Monese Pay as you go
A plan byMonese
Monese is a fiat neobank with an FCA EMI licence, especially suited to immigrants and those without a fixed address, offering UK and EU IBANs and fast account opening. Its limitations include no native crypto, FX of 0% (Premium plan) to 3% (free plan) and a freeze risk rated medium-high.
Pay as you go
- Price
- Free
- Issuance fee
- €5
- FX markup
- 3%
- Cashback
- 0%
- Cashback currency
- Nessuno
- Required staking
- Nessuno
- ATM fee
- 2%
- ATM limit
- ATM 2% (nessun prelievo gratuito incluso)
- Net annual cost
- Free
What's included
- Local IBAN
- Free plan
Card €4.95 (free with a first deposit of at least €100). Withdrawals: 2% per operation, +2% if in foreign currency.
Data & conditions
| Account fee | Free |
|---|---|
| IBAN | dedicato · GB, RO, BE |
| Multi-currency | Yes · 2 currencies |
| Outbound transfers to third-party IBANs | Yes |
| Utility direct billing | No |
| SEPA direct debit (SDD) | No |
| On-chain crypto withdrawal | No |
| SEPA transfer | Free |
| Interest on balance | 0% |
| ATM withdrawal | 2% |
| Free ATM limit | ATM 2% (nessun prelievo gratuito incluso) |
| Fund custody | Custodial (platform holds funds) |
| KYC | Full |
| Supported countries | EEA, UK · 31+ countries |
| Regulator | FCA |
| OAM Italy registration | No |
| Segment | B2C |
| MiCA / License status | EMI |
Strengths
- Ideal for immigrants and those without a fixed address; FCA EMI; UK+EU IBAN; fast onboarding.
- No notable sovereignty advantage documented.
Weaknesses
- No crypto; FX 0–3%; medium-high freeze risk.
- Custodial: the platform holds your funds and can freeze or lose them.
- Full KYC required: verified identity, zero pseudonymity.
Verdict
The C rating is the harshest in the regulated European group: though available in Italy and holding an FCA EMI licence with UK+EU IBANs, Monese is dragged down by an uncompetitive FX of up to 3% on the free plan and, above all, a freeze risk rated medium-high, which undermines the very reliability protection depends on. It remains useful as a backup account for those without a fixed address.
With no native crypto, custodial and full KYC, Monese offers nothing on the sovereignty front: no self-custody, no censorship resistance. The medium-high freeze risk, already a negative for protection, here underscores how fully control of the funds stays with the issuer.
Promp's editorial rating based on real fees and net annual cost. Promp reviews third-party products independently.
"Sovereignty" rating: score computed on privacy/anonymity (30%), fund control (20%), censorship resistance (20%), trustless/auditability (20%) and costs (10%). Same data, different weights.
FAQ
Is Monese a real bank?
Monese operates under an EMI licence. It is regulated by the FCA. Fund protection: Safeguarding — no deposit guarantee scheme.
Can I send transfers to third-party IBANs with Monese?
Yes, Monese allows outgoing transfers to third-party IBANs, like a traditional bank account.
Does Monese support direct debits and utility billing?
SEPA direct debit (SDD): not documented. Utility-bill domiciliation: not documented.
Which fiat currencies does Monese support?
The number of supported fiat currencies is not documented. Multi-currency accounts: not documented.
Can I withdraw crypto on-chain from Monese?
On-chain crypto withdrawal is not documented; check the official website.
Sources
- Official service page Plans & pricing · Regulatory framework · Monthly fee · SEPA fee · +4 Data verified on Jul 22, 2026
- hello.pockit.com Azienda Data verified on Jul 22, 2026
- techcrunch.com Stock ticker · Stock listing · IPO date Data verified on Jun 15, 2026
- pitchbook.com Issuer Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
Show 4 more sources
- startupintros.com Founders · Issuer Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
- thenorthernvoices.com Issuer Data verified on Jun 14, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com Trustpilot reviews · Deposit guarantee Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
- moneyzine.com Savings interest Data verified on Jun 13, 2026
Update history
- The card has a €4.95 issuance cost (previously shown as free); on the base plan it is free only with a €100 first deposit. Since 2024 Monese has been owned by Pockit: the consumer service remains active, with pricing updated in 2025.