Meem vs Bank Zero.
Meem (M74/100) and Bank Zero (B50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Meem leads Bank Zero 4-1.
| B Bank Zero №75 · SARB 50 /100 | M Meem №24 · SAMA 74 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 74 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | 2.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Bank Zero if…
South Africa's first fully-digital mutual bank — SARB-licensed since 2018, operationally live since 2021. Founded by ex-FNB executives (Yatin Narsai, Michael Jordaan). Owner-operator model: no shareholders, profits flow back to depositors via lower fees and competitive sub-account interest. The fee-free counterpart to Discovery Bank's premium tier-based model.
Pick Meem if…
Digital banking arm of Gulf International Bank — one of the first KSA digital-only banking offerings (launched 2014). Sharia-compliant by structure (profit-share rather than interest). SA Deposit Protection cover via the GIB licence. Distinguishes itself vs. stc Bank by depth of wealth-management access through the GIB private-banking heritage.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Meem won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Meem won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Bank Zero won 1 of 2
Meem vs Bank Zero — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Bank Zero better than Meem?
Under our v3 methodology, Meem leads Bank Zero 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs Meem 74/100. Meem is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Bank Zero or Meem cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; Meem: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; Meem: 2.00%. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Bank Zero or Meem?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Meem holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Meem is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Bank Zero and Meem?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; Meem 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.