Kakao Bank vs stc Bank.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and stc Bank (s76/100), 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 stc Bank 4-0.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 1.50% |
| 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 | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| 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 stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
- Best for fees Kakao Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Kakao Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Kakao Bank vs stc Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than stc Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads stc Bank 4–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. 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 stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; stc Bank: 1.50%. 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 stc Bank?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. stc Bank 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 stc Bank?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; stc 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.