Sony Bank vs TymeBank.
Sony Bank (S77/100) 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. Sony Bank leads TymeBank 5-1.
| S Sony Bank №15 · JFSA 77 /100 | T TymeBank №72 · SARB 50 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 50 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.15% | 2.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank JFSA | Payment inst. SARB |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €10,000,000 JP.DICJ | 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 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.3 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
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 Sony Bank 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 TymeBank won 1 of 2
Sony Bank vs TymeBank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Sony Bank better than TymeBank?
Under our v3 methodology, Sony Bank leads TymeBank 5–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Sony Bank 77/100 vs TymeBank 50/100. Sony Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Sony Bank or TymeBank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Sony Bank: €0; TymeBank: €0. Card FX markup — Sony Bank: 0.15%; TymeBank: 2.00%. 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, Sony Bank or TymeBank?
Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €10,000,000. TymeBank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Sony Bank and TymeBank?
Sony 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.