Zand vs Memo Bank.
Zand (Z77/100) and Memo Bank (M56/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Zand leads Memo Bank 6-2.
| M Memo Bank №59 · ACPR 56 /100 | Z Zand №15 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 56 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €449 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. ACPR | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.6 ★ 0k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Memo Bank if…
The French mid-market SME bank that fills the structural gap between Qonto (freelancer-and-SME-led, ACPR credit institution) and chartered legacy banks (BNP Paribas Business, Société Générale Business). Full ACPR credit-institution licence with DGS protection. Mid-market SME tier (€1M-100M revenue) is the target audience; API-first treasury + Pennylane integration is the SMB-tech moat.
Pick Zand if…
UAE's first fully-digital full bank — CBUAE-licensed since 2021. Holds its own banking licence (not a partner-bank). Both retail and corporate banking offered. Adds full-bank diversity to the UAE set alongside Wio.
- Best for fees Zand won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Zand won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Zand won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Memo Bank won 2 of 2
Zand vs Memo Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Memo Bank better than Zand?
Under our v3 methodology, Zand leads Memo Bank 6–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Memo Bank 56/100 vs Zand 77/100. Zand is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Memo Bank or Zand cheaper?
Monthly fee — Memo Bank: €449; Zand: €0. Card FX markup — Memo Bank: 0.50%; Zand: Interbank. Zand wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Memo Bank or Zand?
Memo Bank holds a E-money inst. licence under ACPR; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Zand holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Zand is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Memo Bank and Zand?
Memo Bank operates in 1 country; Zand 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.