SparrowPay is a rising fintech EMI in Lithuania offering agile SEPA infrastructure, virtual IBANs, and real-time compliance tools tailored to merchants in underbanked verticals. They aim to bridge the gap between compliance and accessibility — empowering businesses that are often rejected by traditional banks.
We sat down with Lina Berzinskaite, Chief Risk Officer of SparrowPay, to discuss how they manage onboarding complexity, regulatory risk, and innovation in SEPA-native payments.
Who is Lina Berzinskaite?
Lina is a Lithuanian compliance and risk veteran, with 10+ years in AML, transaction monitoring, and onboarding strategy. Before joining SparrowPay, she served as a compliance lead in multiple Baltic EMIs and holds certifications from ACAMS and the Bank of Lithuania. She now oversees SparrowPay’s risk framework across KYC, transaction monitoring, and sanctions screening.
Interview
What is SparrowPay in one sentence?
An EMI providing SEPA payments, IBANs, and compliance-friendly infrastructure for high-risk digital merchants across the EU.
What core services does SparrowPay offer?
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EUR IBAN accounts (personalized or pooled)
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SEPA and SEPA Instant transfers
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Compliance screening tools for crypto, affiliate, and e-commerce
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KYB onboarding flows for complex structures
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Embedded finance APIs for partners
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Transaction monitoring dashboard for clients
How do you differ from other EMIs in Lithuania?
We’re built for underserved verticals — not afraid of crypto, adult, or affiliate clients — but with strong internal compliance and transparent risk scoring.
Are you a fully licensed EMI?
Yes. We’re authorized and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania and passported throughout the EEA.
Which types of clients do you work with?
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Crypto brokers and exchanges
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Adult subscription platforms
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Affiliate networks and advertisers
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Licensed gaming/lottery operators
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Freelance platforms and marketplaces
How do you handle risk in high-risk verticals?
We use segmented onboarding, detailed UBO analysis, enhanced due diligence, and monitor flows in real-time. We don’t generalize — we score each use case.
Do you offer SEPA Instant?
Yes — for eligible clients and counterparties, we support SEPA Instant up to €100,000 per transaction.
What are your onboarding times?
Low to medium-risk clients can be onboarded in 3–5 days. Complex or crypto-related setups may take 7–14 business days, depending on document quality.
What documents are required for KYB?
Standard company registration, UBO ID, proof of business activity, website, client flow explanation, and — if crypto — license or registration proof.
What’s your pricing model?
We offer tiered monthly fees depending on the service level (Basic, Business, Prime), plus per-transaction fees. High-risk verticals have custom pricing.
How do you handle transaction monitoring?
We have internal and third-party systems flagging:
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Unusual volumes
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Suspicious counterparties
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Sanctions risks
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Behavioral anomalies
Clients get access to a dashboard to view real-time alerts.
Do you provide access to compliance APIs?
Yes — partners like fintechs and platforms can connect to KYB APIs, webhook notifications, and balance/payment events.
How do you deal with IBAN discrimination?
We provide Lithuanian IBANs, and support clients with legal arguments if their IBANs are rejected. We’re members of SEPA IBAN advocacy groups.
Any integrations with Open Banking?
Yes — we’re integrating AIS/PIS features to allow clients to pull data and initiate payments from connected accounts.
How is crypto handled under EU regulation?
We accept registered/licensed crypto entities. Flows must be traceable and onramped via regulated exchanges. MiCA-ready frameworks are encouraged.
What countries do you not serve?
We do not serve entities based in sanctioned countries, high-risk FATF jurisdictions, or anonymous offshore structures with no EU link.
What is your stance on BIN sponsorship and card issuing?
It’s on our roadmap for Q3 2026, in partnership with regulated BIN sponsors. We aim to offer card issuing to selected clients.
What’s next on the roadmap?
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GBP and USD accounts (multi-currency)
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Card issuing and BIN-as-a-service
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Embedded risk scoring for platforms
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MiCA-compliant crypto wallet tools
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AI-enhanced onboarding flows
Related Searches
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SparrowPay EMI Lithuania
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SEPA payments for adult platforms
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Crypto-friendly IBAN provider
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High-risk merchant onboarding
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SEPA Instant EMI
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Fintech for affiliate networks
FAQ
Is SparrowPay regulated?
Yes — it’s a licensed Electronic Money Institution under the Bank of Lithuania.
Can crypto firms get IBANs?
Yes — if licensed or registered, and flows are transparent.
Do you support freelancers or influencers?
No — we work only with businesses (B2B). Personal use is not supported.
Can I get multi-currency accounts?
Currently only EUR, but GBP/USD coming soon.
Are you MiCA-ready?
Yes — we’re already preparing documentation and reporting modules for crypto VASPs.
Company Services
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Business IBANs (EUR)
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SEPA & SEPA Instant
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High-risk onboarding
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Crypto & affiliate payment flows
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Transaction monitoring
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Compliance dashboards
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Embedded finance APIs
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KYB automation
Competitors
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Wallter (Lithuania)
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SatchelPay
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Clear Junction
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Finora Bank (Estonia)
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Intergiro
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Banking Circle
Product Positioning
SparrowPay is:
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B2B-only
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High-risk vertical friendly
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Fully EU-regulated
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API-enabled and SEPA-native
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Crypto-compliant under MiCA
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Focused on automation and transparency
