Meem vs Sony Bank.
Meem (M74/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Meem leads Sony Bank 2-1.
| M Meem №24 · SAMA 74 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 74 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | Safeguarded No DGS |
| 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 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Meem if…
Digital banking arm of Gulf International Bank — one of the first KSA digital-only banking offerings (launched 2014). Sharia-compliant by structure (profit-share rather than interest). SA Deposit Protection cover via the GIB licence. Distinguishes itself vs. stc Bank by depth of wealth-management access through the GIB private-banking heritage.
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 Sony Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Meem won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
Meem vs Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Meem better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Meem leads Sony Bank 2–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Meem 74/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. Meem is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Meem or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Meem: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Meem: 2.00%; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Sony 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, Meem or Sony Bank?
Meem holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Meem is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Meem and Sony Bank?
Meem 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.