Chime vs Sony Bank.
Chime (C74/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Chime leads Sony Bank 5-2.
| C Chime №23 · FDIC 74 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 74 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Partner-bank FDIC | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | $250,000 US.FDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 25k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Chime if…
Pick if you want a fee-free US daily-banking account with FDIC pass-through coverage and 60k fee-free ATMs.
Pick Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees Chime won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Sony Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Chime won 2 of 2
Chime vs Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Chime better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Chime leads Sony Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Chime 74/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. Chime is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Chime or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Chime: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Chime: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Chime 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, Chime or Sony Bank?
Chime holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Chime and Sony Bank?
Chime operates in 1 country; Sony 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.