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UBA Benin review

Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

UBA Benin suits expats, freelancers and students in Benin who want a genuine bank account with local reach rather than an app wallet. The current account costs XOF 1,500 a month, and the savings side pays a variable 3.5% with unlimited withdrawals on demand.

Key facts

Best for
A local bank account in Benin with support by phone, email and chat
Monthly fee
F CFA 1,500↗
Currencies
90↗
Transfer fee
SWIFT/RTGS: transfer commission 10,000 F CFA + 1,000 F TAF + 5,000 F telex commission + 900 F VAT↗
Headquarters
Benin↗
Founded
2012↗
Support channels
Email, Phone, Help-centre, Chat↗
Audience
Expats, Freelancers, Students
Features
Digital-only
Official website
ubabenin.com

Savings

Headline rate
3.5%↗
Rate type
Variable↗
Minimum deposit
F CFA 0↗
Access terms
On-demand withdrawals with no notice, unlimited withdrawals, interest paid annually↗
Account kind
Easy access↗

Money transfer

Delivery time
Same day for RTGS (value J)↗
Payout methods
Bank, Cash-pickup↗
Fee to send 1,000
F CFA 10,000↗

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 8 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play
Elsewhere
LinkedInXfacebook.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Savings pay a variable 3.5% with on-demand withdrawals, unlimited withdrawals and interest paid annually
  • Current account costs XOF 1,500 a month, and the savings account takes a minimum deposit of XOF 0
  • Support runs through email, phone and help centre and transfers reach 90 currencies, paid out to a bank account or cash pickup

Cons

  • The current account charges XOF 1,500 a month, higher than the €0 median for everyday accounts on the site
  • The savings rate is variable, so the 3.5% headline can move instead of staying fixed for a term
  • SWIFT and RTGS transfers carry a commission of XOF 10,000, plus a telex charge and VAT on top
UBA Benin

Ready to try UBA Benin?

Scored 9.1 / 10 by VaultCue.

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Who it suits

  • Expats and freelancers in Benin who need a local account for salary or client payments
  • Students who want savings interest with withdrawals on demand and a XOF 0 minimum deposit
  • Anyone paid in West African CFA who wants help by email, phone and help centre

Who should look elsewhere

  • Not Skrill or Plazo ES for readers who compare purely on monthly fees: theirs are €0 and €0 against XOF 1,500 here
  • Not PayPal Colombia for holding savings in Benin, where the current account costs XOF 1,500 a month and the savings rate is 3.5%

Rates and card terms

The savings account pays a headline rate of 3.5%, and the rate type is variable, so the return follows the bank's own pricing rather than staying fixed for a set term. Readers comparing savings accounts should check how a variable rate suits them, since the headline figure can move between reviews.

The company behind it

The bank is based in Benin and has been operating since 2012. Its banking licence comes from the Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO), listed as B0067M. Help runs through email, phone and help centre, which covers the channels most readers expect from a bank in the region.

How UBA Benin compares

Where UBA Benin is available

Available
Benin
Licence in Benin
Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO) (B0067M), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does the UBA Benin current account cost?+

The current account costs XOF 1,500 a month, which sits above the €0 median for everyday accounts on the site. The savings account runs alongside it with its own terms: a variable 3.5% headline rate and on-demand withdrawals.

Is the savings rate fixed or variable?+

It is variable, at 3.5%, with interest paid annually. Variable products account for 79% of savings listings on the site, and the site median rate is 3%, so the rate here sits above that level but can move with pricing.

Who regulates UBA Benin and where does the money sit?+

UBA Benin is a bank licensed by the Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (BCEAO), listed as B0067M. That licence covers both the current account and the savings account, so balances sit with the bank rather than a wallet. Bank licences make up 27.5% of the listings on the site.

Can I withdraw from the savings account whenever I want?+

Yes. The savings account is listed as easy access, with on-demand withdrawals, so money comes out whenever you want and the number of withdrawals is unlimited. Interest is credited once a year, which suits readers who want their balance reachable and still earning.

Do I need to put money in before opening the account?+

The minimum deposit is XOF 0, so the savings account opens on a low balance. Across savings listings on the site the median minimum deposit is €0.11, and interest is credited once a year on the balance held.

What do SWIFT and RTGS transfers cost and how fast are they?+

SWIFT and RTGS transfers carry a commission of XOF 10,000, and the published breakdown adds a telex charge and VAT on top. Delivery on RTGS is Same day for RTGS (value J), which suits sending larger sums where speed matters. The current account runs digital only, so a transfer can be set up from a phone.

Who is the account built for?+

The bank lists expats, freelancer and student as the intended users, so expats, freelancers and students are the main audience. The current account runs digital only, which suits banking from a phone. Transfers reach 90 currencies, paid out to a bank account or cash pickup (bank and cash pickup).

Sources

Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Licence type, Deposit protection, Currency conversion fee.

UBA Benin

UBA Benin

A local bank account in Benin with support by phone, email and chat

9.1/10See alternatives