Sony Bank vs Novo.
Sony Bank (S77/100) and Novo (N72/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Sony Bank leads Novo 4-3.
| N Novo №30 · FDIC 72 /100 | S Sony Bank №15 · JFSA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | €10,000,000 JP.DICJ |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Novo if…
The integration-first US business neobank. Boost is the structural feature: Stripe and Square payouts arrive 1-2 business days earlier than at any competitor, which materially shifts cash-flow timing for e-commerce sellers and agencies invoicing on net-30. The third-party app marketplace (~11+ named integrations including Wise for cross-border) is deeper than Bluevine, Mercury, or Found, and Middlesex Federal Savings has been the continuous sponsor bank since launch — uncommon stability in BaaS. Trade-off: $250K single-bank FDIC ceiling (no sweep), no yield product, and weaker multi-user permissions than Relay.
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 Novo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Sony Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Novo won 2 of 2
Sony Bank vs Novo — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Sony Bank leads Novo 4–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs Sony Bank 77/100. Sony Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Novo 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, Novo or Sony Bank?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €10,000,000. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Novo and Sony Bank?
Novo 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.