Varo Money vs TymeBank.
Varo Money (V82/100) and TymeBank (T50/100), 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 TymeBank 6-0.
| T TymeBank №73 · SARB 50 /100 | V Varo Money №04 · OCC 82 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 82 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | Full bank OCC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | $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 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.3 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick TymeBank if…
First South African full-bank digital launch (2018). Tyme Group's flagship product — the same operator behind GoTyme (PH). Pick n Pay + Boxer in-store card kiosks differentiate vs. all-app competitors. SARB-regulated full bank, CODI ZAR 100,000 cover. ~9M ZA customers.
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 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Varo Money won 2 of 2
Varo Money vs TymeBank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is TymeBank better than Varo Money?
Under our v3 methodology, Varo Money leads TymeBank 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: TymeBank 50/100 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 TymeBank or Varo Money cheaper?
Monthly fee — TymeBank: €0; Varo Money: €0. Card FX markup — TymeBank: 2.00%; 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, TymeBank or Varo Money?
TymeBank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. 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 TymeBank and Varo Money?
TymeBank 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.