stc Bank vs Wise.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads stc Bank 5-4.
| s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| 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 Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 2 of 4
- Best for protection stc Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 2 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
stc Bank vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads stc Bank 5–4 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is stc Bank or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; Wise: Interbank. Wise wins more fee rows (2 of 4). See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, stc Bank or Wise?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. stc Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use stc Bank and Wise?
stc Bank operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 countries. 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.