Should I stay with my bank or switch to a neobank?

It's not really an either-or thing - it really depends on what you need. If you're just doing basic transfers and don't want to pay account maintenance fees, a neobank is clearly simpler and cheaper. On the other hand, if you need an advisor, a mortgage, or want to keep a physical branch nearby, your traditional bank is still better suited for that. Honestly, a lot of people keep both - a main account at the neobank and a secondary account at the traditional bank just in case.

What really matters is checking whether your current bank is bleeding you dry with hidden fees. A lot of people discover they're paying like 10-15 euros a month just to have an account, not to mention fees on international transfers or overdrafts. Neobanks do eliminate a bunch of that stuff, but they've got limitations too: no physical checkbook if you need one, no mortgage lending offered directly, and customer service is usually just chat or phone calls.

In my case, I had an old bank that was charging me ridiculous management fees even though I was mostly just doing transfers and withdrawals. I switched to a pure app and it was simpler day-to-day. But two years later, when I needed a loan for renovations, I had to go somewhere else because my neobank couldn't offer it to me. So now I keep both: the current account with the neobank, and more complete credit/savings management with a traditional bank. It's not ideal admin-wise, but it costs me less than before.

Really look at what's eating your money right now, and what a neobank CAN'T do for you (loans, more sophisticated investments, etc). If it's just basic stuff and you want to save, go for it. But if you think you might need more complete products in the next 2-3 years, keep at least a relationship with a traditional bank even if you don't put everything there.

Don't switch just for the sake of switching without checking what you actually use 🎯 One thing people often forget is that neobanks shine with the little everyday stuff (no fees, clean app) but sometimes struggle if you need services like mortgage loans or a physical advisor. Just check if your current bank already gives you the essentials without bleeding you dry on fees, and then you can stick with it no problem - no need to juggle two accounts if one works for you.

There's one thing people often overlook: neobanks are great for retirement savings or investments, but they usually don't have advisors if you need help with more complex financial arrangements. So before you make the switch, really ask yourself whether you need that kind of occasional support. Personally, I think the real question isn't "neobank or traditional bank" but rather having both running in parallel - keep your bank for the serious stuff and use a lightweight app for everyday banking without fees, that's often the best compromise.

I tested both and the trap is thinking a neobank is enough if you keep a regular account too. It gets messy real quick with two apps, two passwords, and you end up with money scattered all over the place. You really have to make a choice and ask yourself if you can actually do everything with just one setup. If it's just to save on monthly fees, yeah it's worth it. But if you need an overdraft, a mortgage later, or even just a "proper" IBAN for certain admin stuff, your regular bank stays simpler.

The other thing people forget: neobanks are super good for fast transfers and day-to-day management, but a lot of them charge you fees the moment you want to do anything international or if you need an urgent cash transfer abroad. They're small hidden costs, like 1-2 euros per transaction, but it adds up if you travel or have family elsewhere.

Concretely look at what you actually use: you do transfers, you load a prepaid card, you buy stuff online? Neobank is perfect. But if you have bigger financial plans or you do international stuff often, keep at least one traditional bank on the side. The best compromise is often having both, not necessarily one or the other.