Wio vs ALAT by Wema.
Wio (W77/100) 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. A close tie.
| A ALAT by Wema №19 · CBN 75 /100 | W Wio №13 · CBUAE 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 CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €5,000,000 NG.NDIC | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.5 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.0 |
| 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 Wio if…
UAE-native digital full-bank, CBUAE-licensed since 2022. Backed by ADQ + Alpha Dhabi + Mubadala + e&. Instant onboarding via Emirates ID and a multi-currency core (AED + USD + EUR + GBP) make it the strongest local-licensed competitor to Liv. and Mashreq Neo. AE DPS cover under the new UAE Deposit Protection Scheme.
- Best for fees Wio won 1 of 4
- Best for protection ALAT by Wema won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux ALAT by Wema won 1 of 2
Wio 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 Wio?
ALAT by Wema and Wio are tied 2–2 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: ALAT by Wema 75/100 vs Wio 77/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is ALAT by Wema or Wio cheaper?
Monthly fee — ALAT by Wema: €0; Wio: €0. Card FX markup — ALAT by Wema: 3.00%; Wio: Interbank. Wio 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 Wio?
ALAT by Wema holds a Full bank licence under CBN; deposit guarantee per depositor: €5,000,000. Wio holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. ALAT by Wema is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use ALAT by Wema and Wio?
ALAT by Wema operates in 1 country; Wio 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.