bunq vs Sony Bank.
bunq (b87/100) and Sony Bank (S69/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. bunq leads Sony Bank 5-2.
| b bunq №02 · DNB 87 /100 | S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 87 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.15% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank DNB | Full bank JFSA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €100,000 EU.DGS.NL | Safeguarded No DGS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 30 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.2 ★ 22k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | — | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick bunq if…
Pick if you travel constantly and want unlimited free FX with a Dutch licence — €3.99/mo for the Easy Bank tier.
Pick Sony Bank if…
Japan's longest-running internet-only bank (operational since June 2001) — predates Rakuten Bank's eBank acquisition and tied with SBI Sumishin for first-net-bank tenure. The structural specificity is multi-currency forex strength: foreign-currency deposit accounts in 12+ currencies plus retail FX margin trading, the deepest retail-FX product among Japanese chartered net banks. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Financial Group, in turn part of Sony Group Corporation (TYO: 6758). Sony Bank ≠ Sony Pay / Sony Mobile Wallet — the bank holds a full Banking Act licence, the wallet brands do not.
- Best for fees bunq won 1 of 4
- Best for protection bunq won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Tied
bunq vs Sony Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is bunq better than Sony Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, bunq leads Sony Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: bunq 87/100 vs Sony Bank 69/100. bunq is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is bunq or Sony Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — bunq: €0; Sony Bank: €0. Card FX markup — bunq: Interbank; Sony Bank: 0.15%. bunq 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, bunq or Sony Bank?
bunq holds a Full bank licence under DNB; deposit guarantee per depositor: €100,000. Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. bunq is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use bunq and Sony Bank?
bunq operates in 30 countries; Sony 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.