Penta vs Holvi.
Penta (P61/100) and Holvi (H55/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Holvi leads Penta 3-1.
| H Holvi №61 · Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority 55 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 55 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €9 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.2 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Holvi if…
The Finnish + German SMB neobank with the deepest tax-return-ready bookkeeping integration in the Nordic + DACH region. Procountor (FI Steuerberater equivalent) + DATEV / Lexoffice (DE Steuerberater standards) integration depth is the structural differentiator versus Qonto / Finom. EMI-licensed under FIN-FSA; one of the longest-operating EU SMB neobanks (founded 2011, briefly BBVA-owned 2016-2022, now independent).
Pick Penta if…
The German SME-focused partner-bank neobank with the deepest DATEV-first workflow in the category. Customer deposits sit at Solaris Bank AG (BaFin-licensed credit institution) with DGS pass-through cover — structurally distinct from EMI-licensed Tide / Finom / Anna / Holvi. The structural fit for German GmbH / UG companies needing DGS-protected operating cash plus DATEV / Lexoffice / sevDesk integration depth without Qonto's freelancer-tier UX baggage.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Holvi won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Holvi won 2 of 2
Penta vs Holvi — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Holvi better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Holvi leads Penta 3–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Holvi 55/100 vs Penta 61/100. Holvi is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Holvi or Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Holvi: €9; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Holvi: 1.00%; Penta: 1.00%. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Holvi or Penta?
Holvi holds a E-money inst. licence under Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) as an Electronic Money Institution. Operating in Germany under EU PSD2 passporting. Customer funds are safeguarded under EMI rules — held in segregated accounts at credit institutions — and are NOT covered by the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS, €100K ceiling) which applies to credit-institution licensees only. Holvi was acquired by BBVA in 2016 and operated as BBVA's Finnish SMB neobank arm until 2022, when it was sold back to independent ownership. Verified 2026-05.; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Holvi and Penta?
Holvi operates in 2 countries; Penta 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.