Starling Bank vs ALAT by Wema.
Starling Bank (S77/100) and ALAT by Wema (A75/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. ALAT by Wema leads Starling Bank 3-2.
| A ALAT by Wema №19 · CBN 75 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 75 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 3.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank CBN | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €5,000,000 NG.NDIC | £85,000 GB.FSCS |
| 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 4.4 · And 4.5 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick ALAT by Wema if…
Nigeria's first fully-digital bank — launched 2017 as a digital arm of Wema Bank (NGX-listed, CBN-licensed since 1945). Operates under the parent's full-bank licence (so NDIC ₦5M cover applies, vs. the ₦2M microfinance ceiling that Kuda + OPay sit under). Strongest domestic savings rate ladder in NG (up to 12% on goal-locked tenures).
Pick Starling Bank if…
Pick if you bank in the UK and want a clearing bank for personal + business with no retail crypto, no brokerage.
- Best for fees Starling Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection ALAT by Wema won 1 of 2
- Best for reach ALAT by Wema won 1 of 3
- Best for ux ALAT by Wema won 1 of 2
Starling Bank vs ALAT by Wema — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is ALAT by Wema better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, ALAT by Wema leads Starling Bank 3–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: ALAT by Wema 75/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. ALAT by Wema is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is ALAT by Wema or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — ALAT by Wema: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — ALAT by Wema: 3.00%; Starling Bank: Interbank. Starling 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, ALAT by Wema or Starling Bank?
ALAT by Wema holds a Full bank licence under CBN; deposit guarantee per depositor: €5,000,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. ALAT by Wema is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use ALAT by Wema and Starling Bank?
ALAT by Wema operates in 1 country; Starling 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.