Choosing a provider for multi-currency corporate accounts goes beyond fees and features. For European businesses with complex requirements, what matters most is regulatory framework, account structure and access to personal support. Tantum is an electronic money institution supervised by the FMA Liechtenstein with EEA passporting rights and assigns each customer a dedicated account manager. Airwallex offers a global payments platform with broad geographic reach and a self-service model for scalable payment operations.
This comparison shows the differences in licensing, account naming, support model and target audience profile – and helps you decide which solution fits your corporate structure and operational priorities.
What matters in an EEA corporate account
When selecting a corporate account for cross-border payments and multi-currency operations, you should examine three core factors: regulatory foundation, account structure and support model.
The regulatory foundation determines how customer funds are protected, what complaint channels exist and under which legal framework the provider operates. An electronic money institution licensed by an EEA supervisory authority with passporting rights is subject to uniform European standards for anti-money laundering, safeguarding requirements and consumer protection. For businesses that prioritise legal certainty in Europe, supervisory jurisdiction is a decisive criterion.
Account structure – specifically whether you receive IBANs in your company's name – influences how your business partners perceive you and the acceptance of payments. Accounts with local IBAN formats in multiple European jurisdictions and a Swiss franc IBAN signal to your customers and suppliers that payments go to a regulated company, not to a third-party pooled account.
The support model varies greatly between providers. Some platforms rely on self-service dashboards and ticketing systems; others assign a dedicated account manager who knows your business, coordinates onboarding and assists directly with compliance questions, payment issues or account configuration. If you manage multi-currency payroll runs, implement API integrations in treasury workflows or operate in regulated industries, direct access to a named contact can resolve issues faster and facilitate strategic planning.
What Tantum offers: FMA licence and personal service
Tantum is an electronic money institution licensed by FMA Liechtenstein with passporting rights throughout the European Economic Area. This structure means customer funds are safeguarded to EEA standards and the company operates within a clear European regulatory framework.
Dedicated account manager for every customer. Each business receives a personal account manager who understands your operations, compliance requirements and growth plans. Whether you're coordinating a multi-currency payroll run, onboarding a new subsidiary or clarifying documentation for a regulated activity – you have direct access to someone who can answer questions, escalate issues and tailor solutions. This personal support is particularly valuable for businesses with complex requirements or those operating in sectors that require careful compliance handling.
Multi-currency accounts with API and bulk payout tools. Tantum supports EUR, USD, GBP and CHF as standard, with additional currencies available on request. You receive dedicated IBANs in your company's legal name – including local euro IBAN formats in multiple European jurisdictions and a Swiss franc IBAN from Liechtenstein. Your customers and partners see your company name on payment instructions, which strengthens trust and simplifies reconciliation for your finance team.
You can execute bulk payouts via CSV upload or API, monitor transactions via a real-time dashboard and integrate account data into your ERP or treasury system. The API-first architecture enables your developers to automate currency conversions, payment approvals and reconciliation workflows.
Built for businesses with complex requirements. Tantum serves traditional businesses and companies with more complex business models, including those in sectors that require careful compliance handling. If your business has been declined by traditional commercial banks or you need an account provider that takes time to understand your structure, Tantum's approach is designed for partnership rather than automated onboarding. Learn more on the Tantum Corporate Accounts product page.
Airwallex overview: Global platform with self-service approach
Airwallex is a global payments platform offering multi-currency corporate accounts, foreign exchange, corporate cards, expense management and a range of billing and payment acceptance tools. The platform targets businesses operating in many jurisdictions that want to accept payments, issue cards and manage expenses in a single interface.
Airwallex emphasises self-service onboarding, interbank FX rates and programmatic account creation for platforms and marketplaces. The service is designed for businesses that value platform breadth, automation and the ability to scale payment operations without dedicated relationship support.
The offering includes checkout forms, payment acceptance plugins, point-of-sale integration, corporate cards with expense management and extensive APIs for platform users. The regulatory structure consists of multiple licences in various jurisdictions worldwide, reflecting the platform's international reach rather than a single EEA-based licence.
Airwallex suits high-growth e-commerce businesses, SaaS platforms, marketplaces and fintechs that prioritise global reach, integrated payment acceptance and a complete financial operating system – over personalised account management and EEA-specific regulatory foundations. The platform is oriented towards speed, digital onboarding and self-configuration, ideal for businesses that need to scale quickly and set up payment, card and billing functions independently.
Where Tantum and Airwallex differ
1. Account management and support model. Tantum assigns each customer a dedicated account manager who gets to know your business, coordinates onboarding and provides direct support with compliance questions, payment issues and account configuration. You have a named contact for escalations and strategic planning. Airwallex operates a self-service model with online dashboards, help documentation and ticketing support. The platform is built for businesses that want to configure accounts, troubleshoot issues independently and scale operations without relationship-based support.
2. Regulatory foundation and licensing. Tantum AG is licensed by FMA Liechtenstein as an electronic money institution with passporting rights throughout the European Economic Area. Customer funds are safeguarded to EEA standards, and the company operates within a clear European regulatory framework. Airwallex holds licences in multiple jurisdictions worldwide to support its international presence. The regulatory structure varies by region and product, reflecting the platform's broad geographic reach rather than a single EEA-based licence.
3. IBAN issuance and account naming. Tantum issues dedicated IBANs in your company's legal name, including local euro IBAN formats in multiple European jurisdictions and a Swiss franc IBAN in Liechtenstein. Your customers and partners see your company name on payment instructions, which strengthens trust and simplifies reconciliation. Airwallex offers multi-currency account details for receiving funds. The structure and naming conventions depend on currency and jurisdiction, reflecting the platform's global account infrastructure.
4. Target customer profile and onboarding approach. Tantum is designed for businesses with complex requirements as well as traditional companies that need a reliable account. The onboarding process includes detailed KYC, document review and a conversation with your account manager to tailor the service to your operations – including support for higher-risk sectors where appropriate. Airwallex targets high-growth businesses that need to move quickly, with streamlined digital onboarding for e-commerce, SaaS, marketplaces and platforms. The focus is on speed, automation and the ability to configure payment, card and billing functions yourself.
Direct comparison of key features
The following table compares the key features of Tantum and Airwallex directly:
| Feature | Tantum | Airwallex |
|---|---|---|
| EEA regulatory licence | FMA Liechtenstein EMI with EEA passporting | Multiple licences worldwide by region |
| Dedicated account manager | Yes, assigned to each customer | Self-service support model |
| IBAN in company name | Yes, local EUR IBANs + CHF IBAN (Liechtenstein) | Multi-currency account details vary by region |
| Standard currencies | EUR, USD, GBP, CHF (others on request) | Multiple currencies worldwide |
| Bulk payouts | CSV upload and API | API and platform tools |
| Corporate cards | Not offered | Multi-currency cards and expense management |
| Payment acceptance / checkout | Not offered | Checkout, plugins, POS, billing tools |
| Onboarding model | Relationship-based with document review | Digital self-service onboarding |
| Customer profile | Complex and traditional businesses in EEA | Global e-commerce, SaaS, marketplaces, platforms |
| API access | Yes, API-first architecture | Yes, extensive APIs for platform users |
Note: Details about Airwallex are from their public website and are correct as of the publication date. Please verify current terms directly with Airwallex before making a decision.
Tantum focuses on corporate operating accounts – multi-currency IBANs, bulk payouts, FX and API infrastructure for treasury and reconciliation. We do not offer payment acceptance tools, checkout forms, corporate card issuance or expense management platforms. Airwallex offers a complete financial operating system including these features. If you need a reliable EEA account with dedicated support rather than a payments platform, Tantum is the right choice.
If your business values EEA regulatory clarity, dedicated IBANs in your company name and a personal account manager who understands your operations, Tantum offers the partnership and infrastructure you need. Contact us to discuss your requirements and receive indicative pricing.
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