stc Bank vs Discovery Bank.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Discovery Bank (D45/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. stc Bank leads Discovery Bank 5-1.
| D Discovery Bank №82 · SARB 45 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 45 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €95 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | 1.50% |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Discovery Bank if…
Premium ZA digital-first bank backed by JSE-listed Discovery Group. SARB full-bank licence since 2019. Vitality Money behavioural-banking model — your rates and rewards rise with healthy financial behaviour, integrated with Discovery Health/Life. CODI cover. The only ZA digital bank with a serious premium-tier offering (Black tier with metal card, lounges, Vitality Travel).
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.
- Best for fees stc Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Discovery Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux stc Bank won 1 of 2
stc Bank vs Discovery Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Discovery Bank better than stc Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, stc Bank leads Discovery Bank 5–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Discovery Bank 45/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. stc Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Discovery Bank or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Discovery Bank: €95; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Discovery Bank: 1.50%; stc Bank: 1.50%. 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, Discovery Bank or stc Bank?
Discovery Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Discovery Bank and stc Bank?
Discovery Bank operates in 1 country; stc 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.