Sony Bank vs Zand.
Sony Bank (S77/100) and Zand (Z74/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| S Sony Bank №15 · JFSA 77 /100 | Z Zand №26 · CBUAE 74 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 77 /100 | 74 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.15% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank JFSA | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €10,000,000 JP.DICJ | Safeguarded AE.DPS |
| 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 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.0 |
| 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 Zand if…
UAE's first fully-digital full bank — CBUAE-licensed since 2021. Holds its own banking licence (not a partner-bank). Both retail and corporate banking offered. Adds full-bank diversity to the UAE set alongside Wio.
- Best for fees Zand won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Zand won 1 of 2
Sony Bank vs Zand — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Sony Bank better than Zand?
Sony Bank and Zand are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Sony Bank 77/100 vs Zand 74/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Sony Bank or Zand cheaper?
Monthly fee — Sony Bank: €0; Zand: €0. Card FX markup — Sony Bank: 0.15%; Zand: Interbank. Zand 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 Zand?
Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €10,000,000. Zand holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Sony Bank and Zand?
Sony Bank operates in 1 country; Zand 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.