stc Bank vs Novo.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Novo (N72/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Novo leads stc Bank 4-2.
| N Novo №28 · FDIC 72 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 72 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 3.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Novo if…
The integration-first US business neobank. Boost is the structural feature: Stripe and Square payouts arrive 1-2 business days earlier than at any competitor, which materially shifts cash-flow timing for e-commerce sellers and agencies invoicing on net-30. The third-party app marketplace (~11+ named integrations including Wise for cross-border) is deeper than Bluevine, Mercury, or Found, and Middlesex Federal Savings has been the continuous sponsor bank since launch — uncommon stability in BaaS. Trade-off: $250K single-bank FDIC ceiling (no sweep), no yield product, and weaker multi-user permissions than Relay.
Pick stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
- Best for fees Novo won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Novo won 2 of 2
stc Bank vs Novo — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Novo better than stc Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Novo leads stc Bank 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Novo 72/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. Novo is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Novo or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Novo: €0; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Novo: Interbank; stc Bank: 1.50%. Novo 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, Novo or stc Bank?
Novo holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Novo and stc Bank?
Novo operates in 1 country; stc 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.