Chipper Cash vs Bank Zero.
Chipper Cash (C62/100) and Bank Zero (B50/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Chipper Cash leads Bank Zero 6-0.
| B Bank Zero №60 · SARB 50 /100 | C Chipper Cash №40 · FCA 62 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 50 /100 | 62 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 2.00% | 1.00% |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Payment inst. SARB | E-money inst. FCA |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | Safeguarded ZA.CODI | Safeguarded NG.NDIC |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 9 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | 5 coins |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.5 · And 4.4 | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.5 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick Bank Zero if…
South Africa's first fully-digital mutual bank — SARB-licensed since 2018, operationally live since 2021. Founded by ex-FNB executives (Yatin Narsai, Michael Jordaan). Owner-operator model: no shareholders, profits flow back to depositors via lower fees and competitive sub-account interest. The fee-free counterpart to Discovery Bank's premium tier-based model.
Pick Chipper Cash if…
Pan-African EMI — operates in 9+ African countries + UK + US. Multi-jurisdiction licensing means no single full-bank protection. ~5M users. Backed by Bezos Expeditions, Tiger Global. Anchors the pan-African angle alongside Mukuru.
- Best for fees Chipper Cash won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Chipper Cash won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Chipper Cash won 3 of 3
- Best for ux Tied
Chipper Cash vs Bank Zero — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is Bank Zero better than Chipper Cash?
Under our v3 methodology, Chipper Cash leads Bank Zero 6–0 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: Bank Zero 50/100 vs Chipper Cash 62/100. Chipper Cash is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is Bank Zero or Chipper Cash cheaper?
Monthly fee — Bank Zero: €0; Chipper Cash: €0. Card FX markup — Bank Zero: 2.00%; Chipper Cash: 1.00%. Chipper Cash 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, Bank Zero or Chipper Cash?
Bank Zero holds a Payment inst. licence under SARB; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Chipper Cash holds a E-money inst. licence under FCA; deposit guarantee per depositor: Safeguarded. Chipper Cash is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use Bank Zero and Chipper Cash?
Bank Zero operates in 1 country; Chipper Cash operates in 9 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.