Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago

Two accounts side by side: recorded fees, markets, regulation and platforms for IDFC FIRST Bank and Mercado Pago, from the same records as each review.
IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST Bank

Mercado Pago

Mercado Pago

Higher score in this comparison

9.3/10

Where IDFC FIRST Bank and Mercado Pago differ

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
CompareIDFC FIRST BankIDFC FIRST BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesMercado PagoMercado PagoReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives
Headline rate7%105%Higher
Minimum depositNot confirmedR$0
Access termsNot confirmedMoney usable at any time, no IOF, accrues daily on business days, no minimum balance
Monthly feeNot confirmedR$0

Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Easy access).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Mercado Pago is available in 2 more countries.
  • Headline rate is higher at Mercado Pago: 105% vs 7%.

Our verdict on each

IDFC FIRST Bank

IDFC FIRST Bank pays 7% on an easy access savings account, so it suits people who want reserve money to earn a competitive return while staying reachable. The rate is variable, which means the bank sets it, and that trade-off is the one to weigh.

Read the full IDFC FIRST Bank review

Mercado Pago

Mercado Pago pays a headline rate of 105% on money that stays usable at any time, with a monthly fee of BRL 0 and a minimum deposit of BRL 0, which suits businesses and teens who want a balance that earns while it sits. The rate is variable, so the return can move.

Read the full Mercado Pago review

Score breakdown

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
AreaIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
CostNot confirmed9.3A monthly fee of BRL 0 and a minimum deposit of BRL 0 on an easy access account.
OfferNot confirmed9.2A headline rate of 105% on money that stays available, credited on business days with no minimum balance.

How they place

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
RankingIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
Savings accounts1118 of 1420150 of 1420

Every fact side by side

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
FactIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
Pricing modelNot confirmedNo monthly fee
Legal entityNot confirmedMercado Pago Instituicao de Pagamento Ltda.
HeadquartersNot confirmedBrazil
Support channelsNot confirmedHelp centre, Phone

Everyday accounts

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
FactIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
CurrenciesNot confirmed2
AudienceNot confirmedBusiness, Teen
FeaturesNot confirmedDigital only
Transfer feeNot confirmedFree

Money transfer

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
FactIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
Delivery timeNot confirmedInstant
Fee to send 1,000Not confirmedARS 0

Where each stands against the rest

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
FactIDFC FIRST BankMercado PagoMedian
Headline rate7%highest quarter105%highest quarter3.25%
Minimum depositNot confirmedR$0lowest quarterR$1
Monthly feeNot confirmedR$0at the medianR$0

Median across 658 listed accounts.

Pros and cons

IDFC FIRST Bank

Pros

  • Interest of 7%, against a site median of 3% and an upper quartile of 4.15%.
  • Easy access, easy access, which keeps savings reachable at short notice.
  • It out-earns PayPal Colombia, 3.3%, for anyone weighing a savings balance against a wallet.

Cons

  • The rate is variable, so the bank can revise the advertised 7% during the life of the balance.
  • On headline rate the account ranks 56 of 473 brands tracked, while Plazo ES quotes 24.19% on its own offer.
  • Credit products in the set quote higher headline figures, with Plazo ES at 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito at 21.59%, so those numbers describe card offers.

Mercado Pago

Pros

  • A headline rate of 105%, placed 1 of 473 on headline rate here.
  • A monthly fee of BRL 0 and a minimum deposit of BRL 0, so nothing is listed to pay for holding the balance.
  • Money stays usable at any time, accrues daily on business days, with no IOF charged on the balance.

Cons

  • The rate is variable, so the return can move rather than being set in advance.
  • Support runs on help centre and phone only, a narrower set of routes than a branch counter.
  • The account is digital only, so there is nothing to visit in person.

Who each suits

IDFC FIRST Bank

Who it suits

  • People keeping an emergency or short notice reserve who still want a competitive return.
  • Savers comfortable with a rate the bank sets, since the rate is variable.
  • Readers checking what a plain savings account pays, at 7% against a site median of 3%.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone chasing the highest headline figure in the set: Plazo ES shows 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito 21.59%, both credit products.
  • Savers who want a return fixed for a term, since the rate is variable and the account is easy access.
  • People whose main comparison is a wallet balance: PayPal Colombia quotes 3.3%, so the gap to 7% is worth weighing first.

Mercado Pago

Who it suits

  • Businesses that park sales money in the account and want it to earn between payments.
  • Teen users opening a first account: the audience is listed as business and teen and the minimum deposit is BRL 0.
  • Anyone who needs a balance that can be spent on the same day it accrues interest.

Who should look elsewhere

  • PayPal Colombia, listed at 3.3% on headline rate, for anyone who wants a far lower advertised figure.
  • Readers who want a rate fixed in advance, since the rate here is variable. Plazo ES lists 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito 21.59% for a side-by-side check.

Current offers

Mercado Pago

Current offer

  • Bonus

    Cofrinhos yield 120% of CDI with Meli+: 120% of CDI on Cofrinhos

    Active Meli+ subscription; Cofrinhos are part of the Mercado Pago account

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

IDFC FIRST Bank vs Mercado Pago
CountryIDFC FIRST BankMercado Pago
ArgentinaNoYes
BrazilNoYes
IndiaYesNo
MexicoNoYes

Questions about each

IDFC FIRST Bank

What rate does IDFC FIRST Bank pay on its savings account?+

The advertised rate is 7%. The median across the site is 3%, so this rate sits above the middle of the market, and above the upper quartile too, at 4.15%. The bank sets the figure, and it applies while the account is open.

Is the interest rate fixed or variable?+

It is variable. The bank can revise the advertised 7% as conditions change, so savers who want a return fixed today should weigh a term product instead. Easy access, easy access, adds flexibility on access rather than on price.

Mercado Pago

What rate does Mercado Pago pay on the balance?+

The account pays a headline rate of 105%. The rate type is variable, so the figure can move rather than staying set for a term. Interest accrues daily on business days and the money remains usable at any time.

Is there a monthly fee to pay?+

The monthly fee is BRL 0 and the pricing model is no monthly fee, so there is no recurring charge to keep an eye on. Money also leaves without a listed charge, at ARS 0 per transfer.

IDFC FIRST Bank

Mercado Pago