Novo Banco review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Novo Banco is a Portuguese bank running a plain debit card account rather than a crypto card, so it suits people who want everyday banking in Portugal and can live with a monthly charge. The account fee is €4.06, against £0 at Wise.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Card type is debit, so spending runs off a bank balance rather than a crypto holding.
- The account is held with NOVO BANCO, S.A., a bank headquartered in Portugal.
- The bank has been running since 2014, so the account comes from an established operating lender.
Cons
- A monthly fee of €4.06 applies, where Wise and Bitpanda list £0 and €0.
- The card is debit only, so it carries no crypto spending, coin balances or earn rates.
Who it suits
- Portuguese customers who want a bank-issued card and are happy to bank in their home market.
- Customers who want the card issuer to be a bank, since the account is held with NOVO BANCO, S.A..
- People who treat a monthly charge as acceptable, because the fee here is €4.06 against £0 at Wise.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers of a free card, since Monzo Flex, Wise and Bitpanda list £0, £0 and €0.
- Anyone who wants to spend crypto directly, because a debit bank card neither holds nor converts coins.
- Price-first shoppers, since the monthly charge of €4.06 sits above £0 at Monzo Flex.
The company behind it
The card is issued by NOVO BANCO, S.A., a bank headquartered in Portugal. The group was founded in 2014 and operates as a Portuguese bank rather than a crypto platform, so the account is a bank account first and a card account second. Customers here are buying a banking relationship rather than crypto access, and the pricing is set for the domestic market.
How Novo Banco compares
8.5 vs 9.4
8.5 vs 9.0
8.5 vs 8.2
8.5 vs 9.5
8.5 vs 9.6
8.5 vs 9.0
8.5 vs 9.1Bitpanda lists €0 and is built around buying and holding crypto, which a debit bank card does not cover.
8.5 vs 8.9
8.5 vs 8.1
8.5 vs 8.2
8.5 vs 9.5
8.5 vs 9.4
8.5 vs 9.2
8.5 vs 9.1
8.5 vs 9.0
8.5 vs 8.9- 8.5 vs 8.8
8.5 vs 8.8
8.5 vs 8.6
8.5 vs 8.5
8.5 vs 8.3
Frequently asked questions
What does the Novo Banco account cost each month?+
The account carries a monthly fee of €4.06, and the card attached to it is a debit card issued by NOVO BANCO, S.A.. This is the running cost to weigh against cheaper rivals. The charge applies to the account itself rather than to a premium tier, so anyone comparing cards on price should start with this line.
How does that fee compare with Wise, Monzo Flex and Bitpanda?+
Novo Banco charges €4.06 a month. Wise lists £0, Monzo Flex lists £0 and Bitpanda lists €0, so on this measure the Novo Banco card is the costliest of the group. For readers who move money often, the monthly charge is the number to weigh first.
Is the Novo Banco card a crypto card?+
The card type is debit, and the account belongs to the bank NOVO BANCO, S.A. rather than to a crypto platform. Spending runs on a euro bank balance, so it does not carry coin balances, conversion rates or earn rates. Readers shopping for crypto perks on a card should look at a specialist product instead.
Who runs the Novo Banco card?+
The card is issued by NOVO BANCO, S.A., a bank headquartered in Portugal. The counterparty on the account is therefore a bank rather than a platform or wallet provider, and the customer relationship sits with the bank's own current account terms. It is a domestic banking product rather than a global card programme.
How long has Novo Banco been operating?+
The bank was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Portugal, so it is a domestic Portuguese lender rather than a global card issuer. The card and the account are run by the same legal entity, NOVO BANCO, S.A., which keeps the customer relationship with one bank and one set of terms.
Who is the Novo Banco account for?+
It suits Portuguese residents who want a bank-issued debit card and can absorb a monthly fee of €4.06. Readers who want a free card, such as a Wise or Monzo Flex customer, will find the charge here harder to justify. The account is built for domestic everyday spending rather than crypto transactions.
Where is the account offered?+
The bank is headquartered in Portugal and its card terms are set for that home market, so opening and everyday use centre on Portugal. The card attached to the account is debit and priced at €4.06, which is the figure published for customers in that market.
Sources
- banksdaily.com/info/novobanco checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Founded: 2014”
- novobanco.com/content/dam/novobanco-com/investors/debt-in... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters
“Registered office: Avenida da Liberdade, 195, 1250-142 Lisbon, Portugal”
- novobanco.pt/content/dam/novobancopublicsites/docs/pdfs/c... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Monthly fee
- novobanco.pt/content/dam/novobancopublicsites/en/particul... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity
“NOVO BANCO, S.A., with head office at the novobanco Campus, Av. Dr. Mario Soares, Taguspark”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
Novo Banco
A Portuguese bank-issued card for everyday spending rather than crypto card rewards.