• Currencycloud: Currencycloud (now part of Visa) is a B2B cross-border payments platform offering multi-currency wallets, FX, and payment infrastructure via API. Highly comparable to Akcenta's PSD2-enabled B2B cross-border payment positioning and platform approach.
• Moneycorp: Moneycorp is a UK-based payments and FX specialist serving SMBs and corporates with international payments, currency exchange, and FX hedging products. Similar product portfolio and customer profile to Akcenta, with overlapping European presence.
• OFX: OFX (formerly OzForex) is an Australia-headquartered global payments specialist offering international money transfers, FX risk management products (forwards, options, spot), and multi-currency accounts to businesses and individuals. Direct overlap with Akcenta's core FX and payments offerings.
• Ebury: Ebury is a UK-headquartered fintech specializing in cross-border payments, FX hedging (forwards/options), and multi-currency accounts for SMBs across Europe. Acquired by Santander in 2019, it is one of the most direct comparables to Akcenta in target customer, product suite, and sales-led GTM.
• Wise (TransferWise): Wise is a global cross-border payments specialist serving both consumers and businesses with mid-market FX rates and multi-currency accounts. A larger, more diversified competitor to Akcenta in the European SMB cross-border payments market.
• Revolut Business: Revolut Business offers multi-currency accounts, international payments, and FX services to SMBs across Europe at near-mid-market rates. Competes with Akcenta for the same European SMB client base with a digitally-led, lower-cost GTM model.
• Conotoxia (Cinkciarz.pl): Conotoxia is a Polish online FX and remittance provider operating in Central Europe with currency exchange, international payments, and multi-currency accounts. Direct competitor in overlapping CEE markets (Poland) with similar product mix.

Others

• Raiffeisen Bank International: Raiffeisen Bank International is Akcenta's 70% parent company and one of the leading banking groups in CEE. Relevant as parent/strategic owner and as a broad incumbent in CE/EE corporate banking and FX services that could compete with or distribute Akcenta's products.

Broad incumbents

• Western Union Business Solutions: Western Union Business Solutions is the B2B arm of Western Union, providing international payments, FX, and hedging to corporates and SMBs globally. Broader incumbent with overlapping FX and cross-border payment products for European businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/jsme.akcenta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akcenta-cz

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Akcenta