stc Bank vs Up Bank.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Up Bank (U55/100), 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.
| s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | U Up Bank №60 · PRA 55 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 55 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Payment inst. PRA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | Safeguarded AU.FCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.0 ★ 2k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.8 ★ iOS 4.8 · And 4.7 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Up Bank if…
Australian neobank built on top of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's APRA-regulated charter — direct FCS AUD 250,000 cover via the parent. Strongest Australian neobank UX for under-35 consumers; budgeting and pay-day forecasting are best-in-class. No FX markup makes it travel-friendly.
- Best for fees Up Bank won 1 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Up Bank won 2 of 2
stc Bank vs Up Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than Up Bank?
stc Bank and Up Bank are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs Up Bank 55/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is stc Bank or Up Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; Up Bank: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; Up Bank: Interbank. Up 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, stc Bank or Up Bank?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Up Bank holds a Payment inst. licence under PRA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use stc Bank and Up Bank?
stc Bank operates in 1 country; Up 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.