Updated September 29, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Salt Bank vs SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
Where Salt Bank and SCB PLANET prepaid Visa differ
| Compare | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SCB PLANET prepaid VisaReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | RON 0 | THB 0 |
| Currencies | 19Higher | 14 |
| Transfer fee | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania | THB 100 per overseas ATM cash withdrawal; no annual fee |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Local account details | IBAN | Not confirmed |
| Free ATM withdrawals | RON 900 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Salt Bank is available in 9 more countries.
- Currencies is higher at Salt Bank: 19 vs 14.
- Support channels: only Salt Bank offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers Low FX.
Our verdict on each
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.
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
The SCB PLANET prepaid Visa sits with the no monthly fee accounts, charging THB 0 a year and holding 14 currencies with a 0% exchange rate markup. It suits travellers and expatriates in Thailand who want a card that costs nothing to hold.
Score breakdown
| Area | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.5HigherA fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. | 8.8 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.9 |
How they place
| Ranking | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 73 of 1420 | 108 of 1420 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Expats, Travelers | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more | No monthly fee |
| Features | Free ATM, Digital only | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Salt Bank S.A. | Siam Commercial Bank PCL |
| Headquarters | Romania | Thailand |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1906 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 5.3% to 5.9% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Fixed | Not confirmed |
| Term | 3 to 12 months | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | RON 500 | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | 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 | Prepaid card usable as a cash alternative; 14 currencies, 24/7 FX and top-up via SCB EASY App; overseas ATM withdrawal only, none in Thailand |
| Account kind | Fixed | Easy access |
Money transfer
| Fact | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Delivery time | Not confirmed | Within 7 business days by post; instant issue at 13 designated SCB branches |
| Payout methods | Not confirmed | Bank, Cash pickup, Card |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 19highest quarter | 14above the median | 5 |
Median across 536 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
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.
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
Pros
- No monthly charge, so the card costs nothing to keep: THB 0 and the no monthly fee model
- Currency conversion carries a 0% markup, at the low end of the comparison
- Holds 14 currencies, more than most cards in the group
Cons
- Overseas ATM withdrawals cost THB 100 per overseas ATM cash withdrawal; no annual fee
- Support runs on help centre only
- ATM withdrawals are overseas only, with none available in Thailand
Who each suits
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.
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
Who it suits
- Travellers spending in several currencies from a Thai bank account
- Expatriates and long stay visitors who top up through the SCB EASY App
- Anyone who wants a second card for cash and spending without a monthly fee
Who should look elsewhere
- People who need to withdraw cash in Thailand, as ATM withdrawals are overseas only
- Anyone who wants phone or chat support, since help centre is the listed channel
- Those who want a savings product, as this is a prepaid card rather than an interest account
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 | Salt Bank | SCB PLANET prepaid Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Netherlands | Yes | No |
| Portugal | Yes | No |
8 of 11 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
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.
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa
How much does the SCB PLANET prepaid Visa cost to hold?+
There is a monthly fee of THB 0, so the card sits with accounts that charge nothing for holding it. Overseas ATM cash withdrawals cost THB 100 per overseas ATM cash withdrawal; no annual fee. Spend on the card itself adds no separate fee in the published terms.
What currencies can the card hold and what does conversion cost?+
The card covers 14 currencies, with conversion carried at a 0% exchange rate markup. The markup is priced at the low end of the group, where the higher cards charge a wider spread on the same conversion.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Related by the facts
Salt Bank
SCB PLANET prepaid Visa