Kakao Bank vs TymeBank.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and TymeBank (T50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Kakao Bank leads TymeBank 6-0.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | T TymeBank №73 · SARB 50 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 50 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 2.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank KDIC | Payment inst. SARB |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | Safeguarded ZA.CODI |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.3 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kakao Bank if…
Largest Korean digital bank by user count (~24M). Public on KOSPI since 2021. Deep integration with KakaoTalk messenger — distribution moat. Mini Stock fractional investing is a strong consumer-investing entry point.
Pick TymeBank if…
First South African full-bank digital launch (2018). Tyme Group's flagship product — the same operator behind GoTyme (PH). Pick n Pay + Boxer in-store card kiosks differentiate vs. all-app competitors. SARB-regulated full bank, CODI ZAR 100,000 cover. ~9M ZA customers.
- Best for fees Kakao Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Kakao Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
Kakao Bank vs TymeBank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than TymeBank?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads TymeBank 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs TymeBank 50/100. Kakao Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Kakao Bank or TymeBank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; TymeBank: €0. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; TymeBank: 2.00%. Kakao Bank 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, Kakao Bank or TymeBank?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. TymeBank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and TymeBank?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; TymeBank 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.