iBanFirst | Case study Blisce

The challenge

Operating in several currencies and optimising currency transactions

Approximately 70% of Blisce’s investments are made in the US, where it controls a subsidiary, and the remainder in Europe. Its US footprint and investments expose Blisce to fluctuations in the euro-dollar exchange rate.

"When I joined Blisce, I realised we had massive flows from France to the US and our euro-dollar exchange transactions were handled by a traditional bank. I had heard that iBanFirst offered transparent rates and wanted to know what fees my bank applied to these payments. I discovered they weren’t transparent," explains Anne-Claire Colomb, Chief Financial Officer at Blisce.

She wanted to be able to see all associated costs of international payments and associated fees for their investment operations, as well as for their inter-subsidiary invoice- and salary payments.

Anne-Claire Colomb also wanted to make sure that payments were made seamlessly and on time.

The solution

Transparent foreign exchange rates with dedicated and reliable customer support

By choosing iBanFirst, Anne-Claire Colomb can access real-time exchange rates and see all fees applied to payments made, before she makes them.

In addition, payments are swift and accurate, and via the iBanFirst platform, she can make them in one simple click. She’s also guaranteed quick payment
confirmations:

"With iBanFirst, we receive SWIFT payment confirmations in 30 minutes. This usually
takes 3-4 hours with traditional banks. Plus, we can share payment confirmation emails directly with the recipient. It makes the whole process more transparent both for us and our beneficiaries."

Beyond iBanFirst’s payment solutions, Colomb also has a dedicated Account Manager that supports Blisce’s operations. "If we ever need help or have a question, we call or email our Account Manager, and they respond in record time."

The result

Smooth, cost-effective transactions, and increased competitiveness

Thanks to instant foreign currency payments, competitive rates and transparent prices, all validated at the click of a button, Blisce optimises its foreign currency payments and keeps costs under control.

"My payments with iBanFirst are always smooth. It’s particularly important when we’re closing deals and the timing is crucial. As a CFO, I find this very reassuring," says Anne-Claire.

With iBanFirst, Blisce has optimised its international payments. They now feel in control of the associated costs and thanks to instant international payments, competitive rates and transparent prices, they can keep their promises to companies they invest in, and build trust with its partners.

Frequently asked questions

Who can open an account with iBanFirst?

Any individual or company with international and foreign exchange payment volumes of more than €80,000 per year is eligible to open an iBanFirst account. Restrictions may apply depending on the country of origin, the activity of the company, or the origin of the funds.

Fill out the account opening form to be contacted by an advisor.

What does the process of opening an account look like?

Opening an account with iBanFirst is a 100% paperless process.

Fill out the account opening form to be contacted by an iBanFirst adviser.
Send us the documents identifying your company and its beneficial owners.
Our customer support team will set up your account, so you can be up and running right away.
You will need to activate your iBanFirst account by making a first transfer from your main bank account.
Your account will be ready to use upon receipt of this activation transfer.

How much does it cost?

Unlike most corporate banks, iBanFirst does not charge fees or commissions on currency conversions.

The only fees iBanFirst charges are payment fees. Payment fees are fixed, but vary depending on the payment network, speed and payment instructions chosen. They are clearly displayed when a payment is created and users can choose between different payment options.

Companies below the minimum annual threshold of €200,000 in currency payments incur a variable fee of 0.2% of incoming payments and transfers without currency exchange.
Other ad hoc fees may apply for iBanFirst to handle exceptional requests

Are my funds secure?

Protecting your account from fraud:
iBanFirst ensures the security of its customers' accounts through numerous measures such as a robust infrastructure, SSL encryption of connections, and regular audits and computer penetration tests.

Strong Authentication:
Strong authentication is a mandatory security measure for sensitive actions such as:

Logging into the platform from a new device
Adding a beneficiary
Validating a payment or a currency conversion
Adding a user

Strong authentication ensures the security of your account and funds if your platform credentials are ever compromised. The strong authentication methods available at iBanFirst are:

One-time code generated by mobile or desktop applications such as Google Authenticator or Authy
Yubikey

These methods are both used in a process called two factor authentication (2FA). They will ask you to authenticate using both something you know (your iBanFirst credentials) and something you have in your possession (your phone or Yubikey) .

What currencies does iBanFirst offer?

With iBanFirst, you can open accounts in more than 35 currencies, with nominative IBANs that guarantee the security and quality of your payments.

Go check our Currency Reference Center

How much money can iBanFirst make me save?

Since 2013, iBanFirst has been analyzing exchange rate changes and fees charged by banks on foreign currency transactions and has developed a bank fee calculator.

How much do your foreign currency transactions cost you today with your bank? How much could you save with iBanFirst?

Do the simulation here.

Taking back control of payments and associated fees in foreign investments