Kakao Bank vs Penta.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and Penta (P61/100), 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 Penta 7-1.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | P Penta №49 · BaFin 61 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 61 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €9 /mo |
| 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 | Full bank KDIC | Partner-bank BaFin |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 3.2 ★ 0k reviews |
| 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 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 Kakao Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Kakao Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Kakao Bank vs Penta — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than Penta?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads Penta 7–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs Penta 61/100. 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 Penta cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; Penta: €9. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; Penta: 1.00%. Kakao Bank wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Kakao Bank or Penta?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Penta holds a Partner-bank licence under BaFin; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and Penta?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; 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.