Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Nequi vs Salt Bank
Nequi
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | NequiReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | COP 0 | RON 0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 3% | 0%Lower |
| Currencies | 2 | 19Higher |
| Transfer fee | Free (GRATIS) to send to Nequi or Bancolombia accounts/deposits, to other banks via ACH, and by QR | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Local account details | Not confirmed | IBAN |
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | RON 900 |
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.5.
- Salt Bank is available in 9 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Salt Bank: 0% vs 3%.
- Currencies is higher at Salt Bank: 19 vs 2.
- Support channels: only Nequi offers Community.
- Support channels: only Salt Bank offers Email.
- Audience: only Nequi offers Teen, Business, Freelancer.
- Audience: only Salt Bank offers Expats, Travelers.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers Low FX.
- Features: only Salt Bank offers Digital only.
Our verdict on each
Nequi
Nequi suits Colombian adults who want everyday spending and an insured savings balance in a single free account, not readers who need a long currency list. The monthly fee is COP 0, and currency conversion at 3% is the only charge that adds up.
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 | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2The monthly fee is COP 0 and transfers are free, but conversion at 3% is well above the everyday-accounts median 0.22%. | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.5HigherA fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. |
| Trust | 8.4 | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Not confirmed | |
| Romania | Not confirmed | Banca Nationala a Romaniei (National Bank of Romania) P.J.R. 40-043 |
Additional countries for Nequi: 1. Additional countries for Salt Bank: 10.
Sources behind this comparison
Nequi
- nequi.com.co: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Salt Bank
- salt.bank: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 582 of 1420 | 73 of 1420 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Teen, Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more |
| Features | Free ATM | Free ATM, Digital onlyCovers more |
| Legal entity | Nequi S.A. Compania de Financiamiento | Salt Bank S.A. |
| Headquarters | Colombia | Romania |
| Founded | 2015 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Money transfer
| Fact | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | 3% | Not confirmed |
| Delivery time | Within 24 hours | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank, Cash pickup, Wallet | Not confirmed |
| Fee to send 1,000 | COP 0 | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 5.3% to 5.9% |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 months |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | RON 500 |
| Access terms | Nequi savings account for Colombian natural persons over 18, unlimited balance and no transaction cap, one savings account per user, deposit insured by FOGAFIN | 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 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Fixed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Nequi | Salt Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 3%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 2lowest quarter | 19highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Nequi
Pros
- Deposits are insured by FOGAFAN, and the balance is unlimited with no transaction cap.
- The account kind is easy access and the savings rate is variable.
- Money can go to a bank, a cash pickup point or a wallet, per bank, cash pickup and wallet.
Cons
- Currency conversion costs 3% with a markup of 3%, above the everyday-accounts fee median of 0.22%.
- Only 2 currencies are supported, against an everyday-accounts median of 9.
- A single savings account per user, and only Colombian natural persons can open it.
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
Nequi
Who it suits
- Colombian adults who want savings and everyday spending in a single free account with insured deposits
- People in Nequi's core audience of teen, business and freelancer, from teens to freelancers
- Freelancers in Colombia who take payouts to a bank, a cash pickup point or a wallet, per bank, cash pickup and wallet
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who hold many currencies: Nequi covers 2 and charges 3% to convert, so Skrill is the one to compare
- Anyone earning or saving in euros rather than pesos, since Plazo ES is priced in euros with a monthly fee of €0
- Readers who want a payment wallet rather than an insured savings balance, since PayPal Colombia also has a $0 monthly fee
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
Nequi
Current offer
Bonus
Tienda Virtual Nequi: Walaky cashback: Up to 7% money back
Devolucion de plata on digital purchases at Walaky through Tienda Virtual Nequi
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Tienda Virtual Nequi: Clevercel cashback: Up to 4% cashback
Devolucion de plata on digital purchases at Clevercel through Tienda Virtual Nequi
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 | Nequi | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Colombia | Yes | No |
| France | No | Yes |
| Germany | No | Yes |
| Ireland | No | Yes |
| Italy | No | Yes |
| Netherlands | No | Yes |
8 of 11 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Nequi
What does Nequi cost to keep each month?+
The Nequi savings account carries a monthly fee of COP 0, so there is no standing charge for Colombian adults. Transfers to Nequi or Bancolombia accounts, to other Colombian banks by ACH and by QR are free, with a transfer fee of COP 0.
Is my money protected in a Nequi savings account?+
Deposits in the Nequi savings account are insured by FOGAFIN, and the account kind is easy access. The balance is unlimited with no transaction cap, and the account is open to Colombian natural persons with a single savings account per user.
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
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- Nequi vs PKO Bank Polski
- Nequi vs monobank
- Salt Bank vs Mox Bank
- Salt Bank vs KakaoBank
- Salt Bank vs Fortuneo
- Salt Bank vs Satispay
- Salt Bank vs Nu Colombia
- Salt Bank vs M-Pesa
- Salt Bank vs Finom
- Salt Bank vs Qonto
- Salt Bank vs iuvoSAVE
- Nequi vs N26
- Salt Bank vs PagBank
- Salt Bank vs Bigbank FI
Related by the facts
Nequi
Salt Bank