Sony Bank vs Up Bank.
Sony Bank (S69/100) and Up Bank (U55/100), 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 №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | U Up Bank №60 · PRA 55 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 69 /100 | 55 /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 | Payment inst. PRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | Safeguarded AU.FCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.0 ★ 2k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 |
| 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 Up Bank if…
Australian neobank built on top of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's APRA-regulated charter — direct FCS AUD 250,000 cover via the parent. Strongest Australian neobank UX for under-35 consumers; budgeting and pay-day forecasting are best-in-class. No FX markup makes it travel-friendly.
- Best for fees Up Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Sony Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Up Bank won 2 of 2
Sony Bank vs Up Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Sony Bank better than Up Bank?
Sony Bank and Up Bank are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Sony Bank 69/100 vs Up Bank 55/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Sony Bank or Up Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Sony Bank: €0; Up Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Sony Bank: 0.15%; Up Bank: Interbank. Up 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, Sony Bank or Up Bank?
Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Up Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under PRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Sony Bank and Up Bank?
Sony Bank operates in 1 country; Up 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.