Genome Review 2026: Low-Cost EU Business Account

TL;DR: Genome is a low-cost Lithuanian EMI that gives EU, Malta and Cyprus businesses a EUR IBAN, multi-currency accounts, Visa cards and merchant processing for €10/month with no minimum balance. It’s popular with online and high-risk-vertical companies (iGaming, affiliate, SaaS), but the 2% FX markup is steep and, like all EMIs, your money is safeguarded rather than DGS-protected.

Availability & countries

Genome serves businesses across the EEA, the UK and several micro-states. Its supported list includes Malta and Cyprus, alongside Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and more.

• Malta: Yes — served via EEA passporting of the Lithuanian licence. Note there is no separate Malta licence or branch; Genome is active in the Malta market (events, iGaming clients) but is regulated from Lithuania.
• Cyprus: Yes — included in the served-country list.
• Genome onboards both low-risk and licensed high-risk verticals (e.g. regulated gambling, affiliate marketing, SaaS), which suits Malta’s online-business base.

Regulation & deposit protection

Genome is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), not a bank, licensed and supervised by the Bank of Lithuania, and PSD2/GDPR/DORA/PCI-DSS compliant. Client funds are held in segregated, ring-fenced safeguarding accounts. As with every EMI, there is no deposit-guarantee scheme — no €100k DGS cover; your protection is safeguarding, not a government guarantee.

Pricing

Genome’s low-risk business account is genuinely cheap to run, with no minimum balance. (High-risk pricing differs — request a quote.)

Key features

• Dedicated EUR (EEA) IBAN plus multi-currency accounts in EUR, USD, GBP and up to 12 currencies.
• Virtual and physical Visa business cards with free monthly card fee.
• SEPA, SEPA Instant, SWIFT and Faster Payments.
• Merchant / payment processing and acquiring — useful for e-commerce and online operators.
• Shared business accounts with multi-user team access.

Pros

• Low cost of entry — €10/month and no minimum balance
• EUR IBAN plus 12-currency multi-currency account
• Physical and virtual Visa cards included
• Built-in merchant / payment processing
• Accepts licensed high-risk verticals (iGaming, affiliate) — key for Malta
• Cheap SEPA transfers (€1)

Cons

• Safeguarding only — no DGS deposit protection
• 2% FX markup is high for frequent currency conversion
• Mixed Trustpilot rating (~3.6): KYC friction and account-freeze complaints
• Digital-only with inconsistent support reviews
• No local Malta licence/branch — regulated from Lithuania (passported)

Who it’s for

Genome suits cost-conscious EU, Malta and Cyprus businesses — especially online and merchant operators, including licensed high-risk verticals — that want a EUR IBAN, cards and payment acceptance in one place. It’s less ideal if you convert currency heavily (the 2% FX adds up) or want the reassurance of a guaranteed-deposit scheme.

Verdict

A feature-rich, low-cost EUR business account that punches above its monthly fee, with cards and merchant tools most rivals charge more for. Mind the 2% FX and the standard EMI safeguarding (non-DGS) trade-off. 3.8 / 5.

Fees, plans and country availability change, and high-risk pricing differs from the rates shown. Confirm all pricing and your eligibility directly on genome.eu before opening an account.