Rakuten Bank vs TymeBank.
Rakuten Bank (R70/100) and TymeBank (T50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Rakuten Bank leads TymeBank 4-1.
| R Rakuten Bank №33 · JFSA 70 /100 | T TymeBank №73 · SARB 50 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 50 /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 JFSA | Payment inst. SARB |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | Safeguarded ZA.CODI |
| 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 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.3 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Rakuten Bank if…
Largest Japanese internet-only bank by customer count (~14M+) and the only TSE Prime-listed pure-play net bank (TYO: 5838, IPO 21 April 2023 — the largest Japanese IPO in five years at the time). Originally chartered as eBank in 2001; acquired by Rakuten Group (TYO: 4755) in 2009. Structural moat is the Rakuten Points + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Ichiba ecosystem — points cross-pollinate across the entire surface area. Full FSA Banking Act licence; statutory DICJ member at the JPY 10,000,000 ceiling.
Pick TymeBank if…
First South African full-bank digital launch (2018). Tyme Group's flagship product — the same operator behind GoTyme (PH). Pick n Pay + Boxer in-store card kiosks differentiate vs. all-app competitors. SARB-regulated full bank, CODI ZAR 100,000 cover. ~9M ZA customers.
- Best for fees Rakuten Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Rakuten Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Rakuten Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux TymeBank won 1 of 2
Rakuten Bank vs TymeBank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Rakuten Bank better than TymeBank?
Under our v3 methodology, Rakuten Bank leads TymeBank 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Rakuten Bank 70/100 vs TymeBank 50/100. Rakuten Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Rakuten Bank or TymeBank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Rakuten Bank: €0; TymeBank: €0. Card FX markup — Rakuten Bank: Interbank; TymeBank: 2.00%. Rakuten 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, Rakuten Bank or TymeBank?
Rakuten Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. TymeBank holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Rakuten Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Rakuten Bank and TymeBank?
Rakuten Bank operates in 1 country; TymeBank 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?
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