What is Accountable Banking with Swan – and how does it help freelancers manage taxes?

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A business account that truly centers the needs of freelancers? That's exactly what Accountable offers together with its banking partner Swan. The idea: make financial management simpler with a free account integrated directly into the app that automatically handles key tasks like setting aside tax reserves. In this article, we explain how the partnership works and why it can make your life as a freelancer significantly easier.

Why banking for the self-employed needs to be different

Many freelancers know the problem: business income and personal expenses often end up in the same account. While this seems convenient day-to-day, it becomes a real challenge at tax time, especially when there are no reserves set aside and unexpected back-payments are due.

Traditional bank accounts are usually not designed for the specific needs of self-employed people. They lack features like automatic tax planning, a clear overview of available income, or the ability to pay invoices directly from the app.

Accountable wanted to change that. It wants to provide freelance banking from the ground up: integrated, automated, and fully tailored to the self-employed. The technical foundation for this is provided by Swan.

Accountable Banking: What's behind it

With Accountable Banking, users get a free business account with a German IBAN, integrated directly into the tax app. The account was developed specifically for self-employed people — with the goal of bringing finances and tax planning together in one place.

What makes it special: you no longer have to manage tax reserves yourself. A set percentage of your income is automatically set aside as soon as a payment comes in. This keeps you on top of things at all times and prepares you for the next tax payment.

Transfers, incoming payments, and everyday account management all run entirely within the app: simple, fast, and at no extra cost.

“Our mission is to give the self-employed financial control — without the hassle of complicated processes. Being self-employed needs to be easier to manage, especially in economically challenging times. That’s exactly why this business account is completely free.”

Tino Keller - Founder, CMO & Managing Director Germany

Swan: A brief introduction to the FinTech company

Swan was founded in 2019 and is a rising FinTech company from Paris specializing in Embedded Banking. This means Swan provides the technical and regulatory infrastructure that allows other companies — like Accountable — to integrate banking services directly into their own products.

Swan is an electronic money institution licensed by the French prudential supervisory authority, the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR), to provide payment services.

These payment services are integrated into the account, offered by Swan, and are subject to Swan's general terms and conditions, which you can find on this page.
Swan is represented in Germany by:
Swan SAS, c/o Mindspace, Münzstraße 12, Berlin 10178, registered in the Commercial Register — Division B of the Local Court (Amtsgericht) of Charlottenburg, Registration Number: HRB 242427 B
In its capacity as an electronic money institution offering payment services under French law and licensed by the ACPR (4 Place de Budapest CS 92459, 75436 Paris), Swan is registered with that authority under number 17328 and is subject to all supervisory obligations applicable to institutions meeting the criteria of Article L. 314-1 of the Monetary and Financial Code (2°, 3° and 5°).
If you have any questions about our partnership with Swan, please feel free to reach out to our tax coaches.

For you, this means: even though you open your account directly through Accountable, the technical provision runs via Swan, the certified financial institution with official authorization and high security standards. Everything is integrated directly into the app, with nothing for you to worry about.

If you have questions about our partnership with Swan, feel free to reach out to our tax coaches.

What Makes Swan Special

• Swan handles all necessary Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, compliance, and fraud prevention.
• The platform is built on a proprietary core banking infrastructure — ensuring speed, reliability, and scalability.
• Swan works with over 150 companies in 30 European countries and processes payments worth billions every month — including well-known names like Pennylane, Agicap, and Bunch.

In short: Swan ensures that everything runs smoothly in the background, so you can focus on your business.

Background: Financial services where they're needed

Behind the Accountable–Swan partnership lies a broader trend: Embedded Finance. The term describes the integration of banking services directly into digital products — right where users are already working. Instead of applying for a loan at a bank or managing a separate account, these functions are seamlessly embedded into existing platforms.

How Does It Work in Practice?

A classic example: you buy a sofa in an online shop and are immediately offered suitable financing — without switching to your bank. Or: you book a car online and can take out car insurance right then and there. Major platforms like Amazon, Uber, and Apple have long embraced Embedded Finance — with their own cards, accounts, or installment payment models.

These services usually don't come from the platforms themselves. In the background, there is almost always a licensed financial service provider or bank that provides the regulatory infrastructure. As a user, this remains invisible to you — you simply get the right financial service at the right moment.

More Banking, Less Bank

The core idea: financial services are offered where they are truly relevant in everyday life. This is made possible by modern interfaces — APIs — that securely connect different systems. This allows non-banks like retailers, software providers, or platforms to integrate banking functions into their offering — without a banking license of their own.

💡 Important: Embedded Finance is more than just a link to a payment provider. The financial service is fully integrated — from application to review to processing. Users don't have to leave the platform; the service feels like a natural part of the product.

What does embedded finance actually look like?

The applications are diverse — and already a part of everyday life, often without us consciously noticing. You can pay directly within apps like Apple Pay or Uber without ever seeing a traditional bank interface. The "Buy Now, Pay Later" principle has also taken hold: instead of paying upfront, you arrange financing directly at checkout — simple, convenient, and integrated.

Another example: insurance offered directly during the booking process — such as travel protection when buying a flight. Or device insurance for your new smartphone, selected right at checkout. Even investment features can now be embedded in platforms — such as automatic rounding up of amounts with the difference invested, or the ability to pay with cryptocurrency.

A Market with billions in potential

The Embedded Finance market is growing rapidly. Estimates suggest that global volume will rise to over $690 billion by 2030. Some studies even project more than $1.7 trillion by 2034. In Europe too, growth signals are strong: from €20–30 billion in revenue in 2023, the market could grow to over €100 billion by 2030.

Behind the scenes: Why Accountable chose Swan

Developing a business account specifically for the self-employed sounds simple, but it's complex. It's not just about technology — there are also numerous legal requirements to meet. Rather than building everything in-house, Accountable looked for a partner that brings reliable infrastructure while still offering enough flexibility for freelancers' needs.

With Swan, it quickly became clear: this is the right fit. The platform offers a robust, scalable solution that integrates directly into the Accountable app — from account opening to tax automation.

“Freelancers shouldn’t have to think about how much to set aside for taxes — that should just happen automatically. With Swan, we were able to make exactly that happen: a business account that handles tax reserves and immediately shows what’s truly available.”

Tino Keller - Founder, CMO & Managing Director Germany

For Accountable, the message was clear: banking must not be an additional source of stress — it needs to fit into everyday life — simple, automated, and easy to understand.

The impact: How the partnership changes freelancers' daily lives

Shortly after launch, it became clear: the integrated account struck a nerve. Over 300 self-employed individuals opened their account in the first week — many of them opening a dedicated business account for the very first time.

What won them over?

• More financial clarity: Income, expenses, and tax reserves are immediately visible — no more guessing.
• Better tax planning: With automatic tax reserves set aside, you're prepared when the next advance payment is due.
• Financial security: Many users report feeling truly confident about their liquidity for the first time.

For many, this means: less stress, less uncertainty — and more control over their self-employment.

Conclusion: A business account that thinks ahead

The partnership between Accountable and Swan brings together what belongs together: tax tool and business account — integrated, automated, and developed specifically for the self-employed. Instead of worrying about reserves, accounts, or transfers, you can focus on your business — the rest runs in the background.

Thanks to Swan as the technical partner, you get an account that is not only secure and regulated, but truly designed around your working life. And completely free of charge.

Whether you're just starting out or have been self-employed for years: an account that automatically manages tax reserves and shows you at any time exactly how much money you really have available can make a huge difference.That's now possible — with Accountable Banking.

FAQs About the Accountable–Swan Partnership

Who is Swan? 

Swan is a French financial institution specializing in Embedded Banking. It provides the technical foundation for Accountable's business account — including IBAN, payment processing, and regulatory compliance. Swan is supervised by the French financial authority ACPR.

Are there hidden costs with Accountable Banking? 

No — the business account is completely free, regardless of which Accountable plan you use. You can open it directly in the app and use it without any monthly fees.

Is my money safe with Accountable Banking? 

Yes, your balance is protected up to €100,000 by the French deposit guarantee fund. Account management is handled by Swan in cooperation with BNP Paribas — your money is in safe hands.

Does Accountable help me set aside money for taxes? 

Yes, the app automatically calculates how much you should set aside for taxes — based on your income and expenses. You can always see what's truly yours and what's reserved for the tax authorities.

Can Accountable Banking do everything a regular bank can? 

Yes — you can send and receive payments, set up standing orders, and use your account just like any traditional bank, only directly in the app and tailored specifically for the self-employed.

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Author - Sophia Merzbach

Sophia has been a key member of the Accountable team for many years, bringing a unique blend of journalistic precision and in-depth tax expertise to her work.

Who is Sophia ?