Grasshopper vs Memo Bank.
Grasshopper (G72/100) and Memo Bank (M72/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| G Grasshopper №32 · OCC 72 /100 | M Memo Bank №31 · ACPR 72 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 72 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €449 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank OCC | Full bank ACPR |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | €100,000 EU.DGS.FR |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.6 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.0 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Grasshopper if…
The OCC-chartered US national bank for startups — the structural distinction from Mercury / Brex / Bluevine / Rho is that Grasshopper IS the bank. Direct FDIC cover at the chartered-bank level, multi-bank Cash Sweep extending to $25M. Free business checking with API access. The structural fit for US-incorporated startups wanting a real bank relationship rather than a partner-bank fintech.
Pick Memo Bank if…
The French mid-market SME bank that fills the structural gap between Qonto (freelancer-and-SME-led, ACPR credit institution) and chartered legacy banks (BNP Paribas Business, Société Générale Business). Full ACPR credit-institution licence with DGS protection. Mid-market SME tier (€1M-100M revenue) is the target audience; API-first treasury + Pennylane integration is the SMB-tech moat.
- Best for fees Grasshopper won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Memo Bank won 2 of 2
Grasshopper vs Memo Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Grasshopper better than Memo Bank?
Grasshopper and Memo Bank are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Grasshopper 72/100 vs Memo Bank 72/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Grasshopper or Memo Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Grasshopper: €0; Memo Bank: €449. Card FX markup — Grasshopper: Interbank; Memo Bank: 0.50%. Grasshopper wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Grasshopper or Memo Bank?
Grasshopper holds a Partner-bank licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Memo Bank holds a Full bank licence under ACPR; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Grasshopper and Memo Bank?
Grasshopper operates in 1 country; Memo 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.