Iran · Banking & Payments

Blu Bank

Open a bank account entirely from your phone in under 7 minutes - no branch visit, no paperwork - with Iran's leading fully digital neobank.

What it helps with

Banking in IranTransfers and bills.
Card-to-card transfersInstant.
Paying billsIn the app.

About Blu Bank

Blu Bank (بلوبانک) is Iran's first fully digital neobank, launched in 2020 as a subsidiary of Saman Bank, and has grown into the country's highest-valued and fastest-growing neobank with roughly 63% of Iran's neobank market. Unlike a traditional bank app tied to physical branches, Blu operates entirely through its mobile app - account opening, transfers, loans and payments are all handled digitally, with Saman Bank providing the underlying deposit and regulatory infrastructure.

Key Features

Branchless Account Opening: Open an account in under 7 minutes, entirely through the app, free of charge.
No Transaction Fees: Positioned as fee-free for everyday banking activities.
Full Digital Banking: Transfers, bill payments and loan applications handled without visiting a branch.
Modern App Experience: Built as a mobile-first product rather than a digital add-on to branch banking.

How to Get Started

Download the Blu Bank app from the App Store or Google Play.
Follow the in-app account opening process, providing your national ID information.
Complete the digital verification steps to activate your account.
Use the app to manage transfers, payments and other banking activities.

Before you use it

Sign-up: Foreign residents can open a Blu Bank account with a passport, valid residence and a FIDA number.
Payment: Foreign bank cards do not work in Iran because of sanctions; payments use Iranian Shetab cards or cash.

Local ID needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Blu Bank work with a foreign bank card in Iran?: Not reliably - a foreign card may be declined. Check the notice above, or plan to use a local payment method.
Is Blu Bank available in English?: Not officially - the interface is mainly in the local language.
Do I need a local phone number to use Blu Bank?: No, an international phone number generally works for Blu Bank.
Do I need local ID or residency for Blu Bank?: Yes, Blu Bank requires local ID or residency status.
Where can I use Blu Bank?: iOS · Android
How much does Blu Bank cost?: Free app; fees per bank tariff