FAQ

• Do I get a German IBAN?

  Yes, you do! All Finom accounts in Germany receive a German IBAN, both through our own license and our partnership with Solaris SE.

• How safe is my money with Finom?

  Your money is in safe hands because we strive to provide a high level of security to protect it: - With cutting-edge measures such as Passkeys and the added shield of 3D Secure, confidence accompanies every transaction. - Your account is exclusively linked to your smartphone, providing an additional layer of protection, while real-time push notifications keep you informed of all account activity. - Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning, our platform is fortified to safeguard your account against financial crime and card fraud. - The app allows you to customize security to your preferences: you can instantly block or freeze your cards, modify your PIN, and set up spending limits and access controls. For accounts operating under Finom’s own licence, there are also legal regulatory measures of the institution providing your business account in addition to the security measures on the Finom platform and applications provided by PNL Fintech B.V., i.e. Safeguarding your account via Finom Payments B.V.: - When you add money to your Finom account or receive payments, we ensure that the equivalent value of electronic money is placed in your account. - It’s important to note that your Finom payment account isn’t a deposit account, which means we can’t pay you interest due to legal restrictions. But rest assured, we keep your money safe and never lend it to anyone else. - We’ve established a separate Safeguarding Foundation, supervised by the DNB, to manage your money as safeguarded customer funds. - We’ve partnered with reliable European banks like BNP Paribas to hold your funds. BNP Paribas is one of the largest banking groups in Europe, minimizing any risk. - Even in unlikely scenarios, such as Finom or BNP Paribas facing bankruptcy, your safeguarded customer funds remain protected. They are not accessible to Finom’s creditors and would be returned to you under the supervision of the DNB. For more information, please refer to the Terms of Finom Payments. For accounts operating under Solaris licence, there are also legal regulatory measures of the institution providing your business account in addition to the security measures on the Finom platform and applications, i.e. German Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), where your money may be protected for up to €100,000 via Solaris SE and not PNL Fintech B.V. For more information, please refer to the Terms of Solaris SE.

• Is my data safe with Finom?

  Finom protects your data and guarantees the highest level of security: Finom has no access to your online banking credentials, and they are double-encrypted (for additional protection) using passkeys or a one-time password that must be entered each time you try to log in). All data transfers are transmitted over TLS-encrypted channels and are thereby protected via end-to-end encryption. We do not store your personal data against your will or without your explicit consent, Finom is GDPR (DSGVO for Germany and RGPD for France) compliant, which means that you can revoke your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time. Finom Privacy Policy regulates the processing of your personal data.

• Under which license does Finom operate?

  PNL Fintech B.V. (Finom) is a cooperating partner of a tech company with a full German banking license Solaris SE (Germany), and an agent of licensed electronic money institutions Treezor SAS (France) and Finom Payments B.V. (the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy and other EEA countries). Finom Payments BV (Finom) is a licensed electronic money institution authorized by the Dutch Central Bank, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), to operate in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).

• Who are Finom’s investors?

  Finom has earned the trust and attracted the interest of global investors such as Target Global (investing in companies like Omio and TravelPerk), General Catalyst (a venture fund from Silicon Valley that has supported Airbnb and Kayak), and FJ Labs (a stage-agnostic consumer-facing fund founded by Fabrice Grinda and headquartered in New York, the number one angel investor in the world according to Forbes).

• Can entrepreneurs from any country open an account?

  Currently, we open business accounts for companies based in and operating from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain. Our invoicing plan is available in Poland, while freelancer and customized corporate tariffs can be picked by any of the EEA countries’ entrepreneurs. The legal representative (the sole individual authorized to open a business account on behalf of a company) and the beneficial owners must possess a valid residence permit in one of the mentioned countries, irrespective of the country where their passport/ID card is issued. Additionally, we welcome applications from US residents and citizens establishing businesses in the EU.

• As a US citizen, can I open an account for my business operating in the EU, and is FATCA compliance required?

  Yes, US citizens are eligible to open a Finom business account for their enterprises established in the EU. Unlike traditional banks, Finom, as a licensed electronic money institution authorized to operate in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), doesn’t require FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) compliance for opening accounts. We strive to provide financial services to all individuals legally running their businesses in the EU, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations governing our operations. Therefore, US citizens can confidently engage with our platform without needing FATCA documentation.

• How can I withdraw funds from my account or make deposits into it?

  A Finom Business Account has all the main services of a traditional bank, such as making withdrawals from the account and depositing funds into it. You can use a SEPA transfer from your other bank account to deposit into an account. To withdraw, you can use your physical Finom card at any European ATM, free amount to withdraw per month depends on your chosen plan.

• Which legal forms does Finom support in Germany?

  Currently, we accept German companies with the following legal forms:

  • Freiberufler
  • Nicht eingetragenes Einzelunternehmen
  • Selbständige
  • Gesamthandsgemeinschaft
  • LV (Landschaftsverband)
  • SoGem (Sonstige Gemeinschaft ohne eigene Rechtspersönlichkeit)
  • e.V. (eingetragener Verein)
  • V (Verein)
  • WEG (Wohnungseigentümergemeinschaft)
  • EWIV (Europäische Wirtschaftliche Interessenvereinigung)
  • SCE (Europäische Genossenschaft)
  • BRG (Bergrechtliche Gewerkschaft)
  • eG (eingetragene Genossenschaft)
  • Re (Reederei)
  • JPpR (Juristische Person des privaten Rechts)
  • NaV (Nachlassverwalter)
  • RAR (Rechtsform ausländischen Rechts)
  • KöR (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts)
  • EGB (Eigenbetrieb)
  • St (Stiftung)
  • StbR (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts)
  • St+Co OHG (Stiftung & Co. OHG)
  • oHG (offene Handelsgesellschaft)
  • GbR (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts)
  • GmbH+Co OHG (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung & Co. Offene Handelsgesellschaft)
  • AG+Co OHG (Aktiengesellschaft & Co. OHG)
  • eGbR (eingetragene Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts)
  • PartG (Partnerschaftsgesellschaft)
  • gGmbH (Gemeinnützige GmbH)
  • GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung)
  • GmbH i.G. (GmbH in Gründung)
  • KG (Kommanditgesellschaft)
  • St+Co KG (Stiftung & Co. KG)
  • GmbH & Co. KGaA (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
  • AG+Co KG (Aktiengesellschaft & Co. KG)
  • UG+Co KG (Unternehmergesellschaft & Co. KG)
  • GmbH & Co KG (GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft)
  • SRG (Seerechtliche Gesellschaft)
  • UG (Unternehmergesellschaft)
  • UG i.G. (UG in Gründung)
  • AG (Aktiengesellschaft)
  • SE (Europäische Gesellschaft)
  • AG iG (Aktiengesellschaft in Gründung)
  • KGaA (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien)
  • Ki (Kirchengemeinde)
  • KiSt (Kirchliche Stiftung)
  • eK (eingetragener Kaufmann)
  • Gew (Gewerkschaft)

• What documents do I need to open an account?

  Whether you are a freelancer or own a company, opening your Finom business account only takes a few minutes. You will only need three things for it: - The email address and password you used for the pre-registration (if you forgot them, click 'forgot password'); - Your ID or passport ready to verify your identity; - All the information about your business.

• Who is the legal representative?

  To open your Finom business account, you must be your company’s legal representative. A legal representative is a natural person who is authorized to act on behalf of the company and is empowered to perform all actions related to the general administration of the company under the company's purpose, such as a CEO.

• Can I make SEPA and international transfers with Finom (like SWIFT)

  Yes, Finom allows you to send payments within the SEPA zone, as well as international payments worldwide if the account was opened under Finom’s own license. Accounts opened under a Solaris SE license do not currently support international transfers.