Bankera

Bankera is a digital banking platform, not a traditional bank, operated by Pervesk UAB, an Electronic Money Institution licensed and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania. The business was built from the ground up as an online alternative to brick-and-mortar banking, targeting entrepreneurs, digital businesses, and companies that want to manage their finances entirely on a mobile device or computer. While branded as a bank (hence the name), Bankera is technically an EMI, which means client deposits are safeguarded in segregated accounts held at partner banks but are not covered by deposit insurance in the same way bank deposits would be.

The primary product is a business account with a dedicated Euro IBAN. This is the account number that appears on your invoices and in your business records. When a customer pays you in Europe, they send the money to your IBAN, and it lands in your Bankera account. SEPA payments (transfers within the EU and EEA) settle reliably and quickly, typically within a business day, and at rates lower than traditional banks charge. Bankera also provides SWIFT access for international wires, making it viable for businesses that receive payments from outside Europe or need to send money globally.

Bankera operates in the majority of countries worldwide, though some geographic restrictions apply. The platform explicitly serves non-resident founders and business owners. You do not need to be a citizen of Lithuania, you do not need to live in Lithuania, and you do not need a Lithuanian company. Bankera can open accounts for EU and EEA registered companies regardless of owner residency, and in some cases can serve companies incorporated outside the EU. The typical customer is a digital business, a consultant or freelancer operating internationally, an e-commerce seller, a SaaS company, or a content creator in need of a proper business account. Bankera also serves high-risk or regulated industries, including cryptocurrency and blockchain businesses, though additional verification is required.

The account opening flow is digital from start to finish. You download the Bankera app or log in on the web, provide your company registration details, upload identification, and answer questions about the business model. Bankera then reviews your application, which typically takes a few business days. Approval hinges on the legitimacy of your company, your personal identity verification, the countries you operate in, and the nature of the business. High-risk industries receive additional scrutiny and may require supporting documentation (such as proof of licensing, regulatory approval, or insurance). Once approved, you get your IBAN and can start receiving and sending payments.

Bankera offers multiple account tiers to accommodate different business sizes and volumes. The basic tier is designed for startups, solopreneurs, and businesses with lower transaction volumes; it includes the IBAN, SEPA payments, and a virtual card for expenses. Higher tiers add benefits such as increased transaction limits, priority customer support, team member access, API connectivity, and multiple IBANs if you need to separate business segments or currencies. Each tier has a monthly subscription fee, with the cost scaling to the services included. For high-volume businesses, Bankera also negotiates custom pricing. This tiered model means you are not overpaying if you are small, but you are also not outgrowing the product as you scale.

Corporate cards are available through Bankera. Unlike personal debit cards, corporate cards allow you to assign spending controls and create separate card profiles for different team members or business purposes. Cards can be physical or virtual, and virtual cards can be generated instantly for online payments, subscriptions, and integrations. This feature appeals to businesses managing multiple suppliers, running ad campaigns, or distributing spending authority across a team.

The payment processing capability distinguishes Bankera from a plain IBAN provider. If you operate an online store, Bankera can process card payments and route the funds directly to your business account rather than requiring you to use a third-party payment processor. This integration cuts out a middleman, reduces fees, and gives you more direct control over customer payment data. For content creators on platforms like YouTube or Twitch, or for any business accepting payments via card online, this can mean faster settlement and lower costs than using Stripe, PayPal, or similar payment processors.

Bankera's approach to customer support is largely self-service through an app and a knowledge base. You can chat with the support team via the app if you run into issues, but there are no phone representatives to call or physical branches to visit. This works well for founders who are comfortable with digital tools and do not need hand-holding; it may be a drawback if you prefer talking to a human or need help in person.

The regulatory distinction between an EMI and a bank is material when comparing options. Bankera's license as an EMI means it can offer most banking services (accounts, payments, cards) without the capital requirements and regulatory overhead of a full banking license. This allows Bankera to move faster, innovate more quickly, and price more competitively than traditional banks. The trade-off is that your funds, while segregated and protected in practice, are not covered by a statutory deposit guarantee scheme in the way a bank's deposits are. For ongoing business operating funds, this is generally a low concern; the risk is primarily realized if Bankera itself fails, which would require both Bankera and its banking partners to become insolvent. Bankera's track record, backing, and regulatory oversight by the Bank of Lithuania suggest this is a low-probability scenario.

Comparing Bankera to Vialet, both are Lithuanian EMIs offering dedicated IBANs to non-residents. Vialet's positioning is explicitly toward high-volume, complex, and regulated businesses that need card acquiring and are willing to pay for premium support and custom pricing. Bankera's positioning is broader: it targets solopreneurs and growing digital businesses of all sizes, with a self-service model and tiered subscription pricing. If you are a small-to-medium digital business needing a business account and occasional card payments, Bankera is often cheaper and faster to set up. If you are processing millions in volume, operate in a niche or regulated industry, or need advanced integrations, Vialet's infrastructure and industry expertise are built for you.

Bankera stands out for its mobile-first design and genuinely modern user experience. If you have never worked with a traditional bank and want a business account you can manage entirely from your phone, Bankera delivers that experience. The app is intuitive, notifications are timely, and onboarding is faster than other options in this category. For a non-resident founder who wants to open a business account in Europe without any paperwork or in-person visits, Bankera is one of the fastest and least painful options available.