Everyday banking
Salary account, payments, BankID and bills in one place
Traditional bank
Complete everyday service.Online broker
Focused on saving; often lacks full everyday services.Bank & online broker
Choosing the right type of bank for your savings
A careful comparison of banks and online brokers comes down to total cost, product range and digital usability — measured against your own goals as a saver. Work through the checklist, mark what matters to you and see which setup fits your situation.
Traditional bank or online broker — what matters most to you?
Mark how important each area is. The guidance below updates instantly and is educational, not a recommendation of any specific provider.
Range of securities
Shares, funds, ETFs and certificates
Traditional bank
Standard range, often weighted to in-house funds.Online broker
Broad global range of shares, ETFs and niche funds.Fees & brokerage
Trading costs, FX fees and fund charges
Traditional bank
Often higher brokerage and standard fund fees.Online broker
Competitive brokerage tiers and lower fees.Personal advice
Access to in-person meetings
Traditional bank
Personal adviser and branch network.Online broker
Fully digital support and self-service.Mortgages & bundled offers
Discounts and negotiating room
Traditional bank
Room to negotiate the mortgage rate on a full relationship.Online broker
Niche mortgages, usually for larger portfolios or via partners.Platform & analysis tools
Apps, charts and portfolio tracking
Traditional bank
Functional apps built for everyday banking.Online broker
Specialised tools for market and portfolio analysis.Your choices indicate
Mark at least three criteria to see which setup is closest to your needs.
A six-step checklist before you choose or switch
These areas affect your returns and your everyday banking the most. Always verify the details with the provider before deciding.
1. Fees and total cost structure
- Brokerage: what does buying and selling cost at home versus on foreign exchanges? Variable brokerage with a minimum, or a fixed fee per order class?
- Currency exchange: what FX fee applies to foreign purchases and dividends (often around 0.15–0.25% per conversion)?
- Fund and platform fees: are there fund discounts, or does the platform add its own fee on top of the fund manager's?
- Account and admin costs: annual fees for ISK, endowment insurance or a standard account, and fees for reclaiming foreign withholding tax.
2. Account types and tax handling
- ISK: is the standardised tax reported automatically to the Swedish Tax Agency?
- Endowment insurance: is foreign withholding tax reclaimed automatically, and how quickly is it repaid?
- Standard securities account: is the K4 tax form compiled automatically after sales?
3. Product range and markets
- Which exchanges and lists can be traded directly in the app, and which require a phone order?
- How broad is the range of index, equity and bond funds and ETFs — and can you automate monthly ETF purchases?
- Are certificates, warrants, bonds and IPO subscriptions available if you plan to use them?
4. User experience and digital tools
- Are the app and website fast and clear, and does login and signing work smoothly with BankID?
- Are order types such as stop loss, trigger orders and extended-hours trading supported?
- Are news, key ratios, historical financials and time-weighted return (TWR) available for your portfolio?
5. Credit terms and interest
- What is the actual rate if you borrow against the portfolio, and is there a discount for low leverage and good diversification?
- Do you earn any interest on uninvested cash in the account?
- Remember that leverage magnifies both gains and losses.
6. Safety, supervision and support
- Is cash covered by the state deposit guarantee and are securities covered by investor protection?
- What are the support hours, and can you reach them quickly during market hours?
- Is the provider supervised by Finansinspektionen or an equivalent foreign authority?
Key takeaways
- · Fees are what you can influence most reliably — a few tenths of a percent per year compounds into large sums.
- · Switching provider is possible by transferring an ISK or account; check transfer fees and any tax effects first.
- · Always confirm the provider is supervised and covered by deposit guarantee and investor protection.
Based on independent authorities and consumer bureaus.