Banking · Retail bank
MariBank: the Sea group's digital bank in Singapore
Singaporean digital bank owned by the Sea group, opened through the app to citizens, permanent residents and foreigners holding a valid residence permit. A Singapore address and a Singpass account are required, which rules out non-residents.
Please note
Characteristics
- Family
- Retail bank
- Regulator
- Monetary Authority of Singapore
- Regulator country
- Singapore
- Deposit guarantee
- Yes
- Remote opening
- Yes
- Currencies
- SGD
- Services
- Savings · Payment card · International transfers · Securities and trading
- Accepted residencies
- Singapore
- Refused residencies
- Not provided
- Home country
- Singapore
The Mari Savings account is open to Singaporeans, permanent residents and foreigners holding a valid residence permit, above a minimum age, with an up-to-date Singapore address in Singpass. The guide for foreigners explicitly mentions Work Permit holders and asks for the FIN number, a Singapore mobile number, a Singpass account and proof of address in Singapore. No published rule was found on keeping the account after leaving the country.
Entities and regulatory status
| Entity | Jurisdiction | Status | Regulator | Protection of funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MariBank Singapore Private Limitedholds the accountFull digital bank licence awarded in 2020 to an entity wholly owned by Sea Ltd; the MAS directory entry was not consulted. | Singapore | Banks with their own licence | Monetary Authority of Singaporeregister · mas.gov.sg | SDIC |
Who can open or keep an account
| Country of residence | Case | Status | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | Opening | Accepted | Citizens, permanent residents and foreigners holding a valid residence permit, with an up-to-date Singapore address in Singpass.maribank.sg |
| Any residence (general rule) | Opening | Refused | No account opening without a Singapore address, FIN number, local mobile number and Singpass.banking-aka-storage.maribank.com.sg |
| Singapore | Keeping after a move | Unknown | Not documented on the pages consulted. |
A country missing from this table is neither accepted nor refused: the information is not published.
Published figures
- Account feeNot provided
- Brokerage feeNot provided
- Deposit guarantee ceilingup to SGD 100,000maribank.sg · Verified on Nov 2, 2026
- Entry ticketNot provided
Which entity, which status
The account is held by MariBank Singapore Private Limited, which describes itself as "licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore". In December 2020, the MAS selected, among the two winners of the full digital bank licences, "an entity wholly owned by Sea Ltd.", a group that owns the Shopee platform, among other businesses. This is a banking licence: MariBank is therefore among the licensed banks.
The Sea group operates digital banks in other Southeast Asian countries, under separate brands and entities; they are not covered by this profile, which concerns only the Singapore entity.
We were unable to open the institution's entry in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory from our research environment; its status is based on the MAS announcement of the licence awards and on the bank's legal notices.
Who can open an account
According to the help centre, the Mari Savings account is open to Singaporeans, permanent residents and foreigners holding a valid residence permit, aged at least figure being updated. The residential address in Singapore must be up to date in Singpass before applying.
The account opening guide for foreigners, dated August 2025, mentions Work Permit holders working in Singapore and lists the required items: FIN number, Singapore mobile number, Singpass account, email address and a recent proof of address (Singapore bank statement, ICA or Ministry of Manpower document, or postpaid mobile phone bill). The application is made only in the app.
The guide does not specifically mention the Employment Pass or the S Pass, even though the general rule covers any valid residence permit. Nothing is published on what happens to the account after a departure.
Account, card and currencies
The offering includes a Singapore dollar savings account, fixed deposits, a business account, a credit card and an investment service (Mari Invest), each with its own access conditions. According to the guide, an account opening application takes a few business days to process.
We did not find dated fees or withdrawal limits on an official page. The account is not presented as multi-currency.
Protection of funds
According to MariBank, Singapore dollar deposits (Mari Savings account, fixed deposits, business account) are insured, principal and interest, up to up to SGD 100,0001 in total per depositor with the SDIC. Foreign currency deposits, dual currency investments, structured deposits and other investment products are not insured.
Assets placed through Mari Invest are not covered by deposit insurance.
Points to check
- The validity of the residence permit and Singpass access, which are conditions for opening an account.
- The recent proof of address, often a sticking point for a new arrival.
- The distinction between insured deposits and Mari Invest investments.
- What happens to the account if you leave Singapore, to be asked of the bank.
- Reporting obligations linked to your tax residence: a French tax resident must declare each year accounts opened, held, used or closed outside France, including those with online banks and payment wallets; other countries impose comparable obligations.
Sources and verification dates
- 1.
Deposit guarantee ceiling : SGD 100,000
« (both principal and interest) up to S$100,000 in aggregate per depositor »
MariBank Singapore Private Limited, « How are my deposits being protected? »Verified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source