Mercury vs Discover Bank.
Mercury (M70/100) and Discover Bank (D60/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Mercury leads Discover Bank 5-2.
| D Discover Bank №51 · OCC 60 /100 | M Mercury №32 · FDIC 70 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 60 /100 | 71 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. OCC | Partner-bank FDIC |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded US.FDIC | $250,000 US.FDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.4 ★ 1k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 | 4.6 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Discover Bank if…
OCC-chartered direct bank, integrated with the Discover Card network. Famous for zero foreign-transaction fees + 1% cashback debit. Fully FDIC-insured. The card-network-integrated alternative to Ally for travellers + cashback-driven readers.
Pick Mercury if…
Pick if you run a US LLC or C-Corp and want $5M sweep FDIC coverage. Personal accounts not supported.
- Best for fees Discover Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Mercury won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Mercury won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Mercury vs Discover Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Discover Bank better than Mercury?
Under our v3 methodology, Mercury leads Discover Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Discover Bank 60/100 vs Mercury 70/100. Mercury is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Discover Bank or Mercury cheaper?
Monthly fee — Discover Bank: €0; Mercury: €0. Card FX markup — Discover Bank: Interbank; Mercury: 1.00%. Discover Bank 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, Discover Bank or Mercury?
Discover Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under OCC; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Mercury holds a Partner-bank licence under FDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: $250,000. Mercury is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Discover Bank and Mercury?
Discover Bank operates in 1 country; Mercury 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.