K Bank vs Holvi.
K Bank (K78/100) and Holvi (H55/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. K Bank leads Holvi 6-2.
| H Holvi №61 · Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority 55 /100 | K K Bank №09 · KDIC 78 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 55 /100 | 78 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. | Full bank KDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.2 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Holvi if…
The Finnish + German SMB neobank with the deepest tax-return-ready bookkeeping integration in the Nordic + DACH region. Procountor (FI Steuerberater equivalent) + DATEV / Lexoffice (DE Steuerberater standards) integration depth is the structural differentiator versus Qonto / Finom. EMI-licensed under FIN-FSA; one of the longest-operating EU SMB neobanks (founded 2011, briefly BBVA-owned 2016-2022, now independent).
Pick K Bank if…
Korea's first Internet-Only Bank to launch (April 2017) — predates Kakao Bank by three months. KT Corporation (Korea Telecom) is the largest shareholder, providing carrier-bundled distribution and ASEAN remittance corridors via Wirebarley. The cash-settlement counterparty for Upbit, Korea's largest crypto exchange — exposure to crypto-cycle deposit flows. Listed on KOSPI in 2024 after two shelved IPO attempts.
- Best for fees K Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection K Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Holvi won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
K Bank vs Holvi — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Holvi better than K Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, K Bank leads Holvi 6–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Holvi 55/100 vs K Bank 78/100. K Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Holvi or K Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Holvi: €9; K Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Holvi: 1.00%; K Bank: Interbank. K Bank 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, Holvi or K Bank?
Holvi holds a E-money inst. licence under Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) as an Electronic Money Institution. Operating in Germany under EU PSD2 passporting. Customer funds are safeguarded under EMI rules — held in segregated accounts at credit institutions — and are NOT covered by the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS, €100K ceiling) which applies to credit-institution licensees only. Holvi was acquired by BBVA in 2016 and operated as BBVA's Finnish SMB neobank arm until 2022, when it was sold back to independent ownership. Verified 2026-05.; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. K Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. K Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Holvi and K Bank?
Holvi operates in 2 countries; K 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.