Kakao Bank vs Starling Bank.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and Starling Bank (S77/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Kakao Bank leads Starling Bank 4-0.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | S Starling Bank №12 · FCA 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank KDIC | Full bank FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | £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 4.6 · And 4.5 | — |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kakao Bank if…
Largest Korean digital bank by user count (~24M). Public on KOSPI since 2021. Deep integration with KakaoTalk messenger — distribution moat. Mini Stock fractional investing is a strong consumer-investing entry point.
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 Tied
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Kakao Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
Kakao Bank vs Starling Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than Starling Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads Starling Bank 4–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs Starling Bank 77/100. Kakao Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Kakao Bank or Starling Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; Starling Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; Starling Bank: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Kakao Bank or Starling Bank?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Starling Bank holds a Full bank licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: £85,000. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and Starling Bank?
Kakao Bank 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.