Wio Bank
ADQ/e&-backed; retail + SMB.
- Who holds it
- The company itself — it holds a full banking licence — UAE banking license.
- The ledger
- The bank’s own core ledger.
- If it fails
- A covered-deposit payout through the local scheme, up to its limit.
Derived from Wio Bank’s regulation type and custody — a class of protection, not a guarantee. Limits and eligibility vary by scheme, balance and jurisdiction; confirm before you rely on it. What happens if a neobank shuts down →
The facts
| Category | traditional |
| HQ | Abu Dhabi, AE |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Custody | Custodial |
| Regulation type | Licensed bank |
| License detail | UAE banking license |
| Card | Visa · Debit |
| Yield | Competitive AED/USD savers |
| Stablecoins | No |
| KYC | Yes |
| Active regions | MENA |
| Countries | UAE |
| Founders | ADQ, e&, FAB consortium |
Verified links: official site ↗ · terms ↗ · privacy ↗ · @wiobank ↗
Common questions about Wio Bank
What is Wio Bank?
Wio Bank is a fiat neobank, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, AE and founded in 2022. Your money is held custodially, so Wio Bank or its partner bank holds the balance and you hold a claim on it. It is regulated as a licensed bank (UAE banking license).
Does Wio Bank have a card, and where can you use it?
It issues a Visa debit card. It is available in MENA.
Does Wio Bank require KYC?
Yes. Wio Bank requires identity verification (KYC) to open an account, as a licensed bank.
What does Wio Bank cost?
From the verified fields: yield Competitive AED/USD savers. Cashback and yield are "up to" figures that change constantly and often depend on a paid plan — confirm current terms with Wio Bank before relying on them.
Early investors
Peers
Wise · Telda · Zand · YAP · Liv. · Pyypl
Wio Bank appears in
Neobanks that hold their own banking license (132) · Neobanks available in MENA (85) · Neobanks that issue a Visa card (182) · Neobanks in UAE (14)
Figures compiled from public sources, for comparison only — not financial advice. "Up to" rates change constantly; always confirm with the issuer. Spotted an error? Suggest a fix.