Griffin
London, United Kingdom
What it is
Griffin provides banking-as-a-service infrastructure for companies embedding bank accounts, payments, and financial products through APIs. It operates its own core banking platform and banking licence. Business accounts target fintechs and venture-backed startups, with online and API management. Embedded savings and bank accounts include options for customer funds and client money. Payment capabilities include Faster Payments, instant transfers between Griffin accounts, payment webhooks, and Confirmation of Payee. Verify automates KYC and KYB checks and provides onboarding workflows for Griffin products. Its REST API uses JSON and includes a free sandbox without fees or an NDA. Griffin also works with tell.money on open-banking integrations. Griffin Bank is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. Security information describes encryption at rest and in transit and least-privilege access. Eligibility generally requires a UK limited company by shares with an active Companies House status and director. Business accounts cost £100 per month; platform packages start at £10,000 monthly, with onboarding from £15,000 one-off.
For and against
For
- Own core banking platform and banking licence
- Free API sandbox with JSON REST interface
- Automated KYC and KYB onboarding workflows
- Faster Payments and payment webhooks
- Encryption and least-privilege access controls
Against
- Business accounts require eligibility criteria
- API limit is 50 concurrent requests
- Platform onboarding starts at £15,000 one-off
- No card issuing listed
The verdict
Griffin combines regulated banking infrastructure, embedded accounts, payments, and compliance workflows in an API-focused service. Its plans and eligibility requirements make it more suited to established businesses than casual developers.
Who it suits
Griffin suits fintech, proptech, wealthtech, lending, payroll, insurance, and SaaS companies that are UK-based or entering the UK. It is aimed at businesses needing banking products through APIs.
Plans and prices
Business bank accounts
Business banking; eligibility criteria apply
Read 7 Oct 2026 · griffin.com
Platform banking monthly package
Transaction spend is drawn down from the package
Read 7 Oct 2026 · griffin.com
Platform banking onboarding
Complete onboarding support; stated go-live time is 6–8 weeks
Read 7 Oct 2026 · griffin.com
Platform banking Enterprise
Custom monthly package; contact Griffin
Read 7 Oct 2026 · griffin.com
On the record
- API limits
- Each organization may make up to 50 concurrent in-flight API requests; exceeding that limit returns HTTP 429.docs.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Business accounts
- Business bank accounts are aimed at fintechs and venture-backed startups and can be managed online or via API.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Core banking
- The company says it operates its own core banking platform and banking license.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Customer focus
- Griffin identifies fintech, proptech, wealthtech, lending, payroll, insurance, and SaaS companies as target sectors, with a focus on UK-based or UK-entering businesses.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Eligibility
- The eligibility page says applicants generally must be UK-based limited companies by shares with active Companies House status and an active director.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Embedded accounts
- Griffin offers embedded savings and bank accounts, including accounts intended for customer funds and client money.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The Griffin API is REST-based, uses JSON, and has a free sandbox for testing without fees or an NDA.docs.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Onboarding
- Verify automates KYC and KYB checks and provides onboarding workflows designed to work with Griffin banking products.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Payments
- Payment features include Faster Payments, instant book transfers between Griffin accounts, payment webhooks, and Confirmation of Payee.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Regulation
- Griffin Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and PRA.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Security
- Griffin’s security standards page states that data is encrypted at rest and in transit and that system access is monitored and restricted by least privilege.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Griffin lists [email protected] and a developer Slack community as support and community channels.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Third-party integration
- Griffin partners with tell.money to provide APIs for open banking integrations with regulated third-party providers.docs.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Griffin provides banking-as-a-service infrastructure that companies can use to embed bank accounts, payments, and other financial products through APIs.griffin.com · read 7 Oct 2026
