Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Fortuneo vs Salt Bank
Fortuneo
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Where Fortuneo and Salt Bank differ
| Compare | FortuneoReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 5% | 5.3% to 5.9%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Minimum deposit | €10 | RON 500 |
| Access terms | Savings accessible 24/7, withdrawals free from EUR 10 with no fees or penalties, interest credited annually | 3, 6 or 12 month terms in RON, EUR or USD; interest paid at maturity to the current account; deposits guaranteed up to EUR 100,000 per depositor by FGDB |
| Monthly fee | €0 | RON 0 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Fixed |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 months |
Same on both: Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000).
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.2.
- Salt Bank is available in 9 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Salt Bank: 5.3% to 5.9% vs 5%.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers Low FX.
Our verdict on each
Fortuneo
Fortuneo suits anyone in France who wants easy-access savings that earn a variable rate without a monthly charge. Arkea Direct Bank runs it under ACPR and ORIAS, savings sit under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, and a 5% headline rate beats the site median of 3%.
Salt Bank
Salt Bank is built for expats and travellers who bank across Romania and further afield: 19 currencies sit on the same account, local receiving details are iban, and Banca Nationala a Romaniei supervises the bank, with a savings option alongside that pays out at maturity. It scores 7.7 in the comparison.
Score breakdown
| Area | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8No monthly fee of €0 on savings, a currency conversion fee of 0%, transfers at 0 EUR (instant SEPA transfers free). | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. |
| Offer | 9.7HigherA variable headline rate of 5% on an easy-access account, with joint account and free ATM withdrawal features. | 9.5A fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. |
| Trust | 9.3 | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| France | ORIAS 07 008 441 | Not confirmed |
| Romania | Not confirmed | Banca Nationala a Romaniei (National Bank of Romania) P.J.R. 40-043 |
Available in 1 country for both. Additional countries for Salt Bank: 9.
What we checked
Fortuneo
- fortuneo.fr: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- acpr.banque-france.fr: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
- salt.bank: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 196 of 1420 | 73 of 1420 |
| Online banks | 50 of 402 | 17 of 402 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more |
| Legal entity | Arkea Direct Bank | Salt Bank S.A. |
| Headquarters | France | Romania |
| Founded | 2000 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | 0% |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 19 |
| Audience | Travelers | Expats, TravelersCovers more |
| Features | Joint account, Digital only, Free ATMCovers more | Free ATM, Digital only |
| Local account details | IBAN | IBAN |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | RON 900 |
| Transfer fee | 0 EUR (instant SEPA transfers free) | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fortuneo | Salt Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 5%above the median | 5.3% to 5.9%highest quarter | 3.25% |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 monthsbelow the median | 24 |
Median across 658 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Fortuneo
Pros
- No monthly fee of €0 on the savings account, matching the site median of €0.
- A variable headline rate of 5% against a site median of 3%.
- Savings under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, with Arkea Direct Bank regulated by ACPR and ORIAS.
Cons
- The rate is variable, so 5% can move rather than being locked in.
- Interest is credited annually, so credited growth shows up on the annual cycle rather than monthly.
- A branch counter is not among the features listed as joint account, digital only and free atm, so banking runs through the app.
Salt Bank
Pros
- Help is available by email, chat and phone.
- Cash withdrawals come with a free allowance of RON 900.
- Term deposits run in RON, EUR or USD and the interest lands in the current account at maturity.
Cons
- The service is digital only, per free atm and digital only, so there is no branch counter for cash or paperwork.
- Local receiving details are iban only, which limits how money can be received from other markets.
- The fixed deposit needs a minimum of RON 500 and ties the money up for the whole term.
Who each suits
Fortuneo
Who it suits
- People in France keeping money accessible day to day while it earns interest.
- Travellers who convert currency, with a 0% currency conversion fee.
- Couples who want to hold a joint account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a fixed rate, since the rate is variable.
- Anyone who needs a branch, as the account is digital-only.
- People who need monthly interest, as interest is credited annually.
Salt Bank
Who it suits
- Expats and travellers named under expats and travelers, who want local and overseas money in the same account.
- Anyone paid in and out in Romania, since 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania there.
- Savers who can wait for interest at maturity and collect it in the current account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not a fee-based decision: Skrill charges €0 a month and eToro £0, so price alone does not separate them.
- Not for people who need UK sort code or US routing numbers for incoming pay, since local details are iban only, the gap to weigh against PayPal Colombia.
Current offers
Fortuneo
Current offer
Bonus
EUR 80 for a first deposit account with Gold Mastercard: 80 EUR
First opening of a deposit account with Gold Mastercard, 5 payments within 90 days, welcome offer code BIENVENUEFTO
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
Current offer
First period offer
Prima luna este gratuit (first month free): First month of any Salt plan free
Applies to the Salt, Salt Everyday and Salt Premium plans on opening
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
13-lea salariu (13th salary campaign): An extra salary when you bring your salary to Salt
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Fortuneo | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Portugal | No | Yes |
| Romania | No | Yes |
8 of 10 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Fortuneo
What is the headline rate on Fortuneo savings?+
The savings account pays a variable headline rate of 5%, above the site median of 3%. Because the rate is variable it can move, so the credited amount is not fixed in advance. Interest is credited annually.
Is there a monthly fee?+
No. The monthly fee is €0, the same as the site median of €0. Fortuneo runs a no-monthly-fee model, which is the most common model in this category on the site.
Salt Bank
What does a Salt Bank account cost?+
The monthly fee is RON 0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, so there is no monthly or conversion charge to budget for. Payments in and out in Romania run at 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania, and cash withdrawals include a free allowance of RON 900. The conversion fee sits at rank 1 among the brands compared.
Is my money protected at Salt Bank?+
Deposits are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so a balance up to that limit is repaid by the scheme if the bank fails. The Romanian guarantee fund FGDB guarantees deposits per depositor as well, and the bank answers to Banca Nationala a Romaniei under licence P.J.R. 40-043.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Related by the facts
Fortuneo
Salt Bank