SOFORT – secure online bank transfers
SOFORT was established in 2005 as an instant payment service. It was initially known as payment network but in 2012 was rebranded to Sofort AG. It is the one of the top payment options in Germany and punters in this country find it convenient and easy to use when funding their online casino accounts.
SOFORT online banking is now available in the following 8 countries:
- Netherlands
- Germany
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Poland
- Belgium
- Italy
- Spain
With SOFORT, you are able to perform all your transactions anonymously. This is because SOFORT is a funds transfer channel. Since 2005 the company claims that there haven’t been any cases of identity theft or leakage of information. All this has been made possible by the two-layer state of art security protocol the company uses. Some of the security features include the depositor’s PIN code which is used a long with a Transaction Authentication Number (TAN). This TAN code is only used for one deposit and there after becomes void.
”Did you know that around 20,000 different banks in the EU support SOFORT online payment system? With their strong integrations with iDeal, Bancontact, Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, and Klarna this payment product is really versatile.”
Website: www.sofort.com
Type of Payment: Online Bank Transfer
How is it possible that SOFORT is so safe?
- When providing your banking information, it all happens on a secure payment form that cannot be accessed by any third party users
- Confidential information like confirmation codes and bank account information is never stored
- Sofort Banking has earned the Approved Data Protection Seal, as well as, the certificate of Approved Payment System
How can I use SOFORT at online casinos?
Depositing funds via SOFORT at an online casino is very straightforward. Begin by accessing the cashier section within your online casino account. Over here you will be able to enter the amount of money you wan to deposit and SOFORT as the preferred payment method. Next, you’ll be directed to the SOFORT banking login section, where you’ll need to input your online banking credentials. These details are securely transmitted to your bank in encrypted form. Afterward, a confirmation code will be displayed to you, which must be entered in the designated section. Note that this code is single-use for security purposes. Once entered, SOFORT will provide a confirmation summary indicating the successful processing of your deposit.
When you payment has been confirmed the money will be available in your account instantly. If the money doesn’t come through, I recommend to wait for between 5 and 10 minutes. If the money then still didn’t appear on your balance you should contact the customer support department so they can check if you payment came through at the financial department. In general this won’t happen often but it can happen if you are unlucky.
Cashing out from your online casino account using SOFORT
The cashing out procedure is similar to that of making a deposit. In general you will need to visit the cashier to initiate an withdrawal. Simply enter the amount of money you want to withdrawal and select your bank account. Online casinos will require you to cash out to the same bank account as you used to deposit. They do this in light of strict anti-money laundering rules.
If you cannot use SOFORT to withdrawal you can normally initiate a normal wire transfer. If you want to send the money to a different bank account for whatever reason you will normally first need to prove that the account is yours. You can do this by making a deposit with it. Additionally some online casinos will require you to send in an bank statement.
The beauty of this banking option is that your money will instantly be credited into your account. In some cases the money can arrive in your account within minutes. The fees charged will depend on the bank you are using and the casino. But in general using SOFORT for online casino transactions is completely free.
Availability and limits
I reckon that SOFORT is available at most online casinos. Maybe not all, but certainly around 60 to 70% of all online casinos.
When you are looking to deposit funds then SOFORT is usually available from as low as €10 per transaction. Some minimum deposit casinos even allow deposits from as low as €5 or even €1.
After playing you can usually not use SOFORT to cash out, but you can use other payment gateways such as Trustly. You can also go for a simple wire transfer. Both these options are normally available from as low as €10 per transaction although bank transfer limits can be higher at certain online casinos.
If you can use Trustly I would prefer that over bank transfer by the way. Withdrawals using Trustly are instant, while bank transfers can take up to 5 days. This makes Trustly a lot quicker to receive your money!
Other great and quick options to receive your money are e-Wallets like Skrill and Neteller. When you use these withdrawal options you will usually receive your money instant (after the casino approved your withdrawal).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The banking and withdrawal system is easy to use and safe
- Your personal information is not stored on any servers.
- Whether withdrawing or making a deposit, the transaction are processed instant.
- Using SOFORT is free in general.
Cons
- Sometimes withdrawing money using SOFORT is not available. In this case you can use a normal wire transfer.
