stc Bank vs YAP.
stc Bank (s76/100) 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. A close tie.
| s stc Bank №16 · SAMA 76 /100 | Y YAP №34 · CBUAE 69 /100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Composite score Out of 100 | 76 /100 | 69 /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 | Partner-bank CBUAE |
| Deposit guarantee Per depositor | €200,000 SA.SAMA-DPS | €250,000 AE.DPS |
| Reach | ||
| Markets served Licensed jurisdictions | 1 country | 2 countries |
| Crypto Coins available | No | No |
| Stocks & ETFs Self-directed | No | No |
| UX | ||
| Trustpilot Customer score | — | — |
| App store iOS + Android avg | 4.5 ★ iOS 4.6 · And 4.5 | 4.3 ★ iOS 4.3 · And 4.2 |
| 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 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 YAP won 1 of 4
- Best for protection Tied
- Best for reach YAP won 1 of 3
- Best for ux stc Bank won 1 of 2
stc Bank vs YAP — FAQ
Quick answers to the four questions the search-bar asks most about a head-to-head.
Is stc Bank better than YAP?
stc Bank and YAP are tied 3–3 across 12 dimensions under our v3 methodology. Composite scores: stc Bank 76/100 vs YAP 69/100. The right pick depends on which dimension you weight most heavily.
Is stc Bank or YAP cheaper?
Monthly fee — stc Bank: €0; YAP: €0. Card FX markup — stc Bank: 1.50%; YAP: Interbank. YAP 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 YAP?
stc Bank holds a Full bank licence under SAMA; deposit guarantee per depositor: €200,000. 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 stc Bank and YAP?
stc 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?
The dynamic compare picker handles up to four banks. Add this pair plus one or two more and we'll resolve every row.