Kakao Bank vs Meem.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and Meem (M74/100), 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 Meem 4-0.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | M Meem №24 · SAMA 74 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 74 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 2.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank KDIC | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| 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 Meem if…
Digital banking arm of Gulf International Bank — one of the first KSA digital-only banking offerings (launched 2014). Sharia-compliant by structure (profit-share rather than interest). SA Deposit Protection cover via the GIB licence. Distinguishes itself vs. stc Bank by depth of wealth-management access through the GIB private-banking heritage.
- Best for fees Kakao Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
Kakao Bank vs Meem — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than Meem?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads Meem 4–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs Meem 74/100. 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 Meem cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; Meem: €0. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; Meem: 2.00%. Kakao 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, Kakao Bank or Meem?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Meem holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and Meem?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; Meem 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.