Sony Bank vs Kuda.
Sony Bank (S69/100) and Kuda (K60/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. A close tie.
| K Kuda №50 · FCA 60 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 60 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 5.00% | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded NG.NDIC | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kuda if…
Largest Nigerian neobank by user count (~7M+). CBN microfinance bank charter — NDIC-insured but with the smaller microfinance-class ceiling. UK presence as Kuda Technologies adds GBP exposure for Nigerian diaspora customers. Free transfer limit (25/mo) is generous for the Nigerian market.
Pick Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees Sony Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Kuda won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Kuda won 2 of 2
Sony Bank vs Kuda — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kuda better than Sony Bank?
Kuda and Sony Bank are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Kuda 60/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Kuda or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kuda: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kuda: 5.00%; Sony Bank: 0.15%. Sony 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, Kuda or Sony Bank?
Kuda holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kuda and Sony Bank?
Kuda operates in 2 countries; Sony 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.