Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
monobank vs Salt Bank
monobank
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Where monobank and Salt Bank differ
| Compare | monobankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 16%Higher | 5.3% to 5.9% |
| Term | 12 to 24 monthsHigher | 3 to 12 months |
| Minimum deposit | UAH 1,000 | RON 500 |
| Access terms | Fixed or flexible terms of 3 to 24 months, withdraw or reinvest anytime, auto-renews by default | 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 | UAH 0 | RON 0 |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
Same on both: Rate type (Fixed), Account kind (Fixed).
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Key differences
- Salt Bank is available in 9 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at monobank: 16% vs 5.3% to 5.9%.
- Term is higher at monobank: 12 to 24 months vs 3 to 12 months.
- Pricing model: only monobank offers Fixed rate.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers No monthly fee, Low FX.
Our verdict on each
monobank
Monobank offers a headline rate of 16% with a business and freelancer account that costs nothing to run, which suits traders who can leave hryvnia alone for a set term. The trade-off is the minimum you must place and the lock-in, so anyone wanting same-day access should weigh an easy-access account.
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 | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.4Monthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. |
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.5A fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | Not confirmed | Banca Nationala a Romaniei (National Bank of Romania) P.J.R. 40-043 |
| Ukraine | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for monobank: 1. Additional countries for Salt Bank: 10.
Sources behind this comparison
monobank
- monobank.ua: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
- salt.bank: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 1185 of 1420 | 73 of 1420 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 313 of 348 | 24 of 348 |
| Online banks | 328 of 402 | 17 of 402 |
| Fixed-rate bonds and CDs | 162 of 188 | 14 of 188 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Fixed rate | No monthly fee, Low FX |
| Legal entity | JOINT STOCK COMPANY "UNIVERSAL BANK" | Salt Bank S.A. |
| Headquarters | Ukraine | Romania |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | 0% |
| Currencies | 3 | 19Higher |
| Audience | Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers |
| Features | Digital only | Free ATM, Digital onlyCovers more |
| Local account details | IBAN | IBAN |
| Free ATM withdrawals | UAH 50,000 | RON 900 |
| Transfer fee | 0 UAH for transfers to any IBAN account | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | monobank | Salt Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 16%highest quarter | 5.3% to 5.9%highest quarter | 3.25% |
| Term | 12 to 24 monthsat the median | 3 to 12 monthsbelow the median | 24 |
Median across 658 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
monobank
Pros
- A headline rate of 16% on a fixed deposit sits far above PayPal Colombia at 3.3%.
- The monthly fee is UAH 0, and sending money to another IBAN account costs 0 UAH for transfers to any IBAN account.
- Currency conversion is 0%, so converting between currencies costs nothing.
Cons
- The term runs 12 to 24 and the deposit renews itself by default, so a long commitment keeps rolling.
- A minimum deposit of UAH 1,000 has to sit in the account before the balance starts earning.
- The headline rate of 16% is below Plazo ES at 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito at 21.59%.
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
monobank
Who it suits
- A Ukrainian business that can leave its balance alone for 12 to 24 and wants the return fixed.
- A freelancer paid by Ukrainian clients who wants local account details in the form of iban.
- A saver who reads the rate before anything else: 16% sits well above the 3% median across the site.
Who should look elsewhere
- Rate chasers: Plazo ES lists 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito 21.59%, both above monobank's 16%.
- Anyone who needs the money on demand, because the term runs 12 to 24 and the deposit renews itself by default. PayPal Colombia at 3.3% is worth weighing for anyone who accepts a much smaller return.
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
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 | monobank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
| Portugal | No | Yes |
8 of 11 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
monobank
What rate does monobank pay on its deposit?+
The deposit advertises a headline rate of 16% and the rate is fixed, so the figure holds for the whole placement rather than drifting with the market. For context, PayPal Colombia lists 3.3% on its savings product. That gap is the main reason a saver would pick this account.
How long do I have to leave the money in the deposit?+
The published term is 12 to 24 and the rate is fixed for that whole period. Terms can be taken as a fixed stretch or as a flexible one, so the length you sign up for is a choice rather than a single window. Readers who want shorter placements should set this against an easy-access account.
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
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- monobank vs Satispay
- monobank vs M-Pesa
- Salt Bank vs Finom
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- monobank vs PagBank
- Salt Bank vs Bigbank FI
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Related by the facts
monobank
Salt Bank