Kakao Bank vs Memo Bank.
Kakao Bank (K78/100) and Memo Bank (M56/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Kakao Bank leads Memo Bank 7-1.
| K Kakao Bank №10 · KDIC 78 /100 | M Memo Bank №59 · ACPR 56 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 78 /100 | 56 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €449 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | 0.50% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank KDIC | E-money inst. ACPR |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €50,000,000 KR.KDIC | Safeguarded EU.DGS.FR |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.6 ★ 0k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Kakao Bank if…
Largest Korean digital bank by user count (~24M). Public on KOSPI since 2021. Deep integration with KakaoTalk messenger — distribution moat. Mini Stock fractional investing is a strong consumer-investing entry point.
Pick Memo Bank if…
The French mid-market SME bank that fills the structural gap between Qonto (freelancer-and-SME-led, ACPR credit institution) and chartered legacy banks (BNP Paribas Business, Société Générale Business). Full ACPR credit-institution licence with DGS protection. Mid-market SME tier (€1M-100M revenue) is the target audience; API-first treasury + Pennylane integration is the SMB-tech moat.
- Best for fees Kakao Bank won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Kakao Bank won 2 of 2
- Best for reach Kakao Bank won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Kakao Bank vs Memo Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Kakao Bank better than Memo Bank?
Under our v3 methodology, Kakao Bank leads Memo Bank 7–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Kakao Bank 78/100 vs Memo Bank 56/100. Kakao Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Kakao Bank or Memo Bank cheaper?
Monthly fee — Kakao Bank: €0; Memo Bank: €449. Card FX markup — Kakao Bank: Interbank; Memo Bank: 0.50%. Kakao Bank 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, Kakao Bank or Memo Bank?
Kakao Bank holds a Full bank licence under KDIC; deposit guarantee per depositor: €50,000,000. Memo Bank holds a E-money inst. licence under ACPR; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Kakao Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Kakao Bank and Memo Bank?
Kakao Bank operates in 1 country; Memo 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.