Santander or Novobanco: Which Is Better in Portugal? (2026)
The short answer
Santander Portugal wins 3 of the 6 computed criteria, Novo Banco wins 0. Santander Portugal leads on monthly fee: Santander Portugal EUR 8.94 vs Novo Banco EUR 9.9. Choose on the criterion that matters to you.
Row by row
Fees verified August 2026 against each provider's published data
| Criterion | Santander | Novobanco |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly feeWhat holding the account costs every month | Portugal EUR 8.94Wins | Novo Banco EUR 9.9 |
| Portuguese ibanSome Portuguese billers still reject foreign IBANs | Portugal PTTie | Novo Banco PTTie |
| English supportApp, contract and helpline language | Portugal yesWins | Novo Banco no |
| Deposit protectionWho guarantees your money, and up to how much | Portugal EUR 100,000Tie | Novo Banco EUR 100,000Tie |
| Branch accessWhether a counter exists when the app fails you | Portugal ~400 branchesWins | Novo Banco app only |
| Standout featureThe one thing each side does that the other does not | Portugal: 6 months fee-free when opened onlineTie | Novo Banco: Deep discount to EUR 3.50 with engagementTie |
So which one
Pick Santander if
- Monthly fee decides it for you: Santander Portugal EUR 8.94 vs Novo Banco EUR 9.9.
Pick Novobanco if
- This is what decides it: Deep discount to EUR 3.50 with engagement.
Other comparisons
6 more pairsHow we compared these two
The criteria are fixed
Every comparison on this site uses the same 6 rows in the same order, so two pages can be read against each other. We do not add a row because one side happens to win it.
A win is a stated threshold
A row is won on the published number or capability, not on judgement. Ties are declared rather than broken. Figures come from provider price lists and official sources.
How we get paid
Both links earn a commission at the same rate, so the winner of a row is never the higher-paying one. Fees come from each provider's own published price list, not a comparison feed.
Sources: provider price lists and official data, accessed August 2026. Next review: November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Santander or Novobanco?
Santander Portugal wins 3 of the 6 computed criteria, Novo Banco wins 0. Santander Portugal leads on monthly fee: Santander Portugal EUR 8.94 vs Novo Banco EUR 9.9. Choose on the criterion that matters to you.
When should I pick Santander?
Monthly fee decides it for you: Santander Portugal EUR 8.94 vs Novo Banco EUR 9.9.
When should I pick Novobanco?
This is what decides it: Deep discount to EUR 3.50 with engagement.
Community Q&A