Rakuten Bank vs Kuda.
Rakuten Bank (R70/100) and Kuda (K60/100), 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.
| K Kuda №50 · FCA 60 /100 | R Rakuten Bank №33 · JFSA 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 60 /100 | 70 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 5.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded NG.NDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kuda if…
Largest Nigerian neobank by user count (~7M+). CBN microfinance bank charter — NDIC-insured but with the smaller microfinance-class ceiling. UK presence as Kuda Technologies adds GBP exposure for Nigerian diaspora customers. Free transfer limit (25/mo) is generous for the Nigerian market.
Pick Rakuten Bank if…
Largest Japanese internet-only bank by customer count (~14M+) and the only TSE Prime-listed pure-play net bank (TYO: 5838, IPO 21 April 2023 — the largest Japanese IPO in five years at the time). Originally chartered as eBank in 2001; acquired by Rakuten Group (TYO: 4755) in 2009. Structural moat is the Rakuten Points + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Ichiba ecosystem — points cross-pollinate across the entire surface area. Full FSA Banking Act licence; statutory DICJ member at the JPY 10,000,000 ceiling.
- Best for fees Rakuten Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Rakuten Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Kuda won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Kuda won 2 of 2
Rakuten Bank vs Kuda — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kuda better than Rakuten Bank?
Kuda and Rakuten Bank are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Kuda 60/100 vs Rakuten Bank 70/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Kuda or Rakuten Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kuda: €0; Rakuten Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kuda: 5.00%; Rakuten Bank: Interbank. Rakuten 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, Kuda or Rakuten Bank?
Kuda holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Rakuten Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Rakuten Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kuda and Rakuten Bank?
Kuda operates in 2 countries; Rakuten 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.