Nickel
Opened accounts through 6,500 tobacco shops — banking where French banks refused to go.
Open an account at the tabac; 4M+ across FR/ES/BE/PT/DE.
- Who holds it
- A sponsor bank behind the brand — not the app you signed up with — Payment institution (Financière des Paiements Électroniques, ACPR no. 16598); BNP Paribas subsidiary.
- The ledger
- Split between a program manager and the sponsor bank — the modular setup that broke in Synapse.
- If it fails
- Any claim runs through the sponsor bank, and only works if the two ledgers reconcile.
Derived from Nickel’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional · underbanked |
| HQ | Paris, FR |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Partner-bank model |
| License detail | Payment institution (Financière des Paiements Électroniques, ACPR no. 16598); BNP Paribas subsidiary |
| Card | MC · Debit |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Europe |
| Countries | France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Germany |
| Founders | Hugues Le Bret, Ryad Boulanouar |
| Funding | Acquired by BNP Paribas (2017) |
Verified links: official site ↗ · @nickel ↗
Common questions about Nickel
What is Nickel?
Nickel is a fiat neobank built for underbanked, headquartered in Paris, FR and founded in 2014. Your money is held custodially, so Nickel or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It operates on a partner-bank model (Payment institution (Financière des Paiements Électroniques, ACPR no. 16598); BNP Paribas subsidiary).
Does Nickel have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard debit card. It is available in 5 countries, across Europe.
Does Nickel require KYC?
Yes. Nickel requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a partner-bank model.
Head-to-head
Nickel vs Pockit · Nickel vs Suits Me
Peers
Monzo · Wise · Starling Bank · Atom Bank · Zopa Bank · Chase UK
Nickel appears in
Neobanks running on someone else’s banking license (81) · Neobanks available in Europe (144) · Neobanks built for the underbanked (23) · Neobanks that issue a Mastercard (150) · Neobanks in France (11)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.