Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
PagBank vs Salt Bank
PagBank
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
PagBank vs Salt Bank: the differences
| Compare | PagBankReviewVisitVisit | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | R$0 to R$75 | RON 0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 5% | 0%Lower |
| Free ATM withdrawals | R$0 | RON 900 |
| Transfer fee | Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank) | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 19 |
| Local account details | Not confirmed | IBAN |
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Salt Bank is available in 9 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Salt Bank: 0% vs 5%.
- Audience: only PagBank offers Business, Freelancer.
- Audience: only Salt Bank offers Expats, Travelers.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers Low FX.
- Features: only PagBank offers No credit check.
Our verdict on each
PagBank
PagBank suits Brazilian businesses and freelancers who want a free everyday account with instant Pix payouts and a savings option on the side.
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 | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.6Cost score rests on BRL 0 to BRL 75 monthly charges, BRL 0 for cash withdrawals and 5% for card conversion. | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. |
| Offer | 9.2Offer score rests on variable savings, Daily liquidity, redeem whenever you want and payouts to bank and wallet. | 9.5HigherA fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. |
| Trust | 8.8 | Not confirmed |
Availability and regulation
| Country | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Romania | Not confirmed | Banca Nationala a Romaniei (National Bank of Romania) P.J.R. 40-043 |
Additional countries for PagBank: 1. Additional countries for Salt Bank: 10.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 28 of 1420 | 73 of 1420 |
| Online banks | 11 of 402 | 17 of 402 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Business, Freelancer | Expats, Travelers |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more |
| Features | Free ATM, Digital only, No credit checkCovers more | Free ATM, Digital only |
| Legal entity | PAGSEGURO INTERNET INSTITUIÇÃO DE PAGAMENTO S/A | Salt Bank S.A. |
| Headquarters | Brazil | Romania |
| Founded | 2006 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, Chat | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 5.3% to 5.9% |
| Rate type | Variable | Fixed |
| Term | Not confirmed | 3 to 12 months |
| Minimum deposit | R$1 | RON 500 |
| Access terms | Daily liquidity, redeem whenever you want | 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 |
Money transfer
| Fact | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery time | Within minutes: cross-border payouts cleared in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account; Pix transfers instant 24/7 | Not confirmed |
| Payout methods | Bank, Wallet | Not confirmed |
| Fee to send 1,000 | R$0 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | PagBank | Salt Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 5%highest quarter | 0%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 19highest quarter | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
PagBank
Pros
- Transfers to any bank are Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank), which covers both Pix and TED.
- Cash access carries an allowance of BRL 0, so withdrawals do not add to the bill.
- Payouts reach bank and wallet, and cross-border money clears in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account.
Cons
- Currency conversion on the card costs 5%, which ranks 304 of 312 and sits above the site median of 0.5%.
- The service is digital-only, as free atm, digital only and no credit check shows, so it suits people comfortable running money from an app.
- Savings pay a variable rate, so returns can move.
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
PagBank
Who it suits
- Brazilian sole traders and small companies that bill and pay in Pix
- Freelancers who want an everyday account with an easy access CDB alongside
- Anyone happy to manage the account from a phone
Who should look elsewhere
- Skrill, if a wallet outside Brazil fits better: its monthly fee is €0
- Plazo ES, if a Spanish product suits you instead: its monthly fee is €0
- PayPal Colombia, if a wallet for cross-border online payments is the job: its monthly fee is $0
Salt Bank
Who it suits
- Expats and travellers named under expats and travelers, who want local and overseas money in the same account.
- Anyone paid in and out in Romania, since 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania there.
- Savers who can wait for interest at maturity and collect it in the current account.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not a fee-based decision: Skrill charges €0 a month and eToro £0, so price alone does not separate them.
- Not for people who need UK sort code or US routing numbers for incoming pay, since local details are iban only, the gap to weigh against PayPal Colombia.
Current offers
PagBank
Current offer
Discount code
Taxa 0% para novos clientes (0% merchant rate on card readers): 0%
New customers of the Conta PJ PagBank; card reader without rental fee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Moderninha ProFit com 90% off (Super Max): R$ 83,88 à vista (12x de R$ 6,99)
Super Max plan; promotional price valid under campaign terms
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 | PagBank | Salt Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | 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
PagBank
What does PagBank charge to hold an account?+
The monthly fee runs BRL 0 to BRL 75, and the account is built around no monthly charge. PagBank ranks 1 of 500 on monthly fee across the site, the site median is €0, and the top of the site range reaches €449.
Are Pix and TED transfers really free?+
Transfers to any bank are Free (unlimited TED and Pix to any bank), and the Pix transfer charge is BRL 0. Pix is instant around the clock, and cross-border payouts clear in minutes to Pix or a PagBank account, with payouts landing on bank and wallet.
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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Related by the facts
PagBank
Salt Bank