Updated October 14, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
M-Pesa vs Sumeria
M-Pesa
Higher score in this comparison
Sumeria
Where M-Pesa and Sumeria differ
| Compare | M-PesaReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SumeriaReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | KES 0 | €0 |
| Free ATM withdrawals | KES 100 | €250 |
| Transfer fee | Free to KES 100, then KES 7-108 | 0 EUR (all transfers free on the free Carte Basique offer) |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Currencies | 1 | Not confirmed |
| Local account details | Not confirmed | IBAN |
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at M-Pesa: 2007 vs 2011.
- Sumeria is available in 1 more country.
- Support channels: only M-Pesa offers Community.
- Audience: only M-Pesa offers Expats, Teen, Business.
- Audience: only Sumeria offers Travelers.
- Features: only M-Pesa offers Digital only.
- Features: only Sumeria offers Free ATM.
Our verdict on each
M-Pesa
M-Pesa suits anyone in Kenya who wants everyday money handled on a handset, with a monthly fee of KES 0. Savings pay a variable rate of 2% to 5% from a small entry point. The trade-off is a digital-only service with a single currency and no branch access.
Sumeria
Sumeria is an easy-access French account with instant access to a French IBAN and a variable rate of 1% to 2%, which suits travellers who want euro banking without a fixed term. It is regulated and deposit protected, so the trade-off is the low rate rather than the safety of the money.
Score breakdown
| Area | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.1Monthly fee €0 and transfer fee €0, with conversion fee 0%. |
| Offer | 9.0Free ATM withdrawals within KES 100, savings opening from KES 1 and support across email, chat and phone. | 9.0 |
| Trust | 8.8 | 8.8 |
How they place
| Ranking | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 416 of 1420 | 442 of 1420 |
| Money transfer services | 306 of 1564 | 325 of 1564 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Expats, Teen, Business | Travelers |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Features | Digital only | Free ATM |
| Legal entity | Safaricom PLC | Lydia Solutions |
| Headquarters | Kenya | France |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre, Phone, Chat |
Savings
| Fact | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2% to 5%Higher | 1% to 2% |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | KES 1 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | Electronic only, operated via the M-Shwari Menu on the M-PESA system; no branch access | No commitment, instant access to a French IBAN; Basic offer: up to 2,000 EUR payments and withdrawals per month, 3 free ATM withdrawals per month, card free |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Money transfer
| Fact | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Delivery time | Not confirmed | Instant |
| Payout methods | Bank, Cash pickup, Wallet | Bank, Card |
| Fee to send 1,000 | KES 13 | €0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | M-Pesa | Sumeria | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 1lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
M-Pesa
Pros
- A monthly fee of KES 0, so there is no ongoing charge for keeping the account
- Savings pay a variable rate of 2% to 5% and open from a minimum deposit of KES 1
- Money sent out reaches bank, cash pickup and wallet
Cons
- Money moves in a single market, since the account holds 1 currency
- Branch counters are not among its listed features, which cover digital only, and access runs through the M-Shwari menu on the M-PESA system
- Transfer fees run Free to KES 100, then KES 7-108, with a common send charge of KES 13
Sumeria
Pros
- Instant access to a French IBAN with no commitment, so the account works around a trip
- Money sits under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, and the account runs on a French e-money licence from ACPR with an ORIAS registration
- Transfers arrive in Instant time and payouts go to a bank account or a card (bank and card)
Cons
- The variable rate of 1% to 2% sits under the savings median of 3.08% on the site, so the money earns less than most savings accounts listed
- The Basic offer caps payments and withdrawals each month, and the free ATM allowance stands at €250
- The account is easy-access (easy access) and the rate is variable, so there is no term to lock the rate in for
Who each suits
M-Pesa
Who it suits
- People living in Kenya who pay and collect money by phone
- Teens and expats who want an account without a monthly charge
- Businesses and traders who receive and pay out through a wallet
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, if you need to hold and convert money in several currencies
- PayPal Colombia, if your payments need to reach an international audience
- Plazo ES, if you are weighing savings products and want terms other than a variable variable rate
Sumeria
Who it suits
- Travellers in France who want a local IBAN, with Instant payments and no commitment
- Euro spenders who want the free card on the Basic offer and payouts to a bank or card (bank and card)
- Euro savers who care more about protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 than about the rate
Who should look elsewhere
- Savers chasing a higher return: Plazo ES shows a headline rate of 24.19% against 1% to 2% here
- People set on a card and credit product: AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito is built around a card at 21.59%, while Sumeria is an easy-access account (easy access)
- Wallet-first users: PayPal Colombia sits at a headline rate of 3.3% and suits wallet balances, whereas Sumeria suits euro banking on a French IBAN
Current offers
Sumeria
Current offer
Bonus
Remunerated current account: 2% for the first 3 months, then 1%: 2% gross annual rate for the first 3 months, then 1%
At least 10 eligible card payments per month with a Sumeria card, interest calculated daily and paid monthly; rate applies to total balances across Sumeria accounts capped at 100,000 EUR (100,000 EUR cap if the Black Card offer is taken); reserved for French and Belgian tax residents; rate subject to change
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | M-Pesa | Sumeria |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Kenya | Yes | No |
Questions about each
M-Pesa
What does M-Pesa cost to keep each month?+
The monthly fee is KES 0, so there is no charge for holding the account. Sending money is charged separately, with transfer fees running Free to KES 100, then KES 7-108 and a common send charge of KES 13. Cash machine withdrawals are free within an allowance of KES 100.
Is there a minimum deposit needed to start?+
Savings start from a minimum deposit of KES 1, so the entry point is low. The monthly fee is KES 0, which means no ongoing charge to keep the account open, and the account kind is easy access for easy access to the balance.
Sumeria
What does a Sumeria account cost to run?+
The monthly fee is €0, so holding the account is free. Transfers are free on the free Carte Basique offer, where the transfer fee is 0 EUR (all transfers free on the free Carte Basique offer). Currency conversion comes with a fee of 0% and an exchange rate markup of 0%.
Is my money protected at Sumeria?+
Deposits are covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. The account is run by Lydia Solutions as an e-money institution authorised to issue payment services by ACPR, with an ORIAS registration as an agent of an investment service provider, so French regulators sit over the account.
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