CorteroPay, based in Milan, is quietly emerging as a key player in the infrastructure layer of European payments. Specializing in API-first SEPA transfers, Open Banking orchestration, and direct IBAN issuing for regulated and semi-regulated verticals (crypto, digital content, affiliate, gaming), the company has rapidly expanded from Italy to Germany, the Baltics, and the Benelux region.
We sat down with Mateo D’Alessio, the company’s founder and CEO, to understand the vision behind CorteroPay, their risk-tolerant strategy, and how they compete with larger EMI-backed players by focusing on merchant speed, flexibility, and operational realism.
Who is Mateo D’Alessio?
An ex-Banking-as-a-Service consultant turned fintech builder, Mateo brings over a decade of experience in SEPA orchestration, indirect participation setups, and cross-border reconciliation. He launched CorteroPay in 2021 after observing the bottlenecks faced by medium-risk merchants in onboarding and settlement across Europe.
Interview
What is CorteroPay in one sentence?
An API-driven SEPA infrastructure provider designed for platforms, payfacs, and merchants who need instant payments, flexible compliance, and fast onboarding.
What services do you provide?
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EUR IBAN issuing
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SEPA Credit Transfers & SEPA Instant
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Pooled and Named IBANs
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KYB & KYC orchestration API
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Open Banking PIS initiation
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Batch and webhook-enabled payout APIs
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Transaction monitoring + real-time reconciliation
Are you an EMI?
No — we operate under agent contracts with two EU-licensed EMIs. We manage the onboarding, interface, and flows — while compliance and safeguarding are handled by licensed partners.
What verticals do you serve best?
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Affiliate marketing platforms
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Licensed digital content platforms (Web3, adult, etc.)
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Crypto OTC desks and exchanges (MiCA-compliant)
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Event ticketing and flash-sale platforms
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B2B e-commerce networks
Do you issue IBANs?
Yes — both pooled and named. ES and LT prefixes by default. DE and FR available for volume clients.
Do you support SEPA Instant?
Fully. 80%+ of our merchant flows are delivered via SEPA Instant when counterparties support it.
What’s your onboarding time?
72 hours for standard clients. Up to 10 days for high-risk verticals (e.g., crypto, adult).
What makes you different from players like Swan or Treezor?
We’re built for speed and risk alignment — not just regulation.
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Faster KYB
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No hidden risk filtering
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Transparent communication
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API-first
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Human support for compliance teams
We’re not BaaS. We’re payment rail enablers.
Do you support Open Banking?
Yes — we offer PIS (payment initiation) across 24 EEA countries. AIS is in beta with select partners.
Do you have a dashboard?
Yes — for low-code users. For dev-heavy clients, our API and webhook setup is more efficient.
Do you support partner onboarding?
Yes — platforms can onboard vendors, freelancers, sub-merchants via embedded KYB modules.
What’s your risk appetite?
We’re crypto-friendly (if licensed), adult-friendly (if verified), and accept affiliates, influencers, etc.
No scams, no anonymous flows, no shell corps.
What’s your pricing?
Depends on volume and risk class.
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IBANs: free up to 10; beyond that, monthly fee
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SEPA: from €0.20 per payout
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Instant: from €0.30
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KYB: from €1.20 per check
We also offer revenue-sharing models with platform partners.
Do you provide FX?
Not yet. EUR only. GBP, PLN, USD coming Q2 2026.
What’s your biggest challenge now?
Scaling without losing agility. As we onboard bigger clients, we’re cautious not to over-process or over-control them.
What’s on your roadmap?
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AML score API using Open Banking signals
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Dedicated EMI license (under review in Lithuania)
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BIN sponsorship for prepaid cards
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Instant multi-party settlement engine
Related Searches
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CorteroPay SEPA API
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Crypto-friendly fintech Milan
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Pooled IBAN provider EU
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Instant SEPA for affiliates
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High-risk merchant onboarding
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Payment orchestration Italy
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EMI agent Milan
FAQ
Is CorteroPay licensed?
Not directly — it operates under agent agreements with two EU EMIs, fully PSD2-compliant.
Can I get a named IBAN?
Yes — from day one if KYB is clean and flows are justified.
Do you support adult and crypto?
Yes — with proper registration, certificates, and volume transparency.
What onboarding documents are needed?
KYB pack (incorporation, UBO, flows, etc.), expected volume, and use case.
Company Services
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IBAN issuing
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SEPA/SEPA Instant
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KYB orchestration
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Webhook payouts
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Open Banking (PIS)
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Compliance API
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Real-time reconciliation
Competitors
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Intergiro
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Swan
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Lemonway
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Neonomics
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Unlimit
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Banking Circle
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FinwayPay
Product Positioning
CorteroPay is:
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API-first
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Risk-aligned
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Crypto-tolerant
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Developer-focused
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Merchant-speed friendly
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Built for affiliates, adult, and Web3 verticals
