Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
ActivoBank vs bunq
bunq
ActivoBank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | ActivoBankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | bunqReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 3% |
| Currencies | 30 | Not confirmed |
| Local account details | Not confirmed | IBAN |
| Transfer fee | 0 EUR - ActivoBank charges no fee for the Wise international transfer service; only Wise's fee applies, a percentage of the amount sent that varies by currency and is shown before confirming | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Monthly fee (€0), Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000).
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Key differences
- ActivoBank scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Founded is lower at ActivoBank: 1994 vs 2012.
- bunq is licensed in 6 more countries.
- bunq is available in 6 more countries.
- Support channels: only ActivoBank offers Phone.
- Support channels: only bunq offers Email, Chat.
Our verdict on each
ActivoBank
ActivoBank suits anyone who wants a Portuguese bank account with no monthly fee and interest paid on savings they can still reach. It is a PT bank under Banco de Portugal, deposits sit in the EU scheme, and the savings rate of 2.5% is variable.
bunq
bunq suits savers who want an easy-access euro account that costs nothing to keep and pays a variable rate with weekly interest, protected by an EU guarantee. The rate of 3.01% is solid rather than remarkable, and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.1Monthly fee of €0 on a no monthly fee account, with a currency conversion fee of 3% on the free plan. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.1Rate of 3.01% that is variable, close to the savings median of 3%. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.7 |
How they place
| Ranking | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 174 of 1420 | 6 of 1420 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Not confirmed | Expats, Travelers, Business, Student |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Features | Not confirmed | Joint account, Digital only |
| Legal entity | Banco ActivoBank, S.A. | bunq B.V. |
| Headquarters | Portugal | Netherlands |
| Founded | 1994Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.5% | 3.01%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | No term: money can be taken out or added at any time; interest calculated daily and paid monthly; maximum remunerated daily balance 20,000 EUR with Plano AB Premium, 5,000 EUR with Plano AB Plus | Withdraw any amount free up to 2 times a month, rising to 3 free monthly withdrawals after 12 months; interest paid weekly |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Money transfer
| Fact | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Delivery time | About a quarter of transfers arrive in a few seconds; others may take only a few minutes, estimate depends on destination currency, country, security checks and timing | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank | Not confirmed |
| Fee to send 1,000 | €0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivoBank | bunq | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0at the median | €0at the median | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 3%highest quarter | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 30highest quarter | Not confirmed | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
ActivoBank
Pros
- No monthly fee on the account, so nothing is deducted from your balance each month
- Savings interest of 2.5% at a variable rate, calculated daily and paid monthly
- Currency conversion carries a 0% margin across 30 currencies
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, so there is no live chat for quick questions
- Interest is capped at a maximum remunerated daily balance, higher on Plano AB Premium than on Plano AB Plus
- Only Wise's own transfer fee applies on international transfers, a percentage shown before you confirm
bunq
Pros
- The monthly fee is €0 and the pricing model is no monthly fee, so keeping the account open costs nothing each month.
- Interest is paid weekly and the rate type is variable, so money keeps earning between withdrawals without a term to serve out.
- Balances are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so there is a payout route if the provider fails.
Cons
- The rate type is variable, so the return follows the base rate and the account ranks 240 of 473 brands on the headline rate.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, which leaves phone callers with a narrower route in.
- Features list joint account and digital only, so the service is digital only and there is no branch counter.
Who each suits
ActivoBank
Who it suits
- Anyone living in PT who wants everyday banking without a monthly charge
- Savers who want interest on money they can still withdraw at any time
- People who send money abroad and want a low conversion margin
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting UK or US deposit protection, since the EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 is the EU scheme only
- People who need live chat support, as support runs on phone and help centre
bunq
Who it suits
- People who want an easy-access euro account that pays interest weekly and costs nothing to hold.
- Travellers and expats, part of the expats, travelers and business bunq targets, who convert currency and want a local IBAN.
- Students and savers who value EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 over a higher rate.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing a top fixed rate, since 24.19% at plazo pays far more.
- Customers who need a phone helpline, as support runs on email, chat and help centre only.
- Anyone wanting a branch counter, because features list joint account and digital only and the service is digital only.
Country by country
| Country | ActivoBank | bunq |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Portugal | Yes | No |
| Spain | No | Yes |
Questions about each
ActivoBank
Is there a monthly fee on the account?+
There is no monthly fee, so nothing is taken out of your balance each month. Money in the account can be added or taken out at any time, and the savings side pays 2.5% at a variable rate on top.
How is my money protected?+
ActivoBank is a bank supervised by Banco de Portugal in Portugal, and deposits are covered by the EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. If you bank in the UK or the US, the local scheme amounts differ from EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
bunq
What does bunq charge to keep a savings account?+
The monthly fee is €0 and the account is priced on a no monthly fee basis, so there is no recurring charge to keep it open. The one cost to watch when you spend abroad is currency conversion at 3% on the free plan. Interest is still paid weekly with no fee deducted.
How much interest does the account pay?+
The rate is 3.01% and the rate type is variable, so the figure follows the base rate instead of being fixed to a term. Across the savings accounts on the site, the median headline rate is 3%, which puts bunq near the middle. Interest is credited weekly rather than monthly.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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bunq
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