stc Bank vs Ualá.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Ualá (U49/100), 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 stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | U Ualá №81 · BCRA 49 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 49 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | 4.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Payment inst. BCRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | Safeguarded AR.SEDESA |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 3 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 6 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 2.4 ★ 5k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
Pick Ualá if…
The default Argentine fintech card (~9M users in AR). Wilobank acquisition (2022) gave Ualá a full Argentine banking licence — converts the wallet to a chartered bank for AR depositors. Mexican + Colombian expansions via local subsidiaries. Argentine inflation-hedge yield (Rendimientos) is a near-mandatory product for ARS holders.
- Best for fees stc Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Ualá won 3 of 3
- Best for ux Ualá won 1 of 2
stc Bank vs Ualá — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than Ualá?
stc Bank and Ualá are tied 4–4 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs Ualá 49/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is stc Bank or Ualá cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; Ualá: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; Ualá: 4.00%. stc 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, stc Bank or Ualá?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Ualá holds a Payment inst. licence under BCRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use stc Bank and Ualá?
stc Bank operates in 1 country; Ualá operates in 3 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.