Updated September 29, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Salt Bank vs Vivid Money
Salt Bank
Higher score in this comparison
Vivid Money
Salt Bank vs Vivid Money: the differences
| Compare | Salt BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Vivid MoneyReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | RON 0 | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 0.25% |
| Currencies | 19 | 22Higher |
| Transfer fee | 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania | Free |
| Free ATM withdrawals | RON 900 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Deposit protection (EU DGS up to EUR 100,000), Local account details (IBAN).
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Key differences
- Salt Bank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.8.
- Vivid Money is licensed in 1 more country.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Salt Bank: 0% vs 0.25%.
- Currencies is higher at Vivid Money: 22 vs 19.
- Support channels: only Salt Bank offers Email, Phone.
- Pricing model: only Salt Bank offers Low FX.
- Features: only Salt Bank offers Free ATM.
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.
Vivid Money
Vivid Money suits people who want everyday spending plus savings in the same app without monthly upkeep, with the standard plan priced at €0 a month. Cash stays within instant access pockets that suit flexible savers who also move money across currencies for travel or daily life abroad.
Score breakdown
| Area | Salt Bank | Vivid Money |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4HigherMonthly charge of RON 0, conversion of 0% and 0 commission for incoming and outgoing payments in Romania in Romania. | 9.2Conversion priced at 0.25% keeps cross currency spend modest versus broader market levels |
| Offer | 9.5HigherA fixed deposit at 5.3% to 5.9% over 3 to 12, under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. | 9.1Interest pocket pays 3% on instant access balances with low entry threshold |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 8.3Eligible balances covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 with licensed EU supervision |
Spending 1,000 abroad
Salt Bank
0
0% of 1,000
Vivid Money
2.5
0.25% of 1,000
Salt Bank comes out 2.5 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 29, 2026.
Sources behind this comparison
Salt Bank
- salt.bank: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Vivid Money
- vivid.money: 10 facts, checked September 29, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Salt Bank | Vivid Money |
|---|---|---|
| Savings accounts | 73 of 1420 | 496 of 1420 |
| Multi-currency accounts | 24 of 348 | 206 of 348 |
| Online banks | 17 of 402 | 155 of 402 |
| Fixed-rate bonds and CDs | 14 of 188 | 94 of 188 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Salt Bank | Vivid Money |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Expats, Travelers | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee, Low FXCovers more | No monthly fee |
| Features | Free ATM, Digital onlyCovers more | Digital only |
| Legal entity | Salt Bank S.A. | Vivid Money B.V. |
| Headquarters | Romania | Netherlands |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2019 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Chat, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Salt Bank | Vivid Money |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 5.3% to 5.9%Higher | 3% |
| Rate type | Fixed | Fixed |
| Term | 3 to 12 months | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | RON 500 | €0.010 |
| 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 | Instant access |
| Account kind | Fixed | Easy access |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Salt Bank | Vivid Money | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 0.25%below the median | 0.5% |
| Currencies | 19highest quarter | 22highest quarter | 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.
Vivid Money
Pros
- Transfers cost free, which keeps routine euro moves easy to budget
- Supports 22 currencies and issues IBAN for getting paid across borders
- Savings start from €0.01 with withdrawals under Instant access for flexible access
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so callers must use chat or articles
- Account is digital only through digital only, with no branch option for cash service
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.
Vivid Money
Who it suits
- Travellers and expats holding balances across currencies
- Flexible savers wanting instant access pockets in the same app
- App led users happy with chat based service
Who should look elsewhere
- Consider bunq if conversion cost matters most and you want to compare against 3%
- Consider Bit2Me if crypto linked services matter and you want to compare against 0.95%
- Consider eToro if trading features matter and you want to compare upkeep against £0
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 | Vivid Money |
|---|---|---|
| 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 10 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.
Vivid Money
What does Vivid Money charge for the account+
The standard plan is priced at €0 a month, which keeps upkeep predictable for everyday use. Transfers are listed at free, while currency conversion is listed at 0.25% for cross currency moves.
How many currencies can you hold+
Vivid Money supports 22 currencies, which helps if you hold balances for travel or pay across borders. Local euro details come through IBAN, making it easier to receive salary or transfers within the region.
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Salt Bank
Vivid Money