Sikirapay

[tokilopov]

Hey everyone,
I'm on the lookout for a SEPA (EU based EMI) current account that can be opened online by non-EU citizens and non-EU residents, without needing an EU residence permit or a tax code from any EU country. Also, I'm looking for options that work for people from countries outside the CRS. It’s a pretty tricky search, but there are a few options out there, and one of them, which I didn’t know about before, is Sikirapay.
They official web page is Sikirapay.
On Trustpilot they have only few reviews, all from former Yugoslavia, and this is not surprise since the owner are also from ex-Yu (probably Croatia) - Jozic family (probably father and daughter) and other tree employees.
It's not easy to find more data about Sikirapay, address is some old resident building in Stockholm, I guess in not so nice hood.
VIES VAT number validation
Bolagsfakta (basic company info)
Does anyone have more information's or experience with Sikirapay?

 

[Sols]

Sikira is just a skin/whitelabel of Intergiro.

https://www.intergiro.com/

Intergiro is decent. They have some skeletons in the closet, but so far they have been able to not run into any major issues. Just go direct with them instead (or look for other options), unless you see some compelling reason to use Sikira.

 

[Forester]

Sikira is just a skin/whitelabel of Intergiro.

https://www.intergiro.com/

An interesting information that I was not aware of (the latter means nothing of course , although I have thought that I knew Intergiro quite well...). Thanks for sharing. Do you know how long they are working using this setup/model?

Intergiro is decent. They have some skeletons in the closet, but so far they have been able to not run into any major issues.

I can confirm.

Just go direct with them instead (or look for other options), unless you see some compelling reason to use Sikira.

I guess that the motivation can be that Intergiro onboards (and always has onboarded) EEA companies only (currently even with a remarkable turnover only) – TBMK. No personal accounts (directly) at all...

 

[Sols]

I guess that the motivation can be that Intergiro onboards (and always has onboarded) EEA companies only (currently even with a remarkable turnover only) – TBMK. No personal accounts (directly) at all...

Missed that. I suppose that creates an actual differentiator for Sikira.

Not sure how I'd feel about opening a personal account with a financial institution that normally only serves business accounts. I would never do the inverse and open a business account with an FI that only opens personal accounts.

It's not easy to find more data about Sikirapay, address is some old resident building in Stockholm, I guess in not so nice hood.

It's in one of the wealthiest parts of Stockholm, but the address itself is a little strange. Seems to belong to a religious community.

One very interesting thing is that Sikirapay AB shares address, key people, and logo with Sikira Services AB (https://www.sikira.se/), which is a janitorial company.

Do what that information what you will.

 

[ilke]

An interesting information that I was not aware of (the latter means nothing of course , although I have thought that I knew Intergiro quite well...). Thanks for sharing. Do you know how long they are working using this setup/model?

I have not seen Sikirapay before but Intergiro has had a decently large BaaS program for at least a year now. Some other platforms (e.g. Ka.app/Kasta) also use it - those often issue personal accounts.

I guess that the motivation can be that Intergiro onboards (and always has onboarded) EEA companies only (currently even with a remarkable turnover only) – TBMK. No personal accounts (directly) at all...

Yes, true, they will need EU companies + probably 7 figure turnover nowadys.

Not sure how I'd feel about opening a personal account with a financial institution that normally only serves business accounts. I would never do the inverse and open a business account with an FI that only opens personal accounts.

Intergiro has a setup to work well with individual accounts as well. They just don't serve any small-scale at all on their own - maybe to decrease support/marketing costs etc. But for the BaaS program that is being utilised by Sikira, it is fully prepared and functional.

One very interesting thing is that Sikirapay AB shares address, key people, and logo with Sikira Services AB (https://www.sikira.se/), which is a janitorial company.

This part is somewhat strange.

Edit: I looked further into it. The company pages are seemingly rebranded from GPayBack (https://www.gpayback.io/) or maybe GPayBack just promotes them (would still be somewhat strange) which is just a Ponzi scheme but ignores KYC for the cards (apparently?). Some of the unchanged GPayBack pages use Sikira contact details.

 

[Forester]

One very interesting thing is that Sikirapay AB shares address, key people, and logo with Sikira Services AB (https://www.sikira.se/), which is a janitorial company.

Interesting. (Well, perhaps better than janissary )

I have not seen Sikirapay before

Well, yes; I was asking about them, how long do they work in this way...

but Intergiro has had a decently large BaaS program for at least a year now.

I am aware of it and I even think it's for a longer time, at least two years.

Some other platforms (e.g. Ka.app/Kasta) also use it - those often issue personal accounts.

Are you aware about some other (Intergiro) whitelabels offering personal accounts? Only Kasta is known to me, I admit. (There are some offering business accounts, as far as I have heard.)

they will need EU companies

EEA, to be exact https://www.intergiro.com/faqs/account-opening/open-intergiro-account

+ probably 7 figure turnover nowadys.

Yes, this is a standard request.

They just don't serve any small-scale at all on their own - maybe to decrease support/marketing costs etc.

Probably. Yet the older accounts of small fish are still working flawlessly, AFAIK. (I am personally aware of one )

Edit: I looked further into it. The company pages are seemingly rebranded from GPayBack (https://www.gpayback.io/) or maybe GPayBack just promotes them (would still be somewhat strange) which is just a Ponzi scheme but ignores KYC for the cards (apparently?). Some of the unchanged GPayBack pages use Sikira contact details.

View attachment 8328

... it does not smell much well.
(Almost like the message that Intergiro promotes Revolut https://www.offshorecorptalk.com/th...u-have-an-account-with-them.40069/post-326494)

 

[tokilopov]

Sikira is just a skin/whitelabel of Intergiro.

https://www.intergiro.com/

Intergiro is decent. They have some skeletons in the closet, but so far they have been able to not run into any major issues. Just go direct with them instead (or look for other options), unless you see some compelling reason to use Sikira.

At the moment, they are not accepting new customers due to the "change of technical partner", which will happen until February 2025. I don't know what that means exactly.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Intergiro is for business clients, Sikira Pay is also for personal use. The second difference is, let's say, lower requirements for KYC.

 

[tokilopov]

One very interesting thing is that Sikirapay AB shares address, key people, and logo with Sikira Services AB (https://www.sikira.se/), which is a janitorial company.

I noticed immediately but was me wasn't so strange, this is typical Balkan business, every business for people from ex-Yu starting with cleaning and finish who knows where.

I suggested to check out family Jozic on internet (sometimes they also using surname "Wagner"). They look like someone who actually cleaning, not even running cleaning company.

 

[tokilopov]

I guess that the motivation can be that Intergiro onboards (and always has onboarded) EEA companies only (currently even with a remarkable turnover only) – TBMK. No personal accounts (directly) at all...

That's right, I hold a passport from one of the last European countries that is not part of the EEA, has not signed the CRS, has no sanctions against Russia... so it is almost impossible for me to open a personal account in some of the SEAP countries, that's why I am considering Sikirapay, Dukascopy or similar.

 

[Forester]

That's right, I hold a passport from one of the last European countries that is not part of the EEA, has not signed the CRS, has no sanctions against Russia...

In such a case, you do not possess a bad passport. IMO. (Seriously.)
One of the countries that formed Yugoslavia in the past, I presume.
Serbia, particularly? (I must admit that about Serbia I know that they did not applied anti-Russian sanctions; I do not know how it is with Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia as another candidates.)

so it is almost impossible for me to open a personal account in some of the SEAP countries,

Really? For what reason Southeast Asia & Pacific should not like you? This is the first time I hear such news, I must say.

that's why I am considering Sikirapay, Dukascopy or similar.

Understandable.
Just be advised that
1) Dukascopy is not much good bet, IMO;
2) you have probably another possibilities, too.
Feel encouraged to start a new thread at this forum to discuss that if you like, as this thread should remain devoted to Sikirapay.

At the moment, they are not accepting new customers due to the "change of technical partner", which will happen until February 2025.

You are talking about Sikirapay, I presume? (Intergiro accepts /selected/ new customers, TBMK.)

I don't know what that means exactly.

As they are in fact re-selling technical solution developed and maintained by a partner who is backing them (BaaS), they are changing this partner, apparently.
I do not consider it much positive as Intergiro is good, better than many other ones.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Intergiro is for business clients, Sikira Pay is also for personal use.

You are right.

The second difference is, let's say, lower requirements for KYC.

Yet this is not a good recommendation, IMO.

One very interesting thing is that Sikirapay AB shares address, key people, and logo with Sikira Services AB (https://www.sikira.se/), which is a janitorial company.

I noticed immediately but was me wasn't so strange, this is typical Balkan business, every business for people from ex-Yu starting with cleaning and finish who knows where.

Oh well. I understand.

I suggested to check out family Jozic on internet (sometimes they also using surname "Wagner"). They look like someone who actually cleaning, not even running cleaning company.

Well. To do cleaning for living is definitely nothing bad, on the contrary. Yet I am afraid that it is not a good background for running an EMI – on condition that these people have no similar experience some time before...

In addition to all abovesaid, I see that you are really new here – welcome on board!

 

[ilke]

Well. To do cleaning for living is definitely nothing bad, on the contrary. Yet I am afraid that it is not a good background for running an EMI – on condition that these people have no similar experience some time before...

From doing cleaning in Sweden to running an EMD Agent with T&Cs produced by GPT and promoting non-KYC Mastercards. Now that's a Balkan rags to riches story..

But maybe the service is not so bad. Still, I would stick to some more reliable solutions. Experimenting with new solutions is cool, but it's better not to do so with your funds

Dukascopy is not too bad of a solution, IMO. The limits are quite low and difficult to increase, which is the main disadvantage. However, the account is free to operate, many currencies are supported, the cards are fine, and it is crypto-friendly. I think that discussions for a suitable account option for OP should probably be left to a new thread, though.

 

[tokilopov]

In addition to all abovesaid, I see that you are really new here – welcome on board!

Thanks!

Understandable.
Just be advised that
1) Dukascopy is not much good bet, IMO;
2) you have probably another possibilities, too.
Feel encouraged to start a new thread at this forum to discuss that if you like, as this thread should remain devoted to Sikirapay.

Yes, I should open a new topic on this, but I should search a little more and find out if there is a topic with "my combination": no citizenship/residence in the European Economic Area, passport of an "enemy of the West" country that has not signed the CRS, but also, in general, lack of many standard bilateral contracts with Western countries... Every country is specific, for example, even from your side Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia looks very similar, things are very, very different. Lets' we start from fact that Albania and NM are in NATO, Serbia no, and everything count. of course, main reason is around 400k Russian refuges and 13k Russian companies opened in my country in last 2 years, so every bank abroad believe that we want to open account for Russians. So, its very difficult to respond on "For what reason Southeast Asia & Pacific should not like you?" - I believe the number of different stories is at least equal to the number of states in this area.

 

[Forester]

From doing cleaning in Sweden to running an EMD Agent with T&Cs produced by GPT and promoting non-KYC Mastercards. Now that's a Balkan rags to riches story..

But maybe the service is not so bad. Still, I would stick to some more reliable solutions. Experimenting with new solutions is cool, but it's better not to do so with your funds

I second all of this

Dukascopy is not too bad of a solution, IMO. The limits are quite low and difficult to increase, which is the main disadvantage.

Yes, and this is the problem that I had in mind. I would not even say “quite low“ but “unusably low“ and “really very difficult to increase“ instead of “difficult to increase“

However, the account is free to operate,

Unless you have more than 50k there, IIRC.

many currencies are supported, the cards are fine, and it is crypto-friendly.

Sure.

I think that discussions for a suitable account option for OP should probably be left to a new thread, though.

Exactly.

Yes, I should open a new topic on this, but I should search a little more and find out if there is a topic with "my combination":

no citizenship/residence in the European Economic Area, passport of an "enemy of the West" country that has not signed the CRS, but also, in general, lack of many standard bilateral contracts with Western countries...

I am not sure but I think you can at least dig some useful information in the existing threads.

Every country is specific,

Certainly.

for example, even from your side Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia looks very similar,

Not from my side, be assured I see very, very remarkable differences between the above named.

things are very, very different. Lets' we start from fact that Albania and NM are in NATO, Serbia no, and everything count.

Albania is an AEOI/CRS country, Serbia and North Macedonia not. Albania and Serbia are engaged (Serbia suffers) in the Kosovo case, North Macedonia not. Etc.

of course, main reason is around 400k Russian refuges and 13k Russian companies opened in my country in last 2 years, so every bank abroad believe that we want to open account for Russians. So, its very difficult to respond on "For what reason Southeast Asia & Pacific should not like you?" - I believe the number of different stories is at least equal to the number of states in this area.

May be. Feel encouraged to open a thread sharing your experiences. As I have said, never heard this.

 

[tokilopov]

I am not sure but I think you can at least dig some useful information in the existing threads.


May be. Feel encouraged to open a thread sharing your experiences. As I have said, never heard this.

I'm digging around, maybe I'm just excited, but didn't see long time ago so informative forum and level of discussion same as in person. This is so rare today, in time where "you are fascist" arriving after 2min of writing.
I opened new topic, so we can left this one to very interesting case of Sikirapay.
Please check: https://www.offshorecorptalk.com/th...eking-for-a-sepa-account-brainstorming.46765/

 

[tokilopov]

From doing cleaning in Sweden to running an EMD Agent with T&Cs produced by GPT and promoting non-KYC Mastercards. Now that's a Balkan rags to riches story..

But maybe the service is not so bad. Still, I would stick to some more reliable solutions. Experimenting with new solutions is cool, but it's better not to do so with your funds

They responding on emails in 30min, second quickest is Revolut - in 2 days. I'm' ready to lose some money with them and I believe that they are much better then many other, established EMIs. For example, Satchel ask for 575€+ (for non-EU) just for opening account, and then close your account immediately after.

 

[Forester]

I'm digging around, maybe I'm just excited, but didn't see long time ago so informative forum and level of discussion same as in person.

Nice to read this.

This is so rare today, in time where "you are fascist" arriving after 2min of writing.

Morons are not welcome here. (We have also a decent forum police in action )

I opened new topic, so we can left this one to very interesting case of Sikirapay.
Please check: https://www.offshorecorptalk.com/threads/a-non-eea-non-aeoi-crs-specific-country-resident-seeking-for-a-sepa-account-brainstorming.46765/

Fine. I have just modified the thread title, to be really informative (and to attract a proper attention).

They responding on emails in 30min,

Well, good to hear.

second quickest is Revolut - in 2 days. I'm' ready to lose some money with them and I believe that they are much better then many other, established EMIs.

May be. Let's give them a try then

For example, Satchel ask for 575€+ (for non-EU) just for opening account, and then close your account immediately after.

Satchel is a LT trash.