We’ve spoken a time or two about Sweden-based Safello, the self-proclaimed “safe and simple” bitcoin exchange for customers in Europe.
They’re back on the headlines, this time because they’re taking Europe by storm by adding direct payments from 86 banks in over ten countries, along with support for GBP purchases.
It’s happening with the assistance of a SOFORT integration that will allow a customer to buy bitcoins via a direct transfer (assuming the bank is supported – full list below). Think of it as similar to Coinbase, but for Europe.
“In 2013 we quickly became the market leader in Sweden and saw some European interest. We did a pilot in the Netherlands that taught us a lot about how to enter a local market,” said company CEO Frank Schuil.
“We took those lessons to heart and with this release we want to make a proactive effort to tailor to those customers who have fewer options to choose from in their home market. It is the first step in our plan to grow into a global company.”
It will be interesting to see how this company grows moving forward. And just having raised $600,000 a number of weeks ago, they’ve got the capital to keep up the pace.
Banks supported (partial):
Belgium
Argenta, Axa, bpost bank, Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, ING België KBC Bank.
Poland
Wybierz Twój bank, Alior Bank, Bank BGŻ, Bank BPH, Bank Pocztowy, Bank Polskiej Spółdzielczości (BPS25), Bank Zachodni WBK, BNP Paribas / Fortis Bank, Citibank Handlowy, Credit Agricole (d. Lukas Bank), Deutsche Bank, Eurobank, Getin Bank, ING Bank Śląski, PLUS Bank (d. INVEST-BANK), Kredyt Bank, mBank, mBank (d. MultiBank), Millennium Bank, Nordea, Pekao (UniCredit), PKO BP (iPKO), PKO BP (Inteligo), Polbank EFG, Raiffeisen Polbank (SYSTEM POLBANK), Volkswagen Bank
Spain
Banco de Valencia, Banco Mare Nostrum (BMN), Banco Pastor, Banco Popular, Banco Sabadell, bancopopular-e.com, Banesto, BANIF, Bankia / BankiaLink, Bankinter, BBK, BBVA, Caixa Penedès, Caja Cantabria, Caja Duero, Caja España, Caja Extremadura, Caja Granada (BMN), Caja Murcia (BMN), Cajamar Caja Rural, Cajastur, Cajasur, Catalunya Caixa, EVO Banco, Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar, Ibercaja, ING DIRECT, Kutxa / Kutxabank, la Caixa, Novagalicia Banco, Sa Nostra (BMN), Santander / iSantander, Targobank, Unicaja, Vital
Hungary
OTP Bank, ERSTE Bank, K&H Bank, MKB Bank, CIB Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, UniCredit Bank, BUDAPEST Bank, Sberbank, Citibank
The Netherlands
ABN Amro Bank N.V., Fortis Bank (Nederland) N.V., ING Bank N.V., SNS Bank N.V., RegioBank
Sweden
Handelsbanken
Italy
List of banks unavailable
Switzerland
List of banks unavailable
Germany
List of banks unavailable
France
List of banks unavailable
Austria
List of banks unavailable
[source: ArcticStartup]