Rakuten Bank vs YAP.
Rakuten Bank (R70/100) and YAP (Y69/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Rakuten Bank leads YAP 4-2.
| R Rakuten Bank №33 · JFSA 70 /100 | Y YAP №40 · CBUAE 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 70 /100 | 69 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | Interbank | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank JFSA | Partner-bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.2 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Rakuten Bank if…
Largest Japanese internet-only bank by customer count (~14M+) and the only TSE Prime-listed pure-play net bank (TYO: 5838, IPO 21 April 2023 — the largest Japanese IPO in five years at the time). Originally chartered as eBank in 2001; acquired by Rakuten Group (TYO: 4755) in 2009. Structural moat is the Rakuten Points + Rakuten Card + Rakuten Securities + Rakuten Mobile + Rakuten Ichiba ecosystem — points cross-pollinate across the entire surface area. Full FSA Banking Act licence; statutory DICJ member at the JPY 10,000,000 ceiling.
Pick YAP if…
UAE expat-focused digital bank — partner-bank model via RAK Bank. Strong remittance corridor to Pakistan. Multi-currency wallet differentiates vs. AED-only competitors. AE DPS cover applies via the RAK parent.
- Best for fees Tied
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach Tied
- Best for ux Rakuten Bank won 1 of 2
Rakuten Bank vs YAP — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Rakuten Bank better than YAP?
Under our v3 methodology, Rakuten Bank leads YAP 4–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Rakuten Bank 70/100 vs YAP 69/100. Rakuten Bank is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Rakuten Bank or YAP cheaper?
Monthly fee — Rakuten Bank: €0; YAP: €0. Card FX markup — Rakuten Bank: Interbank; YAP: Interbank. Tied across fee rows. See the Fees section of the matrix above for ATM caps and the rest.
Which is safer for deposits, Rakuten Bank or YAP?
Rakuten Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. YAP holds a Partner-bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Both score equally on regulatory protection rows.
Where can I use Rakuten Bank and YAP?
Rakuten Bank operates in 1 country; YAP operates in 2 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?
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