Sony Bank vs Brex.
Sony Bank (S77/100) and Brex (B70/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Sony Bank leads Brex 3-2.
| B Brex №37 · FDIC 70 /100 | S Sony Bank №15 · JFSA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | €10,000,000 JP.DICJ |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Brex if…
SMB-business neobank built around corporate cards + spend management. Brex Cash uses partner-bank sweep (Choice Financial + Lead Bank + Citi) for FDIC pass-through up to $6M+. Y Combinator alumni; ~$12B valuation. The default for VC-backed US startups.
Pick Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees Brex won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Brex won 1 of 2
Sony Bank vs Brex — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Brex better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Sony Bank leads Brex 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Brex 70/100 vs Sony Bank 77/100. Sony Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Brex or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Brex: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Brex: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Brex wins more fee rows (1 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Brex or Sony Bank?
Brex holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €10,000,000. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Brex and Sony Bank?
Brex operates in 1 country; Sony Bank operates in 1 country. Check each provider's signup page for the live country list — eligibility depends on residency, not just the licence footprint.
Want a 3- or 4-way comparison?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.