Zand vs Holvi.
Zand (Z77/100) and Holvi (H55/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Zand leads Holvi 6-3.
| H Holvi №61 · Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority 55 /100 | Z Zand №15 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 55 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €9 /mo | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.00% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | E-money inst. | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 2 countries | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | 4.0 ★ 1k reviews | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.2 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Holvi if…
The Finnish + German SMB neobank with the deepest tax-return-ready bookkeeping integration in the Nordic + DACH region. Procountor (FI Steuerberater equivalent) + DATEV / Lexoffice (DE Steuerberater standards) integration depth is the structural differentiator versus Qonto / Finom. EMI-licensed under FIN-FSA; one of the longest-operating EU SMB neobanks (founded 2011, briefly BBVA-owned 2016-2022, now independent).
Pick Zand if…
UAE's first fully-digital full bank — CBUAE-licensed since 2021. Holds its own banking licence (not a partner-bank). Both retail and corporate banking offered. Adds full-bank diversity to the UAE set alongside Wio.
- Best for fees Zand won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Zand won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Holvi won 2 of 2
Zand vs Holvi — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Holvi better than Zand?
Under our v3 methodology, Zand leads Holvi 6–3 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Holvi 55/100 vs Zand 77/100. Zand is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Holvi or Zand cheaper?
Monthly fee — Holvi: €9; Zand: €0. Card FX markup — Holvi: 1.00%; Zand: Interbank. Zand 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, Holvi or Zand?
Holvi holds a E-money inst. licence under Holvi Payment Services Oy is authorised and regulated by the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) as an Electronic Money Institution. Operating in Germany under EU PSD2 passporting. Customer funds are safeguarded under EMI rules — held in segregated accounts at credit institutions — and are NOT covered by the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS, €100K ceiling) which applies to credit-institution licensees only. Holvi was acquired by BBVA in 2016 and operated as BBVA's Finnish SMB neobank arm until 2022, when it was sold back to independent ownership. Verified 2026-05.; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Zand holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Zand is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Holvi and Zand?
Holvi operates in 2 countries; Zand 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.