For EMIs, onboarding with a banking partner can significantly affect time-to-market. Lengthy application processes, unclear approval timelines, and manual integration steps can delay product launches by months. At the same time, customer expectations are increasing, with faster payments and real-time updates now seen as the default standard. 

This is where API-first banking providers can help. Through the bank’s APIs, they can open accounts programmatically, connect to payment schemes, receive real-time transaction data, and automate end-to-end workflows. 

For EMIs looking to move faster, common banking providers offering API-driven onboarding and infrastructure include ClearBank, Griffin, and Solaris.

ClearBank is a clearing bank that provides a fully regulated banking infrastructure designed specifically for EMIs and other regulated financial institutions in the UK and Europe. Its API enables direct integration into your platform, allowing you to onboard faster and automate key banking processes.

ClearBank’s API-first architecture is built to replace manual processes with automated workflows. Instead of relying on portals or file uploads, you can: 

• Open and manage accounts programmatically 
• Initiate and track payments in real time 
• Receive instant updates via webhooks 
• Access reconciliation and reporting data directly through your systems 

This reduces engineering overhead and shortens the time between integration and go-live.

Account creation is a core part of onboarding, and ClearBank enables this through flexible account structures that can be created in real time via API. 

These include: 

• Operating accounts for your own funds 
• Customer segregated accounts to support safeguarding requirements 
• Client money accounts for holding funds on behalf of customers 
• Multi-currency accounts for managing international balances 

ClearBank also supports both real accounts and virtual account structures (vIBANs). Virtual accounts can be generated instantly and linked to a real account, enabling you to assign unique account details to each end-customer from your own sort code. 

This allows you to: 

• Create thousands of accounts in seconds 
• Attribute payments directly to individual customers 
• Reduce reliance on pooled accounts and reference-based reconciliation 

As your volumes grow, this simplifies operations and improves visibility across transactions. 

ClearBank connects EMIs to UK and European payment schemes via its direct scheme participation and APIs: 

• Faster Payments for 24/7 GBP transactions 
• Bacs for Direct Debit and Direct Credit 
• CHAPS for same-day high-value payments 
• SEPA Instant and SEPA Credit Transfer for euro payments 

By integrating once, you can access multiple payment rails and offer near real-time payment experiences to your customers. This reduces delays and gives you greater control over how payments are executed. 

Traditional onboarding often involves repeated back-and-forth, manual checks, and unclear timelines. ClearBank’s approach is designed to reduce this friction. 

Key factors that support faster onboarding include: 

• API-first integration that aligns with modern fintech platforms 
• Pre-built connections to payment schemes 
• Support for EMI safeguarding and compliance structures 
• Dedicated onboarding and relationship teams familiar with EMI models 

Because the infrastructure is designed specifically for EMIs, this shortens onboarding cycles and helps you move from integration to launch more quickly.

ClearBank is fully regulated in the UK and Europe, with funds held at the Bank of England and De Nederlandsche Bank (DnB) and European Central Bank. This supports EMI safeguarding requirements while allowing you to focus on product development rather than regulatory infrastructure. 

Through its API, you can: 

• Scale into new products and markets without replatforming 
• Manage safeguarding structures in line with regulations 
• Offer interest-bearing, FSCS-protected accounts via ClearBank’s embedded banking proposition 

Griffin is a UK-based bank offering a full-stack Banking-as-a-Service platform. Its API-first approach helps companies embed financial services directly into their products. However, it is not currently a direct member of the UK payment schemes. 

Through Griffin’s APIs, EMIs can: 

• Open safeguarding and operational accounts 
• Integrate payments, including Faster Payments and CHAPS 
• Automate onboarding processes with built-in KYC and compliance tools 
• Receive real-time payment updates via webhooks 

Griffin emphasises developer experience, with clear documentation and a sandbox environment that allows teams to test integrations before going live. This supports faster onboarding and reduces the risk of delays during implementation. 

Safeguarding is a central part of its offering, with both dedicated and pooled account structures available. These can be integrated via API, enabling automated reconciliation and reporting. 

Griffin also provides embedded savings accounts and operational banking features, allowing EMIs to expand their product offering over time without switching providers.

Solaris is a German-licenced bank offering embedded finance infrastructure across Europe. Its API platform enables businesses to launch compliant banking products and scale across multiple markets. 

Using Solaris APIs, EMIs can: 

• Create and manage accounts (including virtual and local IBANs) 
• Onboard customers through digital KYC and KYB processes 
• Enable SEPA, SEPA Instant, and cross-border payments 
• Access real-time transaction data and event-driven notifications 

Solaris supports multiple account types, including checking accounts, wallets, and sub-accounts, which can be embedded into your product under your own brand. 

A key advantage is its European coverage. With passporting and local IBAN support, EMIs can expand into multiple countries without needing separate banking partners in each market. 

Its cloud-based infrastructure and RESTful APIs are designed for scalability and supporting high-volume payment flows as your business grows.

Not all API-driven providers deliver the same level of flexibility or performance. When evaluating options, common pitfalls include: 

• Limited API coverage: Some providers offer payment APIs but not account creation or reconciliation APIs. 
• Reliance on intermediaries: Indirect access to payment schemes can introduce delays and reduce control. 
• Scalability constraints: Infrastructure designed for low volume may struggle as transaction volume increases. 
• Inflexible account structures: Lack of virtual accounts or limited safeguarding options can create operational overhead. 
• Slow onboarding despite APIs: API access alone does not guarantee faster onboarding if internal processes remain manual. 

For EMIs, faster onboarding is closely tied to the extent to which a banking provider integrates with your platform. API-first providers remove many of the traditional barriers by enabling automated account creation and seamless data flows. 

ClearBank, Griffin, and Solaris each offer API-driven banking infrastructure, each with its own strengths. When choosing an EMI bank account provider, prioritising API-first infrastructure, scalable account models, and the right access to payment schemes can significantly reduce onboarding time and support long-term growth.

Sources: 

https://griffin.com/  

https://griffin.com/about  

https://griffin.com/solutions/e-money-and-payments  

https://griffin.com/products/payments  

https://griffin.com/products/safeguarding 

https://griffin.com/products/business-bank-accounts 

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/  

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/about/  

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/why-solaris/  

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/services/accept-payments/ 

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/services/send-payments/ 

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/services/accounts/  

https://www.solarisgroup.com/en/services/digital-banking/  

*Disclaimer: All information relating to third-party products and companies featured in this article has been sourced solely from their respective public websites and official publications at the time of writing. ClearBank makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of this information. Product features, positioning, and company details may have changed since publication. Readers should refer to each provider's official website for the most up-to-date information before making any purchasing decisions.