Tide
1M+ SME members (UK + India).
- Who holds it
- An e-money institution holds your balance in a safeguarding account — E-money; deposits via ClearBank.
- The ledger
- The e-money institution’s own ledger.
- If it fails
- Safeguarded funds are returned in administration — ring-fenced, but access can be frozen and slow.
Derived from Tide’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 · SMB & startups |
| HQ | London, UK |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | E-money institution |
| License detail | E-money; deposits via ClearBank |
| Card | MC · Business debit |
| Cashback | Cashback (plan) |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | Europe |
| Countries | United Kingdom, India, Germany |
| Founders | George Bevis |
| Funding | ~$300M raised |
| FX markup | Free plan 2.75% FX on non-GBP card txns; Smart/Pro/Max 0% (UK business) (2026-07) · source ↗ |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · privacy ↗ · @TideBusiness ↗
Common questions about Tide
What is Tide?
Tide is a fiat neobank built for SMB & startups, headquartered in London, UK and founded in 2015. Your money is held custodially, so Tide or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as an e-money institution (E-money; deposits via ClearBank).
Does Tide have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Mastercard business debit card. It is available in 3 countries, across Europe.
Does Tide require KYC?
Yes. Tide requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a e-money institution.
What does Tide cost?
From the verified fields: FX abroad — Free plan 2.75% FX on non-GBP card txns; Smart/Pro/Max 0% (UK business) (as of 2026-07); cashback Cashback (plan). Cashback and yield are "up to" figures that change constantly and often depend on a paid plan — confirm current terms with Tide before relying on them.
Early investors
Head-to-head
Tide vs ANNA Money · Tide vs Monzo · Tide vs Qonto · Tide vs OakNorth · Tide vs Allica Bank
Peers
Monzo · Wise · Starling Bank · Atom Bank · Zopa Bank · Chase UK
Tide appears in
Neobanks authorised as e-money institutions (48) · Neobanks available in Europe (144) · Neobanks for small businesses and startups (33) · Neobanks that issue a Mastercard (150) · Neobanks in United Kingdom (29)
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.