Sony Bank vs Wise.
Sony Bank (S69/100) and Wise (W68/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wise leads Sony Bank 5-2.
| S Sony Bank №41 · JFSA 69 /100 | W Wise №42 · FCA 68 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 69 /100 | 68 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 /mo |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 0.15% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | €200 /mo |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank JFSA | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded No DGS | Safeguarded GB.FSCS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 160 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | Yes | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | 4.3 ★ 220k reviews |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.1 ★ iOS 4.2 · And 4.0 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.7 · And 4.2 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
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.
Pick Wise if…
Pick if FX and multi-currency receiving accounts dominate your usage — not for stocks or crypto.
- Best for fees Wise won 2 of 4
- Best for protection Sony Bank won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wise won 1 of 3
- Best for ux Wise won 2 of 2
Sony Bank vs Wise — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Sony Bank better than Wise?
Under our v3 methodology, Wise leads Sony Bank 5–2 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Sony Bank 69/100 vs Wise 68/100. Wise is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Sony Bank or Wise cheaper?
Monthly fee — Sony Bank: €0; Wise: €0. Card FX markup — Sony Bank: 0.15%; Wise: Interbank. Wise 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, Sony Bank or Wise?
Sony Bank holds a Full bank licence under JFSA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Wise holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Sony Bank is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Sony Bank and Wise?
Sony Bank operates in 1 country; Wise operates in 160 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?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.