Shine
Freelancer banking (Société Générale).
- Who holds it
- A licensed payment institution holds your balance in a safeguarding account — Payment institution (ACPR n°71758, France); funds safeguarded at Société Générale.
- The ledger
- The payment institution’s own ledger.
- If it fails
- Safeguarded funds are returned in administration — ring-fenced, but access can be frozen and slow.
Derived from Shine’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 · freelancers & creators |
| HQ | Paris, FR |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Payment institution |
| License detail | Payment institution (ACPR n°71758, France); funds safeguarded at Société Générale |
| Card | MC · Business debit |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Europe |
| Founders | Nicolas Reboud, Raphaël Simon |
| Funding | Acquired by SocGen (2020), later Ageras |
Verified links: official site ↗
Common questions about Shine
What is Shine?
Shine is a fiat neobank built for freelancers & creators, headquartered in Paris, FR and founded in 2017. Your money is held custodially, so Shine or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a payment institution (Payment institution (ACPR n°71758, France); funds safeguarded at Société Générale).
Does Shine have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard business debit card. It is available in Europe.
Does Shine require KYC?
Yes. Shine requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a payment institution.
Head-to-head
Shine vs Qonto · Shine vs Finom · Shine vs Indy
Peers
Monzo · Wise · Starling Bank · Atom Bank · Zopa Bank · Chase UK
Shine appears in
Neobanks authorised as payment institutions (13) · Neobanks available in Europe (144) · Neobanks for freelancers and creators (15) · 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.