stc Bank vs Kuda.
stc Bank (s76/100) 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 stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 60 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 5.00% | 1.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. FCA | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded NG.NDIC | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.7 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.6 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| 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 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 stc Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Kuda won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Kuda won 2 of 2
stc Bank vs Kuda — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kuda better than stc Bank?
Kuda and stc Bank are tied 4–4 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: Kuda 60/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is Kuda or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kuda: €0; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Kuda: 5.00%; stc Bank: 1.50%. stc 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 stc Bank?
Kuda holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kuda and stc Bank?
Kuda operates in 2 countries; 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.