Memo Bank vs Wise.
Memo Bank (M72/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads Memo Bank 5-4.
| M Memo Bank №31 · ACPR 72 /100 | W Wise №44 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €449 /mo | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank ACPR | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.FR | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.6 ★ 0k reviews | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 3 of 4
- Best for protection Memo Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Memo Bank won 1 of 2
Memo Bank vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Memo Bank better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Memo Bank 5–4 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Memo Bank 72/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Memo Bank or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Memo Bank: €449; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Memo Bank: 0.50%; Wise: Interbank. Wise wins more fee rows (3 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Memo Bank or Wise?
Memo Bank holds a Full bank licence under ACPR; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Memo Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Memo Bank and Wise?
Memo Bank operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 countries. 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.