Wio vs stc Bank.
Wio (W77/100) and stc Bank (s76/100), scored on the same six pillars and compared row-by-row. Every cell is sourced from licence registers and live pricing pages, not opinion. Wio leads stc Bank 4-1.
| s stc Bank №16 · SAMA 76 /100 | W Wio №13 · CBUAE 77 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 77 /100 |
| Fees | ||
| Monthly fee Cheapest paid tier (€0 if free) | €0 Free tier | €0 Free tier |
| FX markup Debit card abroad | 1.50% | Interbank |
| Free FX / month EUR equivalent | €0 | €0 |
| Free ATM Before fee kicks in | — | — |
| Protection | ||
| Banking licence Tier | Full bank SAMA | Full bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 1 country |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | Yes |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.2 ★ iOS 4.4 · And 4.0 |
| Read review → | Read review → | |
Pick stc Bank if…
First SAMA-licensed digital full bank in Saudi Arabia (received bank licence 2023, originally launched as stc pay in 2017). Backed by Saudi Telecom (stc) — telecom-grade reach across the Kingdom. Multi-currency support and instant onboarding via Absher distinguish it from legacy KSA banks. SAMA Deposit Protection Fund cover.
Pick Wio if…
UAE-native digital full-bank, CBUAE-licensed since 2022. Backed by ADQ + Alpha Dhabi + Mubadala + e&. Instant onboarding via Emirates ID and a multi-currency core (AED + USD + EUR + GBP) make it the strongest local-licensed competitor to Liv. and Mashreq Neo. AE DPS cover under the new UAE Deposit Protection Scheme.
- Best for fees Wio won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Wio won 1 of 2
- Best for reach Wio won 1 of 3
- Best for ux stc Bank won 1 of 2
Wio vs stc Bank — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than Wio?
Under our v3 methodology, Wio leads stc Bank 4–1 across 12 dimensions. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs Wio 77/100. Wio is stronger overall, but the right pick depends on which row matters most to you — fees, protection, reach, or app quality.
Is stc Bank or Wio cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; Wio: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; Wio: Interbank. Wio 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, stc Bank or Wio?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. Wio holds a Full bank licence under CBUAE; deposit guarantee per depositor: €250,000. Wio is the stronger pick on regulatory protection.
Where can I use stc Bank and Wio?
stc Bank operates in 1 country; Wio 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.