Whether you're a UK SME tired of branch queues or an international company that traditional banks keep rejecting — see how ARIDANG compares on every dimension that matters.
For EU companies, non-resident directors, and businesses that need to move money across borders.
| Traditional High Street Bank |
Standard Online Account |
ARIDANG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-resident directors accepted | ✗ Rarely | ~ Varies | ✓ Yes — always |
| Foreign-registered company accepted | ✗ Usually rejected | ~ Limited countries | ✓ EU, EEA & beyond |
| Account opening time | 4–12 weeks | 3–7 days | Under 24 hours |
| Branch visit required | ✗ Often yes | ✓ No | ✓ No — 100% online |
| UK IBAN provided | ✓ Yes (GB) | ~ Sometimes | ✓ Yes — instant IBAN |
| Multi-currency in one account | ✗ Limited | ~ 5–10 currencies | ✓ 16 currencies |
| SEPA payments | ✗ Post-Brexit: no | ~ Some providers | ✓ SEPA + Instant SEPA |
| SWIFT international transfers | ✓ Yes (high fees) | ~ Via partner banks | ✓ Direct, transparent fees |
| Faster Payments (FPS) | ✓ Yes | ~ Most | ✓ Yes |
| FX markup on conversions | 2–4% hidden spread | 0.5–2% | From 0.3% — transparent |
| Monthly account fee | £10–£25/mo | £5–£15/mo | From £0/mo |
| API / automation access | ✗ Rarely | ~ Some tiers | ✓ Yes |
| FCA regulated | ✓ Full banking licence | ~ Varies | ✓ FCA-regulated EMI |
| Dedicated account manager | ~ Premium tiers only | ✗ Chat support only | ✓ From day one |
The most common barriers — and why ARIDANG was built to remove them.
Built from the ground up for cross-border business — not adapted from a domestic banking template.
Traditional banks were built before the internet. Our onboarding is fully digital — most accounts go live within a business day, not a business month.
Access SEPA, SWIFT, Faster Payments, BACS, and CHAPS from a single UK account with a real GB IBAN. No patched-together partner networks.
No hidden FX spreads, no mystery fees. Our pricing page lists every charge. Standard online accounts often bury costs in exchange rate markups.
ARIDANG operates as an FCA-regulated Electronic Money Institution. Your funds are safeguarded in line with UK EMI regulations — the same legal framework that governs the largest UK fintechs.
Every account comes with a dedicated manager — not a chatbot queue. When you have a compliance question or need a payment escalated, you call a person.
After Brexit, many EU companies lost SEPA access from their UK banks. ARIDANG maintains SEPA connectivity for EU-registered companies operating via a UK account.
You don't need to close your existing accounts. Add ARIDANG as your UK banking layer in four steps.
Complete our digital KYB form. Upload your company registration documents and director ID — no notarisation required for most EU jurisdictions.
Once approved, your account details and GB IBAN are issued immediately. Share them with clients and suppliers right away.
Set up SEPA, SWIFT, or Faster Payments instructions. Enable multi-currency wallets for the currencies you transact in most.
As your transaction volumes grow, your account scales with you — no branch approval needed to increase payment limits.
International businesses that moved from traditional banking to ARIDANG.
"Our previous bank rejected us three times — we'd been waiting four months. ARIDANG approved us in 18 hours. The difference is night and day."
"We were paying a 2.8% FX spread every time we converted EUR to GBP. Switching to ARIDANG cut that cost by more than half — it adds up fast at our volumes."
"The SEPA access was the deciding factor. After Brexit our UK bank dropped SEPA entirely. ARIDANG kept it — and added Instant SEPA on top."
About switching and choosing the right UK business account.
Join international businesses that chose ARIDANG over traditional banking. Apply online — no branch, no waiting, no surprises.
Open Your Account15-minute application · Decision within 24 hours · Payment services by Gemba Finance Ltd (FCA FRN 804853)