SurePay is the go-to for IBAN verification in the Netherlands and UK. But it’s not your only option.

Whether you need better global coverage, company verification, or a different pricing model, there are solid alternatives worth considering. This guide breaks down five of them: MonitorPay.ai, ClearBank, Banfico, iPiD, and Tink.

What is SurePay?

SurePay started in 2016 as a Rabobank spinoff. The company built the IBAN-Name Check—a simple idea that caught on fast. Before you send money, it checks if the name you entered actually matches the bank account.

Today, SurePay works with 250+ European banks and handles over 200 million verification checks every month. In the Netherlands, they cover 99.5% of all bank accounts. In the UK, around 90%.

The company claims their service has cut Dutch payment fraud by 81%. That’s significant.

What SurePay offers:

• IBAN-Name Check API (real-time name matching)
• Verification of Payee for EU compliance
• Confirmation of Payee for UK compliance
• Fraud Risk Indicator (flags suspicious accounts)
• Account Age Check (spots newly opened accounts)
• Switch Check (detects when someone changes banks)

Where SurePay works well:

• Netherlands and UK coverage is excellent
• Fast response times (under 100ms)
• Proven at scale with major banks
• Handles name typos and variations intelligently

Where it falls short:

• Limited coverage outside EU/UK
• No company verification (just bank account matching)
• Pricing isn’t public—you’ll need to request a quote
• Depends on banks sharing their customer data

SurePay FAQs

1. What is SurePay used for?
   SurePay verifies that a bank account belongs to the person or company you think it does. Before you send a payment, it checks if the name you entered matches the name registered to that IBAN. Banks use it to prevent fraud and misdirected payments.
2. How much does SurePay cost?
   SurePay doesn’t publish pricing. You’ll get a custom quote based on volume. The model typically includes a one-off connection fee plus per-API-call charges. They offer a free portal with 100 checks for testing.
3. Does SurePay work outside the Netherlands?
   Yes, but coverage varies. UK coverage is strong (90%). Other EU countries are expanding through their VoP network. For non-European IBANs, they rely on a Swift partnership, but results can be limited.
4. Is SurePay the same as Confirmation of Payee?
   No. Confirmation of Payee (CoP) is a UK regulation. SurePay is a company that provides CoP-compliant services. They also offer Verification of Payee (VoP) for EU compliance and IBAN-Name Check in the Netherlands.
5. How long does SurePay integration take?
   SurePay says most banks complete integration in about 4 weeks. They provide API documentation and a sandbox for testing. Corporate integrations may take longer depending on your systems.

1. MonitorPay.ai

Good for: Companies that need to verify the business, not just the bank account

SurePay tells you if a name matches an IBAN. MonitorPay.ai goes further—it also checks if the company is real, active, and properly registered.

The difference matters. A fraudster can open a bank account under a legitimate-sounding business name. SurePay would show a “match.” MonitorPay.ai would flag that the company doesn’t exist in official registries.

What MonitorPay.ai offers:

• IBAN verification API
• Company registry data from 200+ government sources
• Beneficial ownership (UBO) information
• Real-time monitoring for company changes
• Coverage across 195 countries

How it compares to SurePay:

	SurePay	MonitorPay.ai
IBAN verification	Yes	Yes
Company registry data	No	Yes (200+ sources)
UBO data	No	Yes
Global coverage	EU/UK focused	195 countries
Best for	Payment verification	KYB + payment verification

Why you’d pick MonitorPay.ai:

You’re onboarding suppliers or vendors and need more than just bank account verification. You want to confirm the company is legitimate, see who owns it, and get alerts if anything changes.

Why you’d stick with SurePay:

You only need basic IBAN-name matching for EU/UK payments and don’t care about company verification.

MonitorPay.ai FAQs

1. What is the difference between MonitorPay.ai and SurePay?
   SurePay only verifies that a name matches a bank account. MonitorPay.ai does that plus verifies the company itself—checking official government registries for company status, directors, and beneficial owners. It’s IBAN verification plus KYB in one.
2. Does MonitorPay.ai support EU VoP compliance?
   Yes. MonitorPay.ai offers IBAN verification that supports VoP workflows. Contact them for specific compliance documentation and certifications.
3. What countries does MonitorPay.ai cover?
   MonitorPay.ai covers 195 countries through direct connections to 200+ government registries. This makes it stronger than SurePay for international supplier verification outside EU/UK.
4. Can MonitorPay.ai verify beneficial ownership?
   Yes. MonitorPay.ai provides UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) data from official sources. SurePay doesn’t offer this. If you need to know who actually owns a company, MonitorPay.ai is your option.
5. Is MonitorPay.ai good for supplier onboarding?
   Yes. It’s designed for exactly that. You can verify the supplier’s bank account AND confirm their company is legitimate, active, and properly registered—all in one API call.

2. ClearBank

Good for: Fintechs that need UK banking infrastructure, not just verification

ClearBank isn’t really a SurePay competitor—it’s a different animal. ClearBank is a licensed UK clearing bank. Confirmation of Payee comes bundled with access to Faster Payments, CHAPS, and Bacs.

If you just need verification, ClearBank is overkill. If you’re building a fintech product and need the full UK payment stack, it makes sense.

What ClearBank offers:

• Confirmation of Payee (native, not via third party)
• Direct access to UK payment rails
• Banking-as-a-Service platform
• Agency banking capabilities

How it compares to SurePay:

	SurePay	ClearBank
Standalone verification API	Yes	No (bundled)
UK CoP	Yes	Yes (native)
EU VoP	Yes	No
Banking license	No	Yes
Faster Payments access	No	Yes
Best for	Verification only	Full UK banking

Why you’d pick ClearBank:

You’re building a fintech product and need banking infrastructure. CoP is just one piece of a bigger puzzle.

Why you’d stick with SurePay:

You only need verification and don’t want to commit to a full banking relationship.

ClearBank FAQs

1. Is ClearBank just for Confirmation of Payee?
   No. ClearBank is a full UK clearing bank. CoP is one feature bundled with access to Faster Payments, CHAPS, Bacs, and Banking-as-a-Service. If you only need verification, SurePay or other standalone APIs are simpler.
2. Does ClearBank work for EU payments?
   No. ClearBank focuses on UK payment infrastructure. They don’t offer EU Verification of Payee. You’d need SurePay, Banfico, or another provider for EU coverage.
3. Who uses ClearBank?
   Fintechs building payment products, neobanks, and companies that need embedded banking. Clients include Tide and Chip. It’s not for companies that just want an IBAN verification API.
4. How long does ClearBank integration take?
   Months, not weeks. ClearBank requires a commercial agreement, technical integration, and regulatory onboarding. It’s a banking relationship, not a quick API plug-in.
5. Can I use ClearBank just for CoP without other services?
   Typically no. ClearBank’s CoP comes as part of their broader banking infrastructure. For standalone CoP, SurePay is a better fit.

3. Banfico

Good for: Banks focused on EU VoP compliance

Banfico is a specialist. While SurePay has broader reach, Banfico focuses specifically on helping European banks meet VoP requirements.

There’s less public information available about Banfico compared to bigger players. But if you’re a bank looking at EU compliance and want to talk to a specialist rather than a generalist, they’re worth a conversation.

What Banfico offers:

• Verification of Payee gateway
• EPC rulebook compliance
• Pan-European coverage
• SEPA Instant Credit Transfer support

How it compares to SurePay:

	SurePay	Banfico
EU VoP	Yes	Yes
UK CoP	Yes	No
Market presence	250+ banks	Smaller, growing
Track record	8 years	Newer
Best for	EU + UK	EU-only compliance

Why you’d pick Banfico:

You’re an EU bank that doesn’t need UK coverage and wants a focused VoP specialist.

Why you’d stick with SurePay:

You need UK coverage or prefer a provider with a longer track record.

Banfico FAQs

1. What is Banfico?
   Banfico is a European fintech that specializes in Verification of Payee for EU banks. They help banks comply with the EPC rulebook and SEPA instant payment regulations.
2. Does Banfico support UK Confirmation of Payee?
   No. Banfico focuses on EU VoP only. If you need UK coverage, you’ll need SurePay, ClearBank, or another provider alongside Banfico.
3. How does Banfico compare to SurePay?
   SurePay has a larger network (250+ banks) and covers both EU and UK. Banfico is smaller but focused purely on EU VoP. If you only operate in the EU, Banfico may offer more specialized support.
4. Is Banfico compliant with the October 2025 VoP mandate?
   Banfico’s solution is designed for VoP compliance. Contact them directly to verify specific certifications and compliance documentation.
5. What’s Banfico’s coverage across Europe?
   Banfico operates across SEPA markets. Specific country coverage varies. Contact them for details on the markets you need.

4. iPiD

Good for: Cross-border payments outside EU/UK

SurePay owns EU/UK. But what if you’re sending money to India, UAE, or Brazil?

That’s where iPiD comes in. They’ve built a global verification network covering 25+ countries and 2.7 billion accounts. Their focus is cross-border corridors where domestic schemes like CoP and VoP don’t apply.

iPiD also partnered with Microsoft to build AI-powered name matching. Useful when you’re dealing with names in different languages and scripts.

What iPiD offers:

• iPiD Validate (global payee verification)
• iPiD Node (VoP/CoP compliance for banks)
• AI name matching (handles non-Western names better)
• Coverage in Asia, Middle East, Americas

How it compares to SurePay:

	SurePay	iPiD
EU/UK coverage	Strong	Yes
Global coverage	Via Swift	Native (25+ countries)
Cross-border focus	Secondary	Primary
AI name matching	Basic fuzzy	Microsoft OpenAI
Enterprise clients	ING, ABN AMRO	Citi, Emirates NBD
Best for	Domestic EU/UK	International payments

Why you’d pick iPiD:

Significant portion of your payments go outside EU/UK. You need verification in corridors SurePay doesn’t cover well.

Why you’d stick with SurePay:

Most of your payments stay within EU/UK where SurePay has deeper coverage.

iPiD FAQs

1. What is iPiD?
   iPiD is a Singapore-based fintech that provides global payee verification. They cover 25+ countries and 2.7 billion accounts, focusing on cross-border payments where local schemes like CoP and VoP don’t exist.
2. When should I use iPiD instead of SurePay?
   Use iPiD when you’re sending payments outside EU/UK—especially to Asia, Middle East, or Americas. SurePay is stronger for domestic EU/UK payments. Many companies use both.
3. Does iPiD support EU VoP and UK CoP?
   Yes. iPiD Node provides VoP and CoP compliance for banks. But their main strength is global coverage where these regulations don’t apply.
4. What makes iPiD’s name matching different?
   iPiD uses AI developed with Microsoft OpenAI. It handles non-Western names, local naming conventions, and multiple languages better than traditional fuzzy matching.
5. Who are iPiD’s customers?
   Enterprise clients include Citi, Emirates NBD, Careem Pay, and Nium. iPiD focuses on banks and large payment service providers, not small businesses.

5. Tink

Good for: Situations where users can log into their own bank

Tink takes a completely different approach. Instead of matching names against a database, Tink asks users to authenticate with their bank directly.

The result? Zero false positives. No more “close match” or “name variation” issues. If someone logs into their bank account, you know they own it.

The tradeoff? You can’t verify someone else’s account. And you can’t do batch verification. Every account owner has to take action.

Visa bought Tink for €1.8 billion, so they’re well-funded and here to stay.

What Tink offers:

• Account Check (verification via bank login)
• Open banking connections to 3,400+ EU banks
• Payment initiation (verify and pay in one flow)
• Income verification

How it compares to SurePay:

	SurePay	Tink
Verification method	Name matching	User authenticates
User action required	No	Yes
False positives	Possible	None
Third-party verification	Yes	No
Batch processing	Yes	No
Payment initiation	No	Yes
Best for	Passive verification	User-confirmed verification

Why you’d pick Tink:

You’re setting up Direct Debits or marketplace payouts where users can authenticate. You want certainty, not probability.

Why you’d stick with SurePay:

You need to verify accounts without involving the account holder. Or you’re processing batches.

Tink FAQs

1. What is the difference between Tink and SurePay?
   SurePay matches names against bank data—no user action needed. Tink requires users to log into their bank to prove ownership. Tink is 100% accurate but needs user involvement. SurePay is passive but can have false positives.
2. Can Tink replace SurePay for VoP compliance?
   Maybe. Tink’s approach achieves the same goal (verifying the right person gets paid) but through different means. Whether regulators accept it depends on interpretation. Check with your compliance team.
3. Does Tink work for batch verification?
   No. Each account holder must authenticate individually. For batch supplier verification, use SurePay or MonitorPay.ai instead.
4. What banks does Tink connect to?
   Tink connects to 3,400+ banks across Europe through open banking APIs. Coverage is best in Western Europe. Some smaller banks may have limited connectivity.
5. Why did Visa buy Tink?
   Visa acquired Tink for €1.8 billion in 2022 to expand into open banking. Tink gives Visa capabilities in account verification, payment initiation, and financial data—beyond just card payments.

Full Comparison

	SurePay	MonitorPay.ai	ClearBank	Banfico	iPiD	Tink
Focus	VoP/CoP	KYB + payments	UK banking	EU VoP	Global	Open banking
EU VoP	✓	✓	—	✓	✓	Different
UK CoP	✓	Check	✓	—	✓	Different
Global	Limited	195 countries	UK only	EU only	25+ countries	Europe
Company data	—	✓	—	—	—	—
UBO data	—	✓	—	—	—	—
User auth needed	—	—	—	—	—	✓
Batch verification	✓	✓	Check	✓	✓	—

Which One Should You Pick?

Stick with SurePay if:

• You operate mainly in Netherlands or UK
• You need proven, high-volume verification
• Basic IBAN-name matching is enough

Go with MonitorPay.ai if:

• You need to verify companies, not just bank accounts
• You work with international suppliers
• KYB compliance matters to you

Go with ClearBank if:

• You’re building a fintech and need UK banking rails
• CoP is just one part of what you need

Go with Banfico if:

• You’re an EU bank focused on VoP compliance
• You don’t need UK coverage

Go with iPiD if:

• You send money outside EU/UK regularly
• You need coverage in Asia, Middle East, or Americas

Go with Tink if:

• Users can authenticate in your flow
• You want 100% accurate verification
• You’re setting up Direct Debits or payouts

General FAQs

1. What’s the difference between IBAN-Name Check, CoP, and VoP?
   Same concept, different names. IBAN-Name Check is the Dutch term. Confirmation of Payee (CoP) is UK regulation. Verification of Payee (VoP) is EU regulation. All verify that account holder names match account numbers before payment.
2. Is IBAN verification mandatory?
   Yes, for banks. EU banks must offer VoP since October 2025. UK banks must offer CoP. Businesses aren’t required to use it, but it’s smart practice.
3. Which provider has the best global coverage?
   MonitorPay.ai covers 195 countries for company verification. iPiD covers 25+ countries for payment verification. SurePay’s global reach is limited outside EU/UK.
4. Can I use multiple verification providers?
   Yes. Common setup: SurePay for EU/UK domestic, iPiD for cross-border, MonitorPay.ai for supplier onboarding with company verification.
5. What happens if verification returns “no match”?
   The payment isn’t blocked—just flagged. The sender sees a warning and can proceed anyway. If they ignore it and get scammed, liability shifts to them.
6. How much do these services cost?
   None publish pricing. All require custom quotes based on volume. Expect connection fees plus per-call charges. SurePay has a free tier (100 checks) for testing.
7. Which is fastest to integrate?
   API-first providers (SurePay, MonitorPay.ai, iPiD) can be integrated in weeks. ClearBank takes months because it’s a banking relationship. Tink varies by product.
8. Can any of these verify company legitimacy?
   Only MonitorPay.ai. It connects to 200+ government registries for company status, directors, and UBO data. Others only verify bank account ownership.
9. Do I need verification if I’m not a bank?
   Not legally required, but recommended. Payment fraud affects everyone. Verifying suppliers and customers protects your business from misdirected payments and fraud.
10. What’s the most accurate verification method?
    Tink—because users prove ownership by logging in. Zero false positives. But it requires user action. Name-matching services (SurePay, iPiD) are passive but can have edge cases with name variations.