stc Bank vs Bank Zero.
stc Bank (s76/100) and Bank Zero (B50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. stc Bank leads Bank Zero 5-0.
| B Bank Zero №75 · SARB 50 /100 | s stc Bank №17 · SAMA 76 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 76 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | 1.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | Full bank SAMA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Bank Zero if…
South Africa's first fully-digital mutual bank — SARB-licensed since 2018, operationally live since 2021. Founded by ex-FNB executives (Yatin Narsai, Michael Jordaan). Owner-operator model: no shareholders, profits flow back to depositors via lower fees and competitive sub-account interest. The fee-free counterpart to Discovery Bank's premium tier-based model.
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 Tied
- Best for ux stc Bank won 1 of 2
stc Bank vs Bank Zero — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Bank Zero better than stc Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, stc Bank leads Bank Zero 5–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs stc Bank 76/100. stc Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Bank Zero or stc Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; stc Bank: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; 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, Bank Zero or stc Bank?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; 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 Bank Zero and stc Bank?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; 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.