Varo Money vs stc Bank.
Varo Money (V82/100) and stc Bank (s76/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Varo Money leads stc Bank 5-0.
| s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 82 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Full bank OCC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.2 ★ 8k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · 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 Varo Money if…
First US neobank to receive an OCC national bank charter (July 2020). Direct FDIC member — your money sits at Varo Bank, N.A., not a sponsor. Headline 5.00% APY savings rate on the first $5K with direct deposit — among the highest in the US neobank market.
- Best for fees Varo Money won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Varo Money won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Varo Money won 2 of 2
Varo Money vs stc Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than Varo Money?
Under our v3 methodology, Varo Money leads stc Bank 5–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs Varo Money 82/100. Varo Money is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is stc Bank or Varo Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; Varo Money: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; Varo Money: Interbank. Varo Money 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 Varo Money?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Varo Money holds a Full bank licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Varo Money is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use stc Bank and Varo Money?
stc Bank operates in 1 country; Varo Money 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.