Banking Without Borders

In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for July 2026 — including a new headline regular saver rate from Santander, fixed bonds pushing to 4.90%, and the latest switch bonuses with some deadlines coming up fast. We also cover the Halifax rebrand to Lloyds and what it means for existing customers.

In this episode:

• Switch offers up to £600, including HSBC standard at £220 — best accessible bonus this month
• Easy access accounts up to 5.00%, including Revolut, Tembo and a notable rate increase from Cahoot
• Cash ISAs — easy access up to 4.62% with Plum, fixed up to 4.60% with Tembo and Oak North
• Fixed rate bonds up to 4.90% with Marcus and Afin Bank
• Notice accounts — honest take on whether they're worth it right now
• Regular savers — why 8% isn't as simple as it sounds, and the accounts actually worth opening
• Halifax is being rebranded to Lloyds — what changes and what doesn't

All accounts are listed and updated daily at DepositScout.com. Affiliate links for selected accounts are in the show notes.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan go head-to-head on two of the most talked-about premium cards in the UK — Amex Platinum and Revolut Ultra. One's a credit card, the other's a debit subscription, and yet they keep ending up in the same conversation.

So we're doing the thing everyone actually wants. Not "it depends" — but if you had to pick one and walk away with it, which is it?

We cover:

• Overseas spending and FX fees
• Lounges, hotels and car hire
• Travel insurance — including the catches in both policies
• Credits, subscriptions and how to actually break even on the fee
• Points and welcome bonuses

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

We pit the four biggest UK digital banks head-to-head to crown a winner. Spoiler alert: there's no single answer—it depends what matters to you.

From cashback and travel rewards to customer service and credit cards, we break down exactly what each bank gets right and where they fall short. Plus, which one has the worst app but the best banking fundamentals, and why Revolut's new banking license doesn't save its standard account.

What we cover:

• Cashback rates: Chase UK offers 2% on groceries, fuel, transport & dining
• Travel support: Which bank wins for international spending
• Credit cards & personal loans: Only Monzo offers both
• Cash deposits: Starling vs Monzo's £1 fee (and the hidden limit)
• Customer service tiers: Why Chase & Starling stand out
• The verdict: Best overall, best for travel, best for cashback—and the bank we'd skip entirely

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode, we make the case for Trade Republic being the best bank account in Europe — then try our hardest to poke holes in it.

What we cover:

• Why it's not Revolut or Wise — and why we keep recommending Trade Republic instead
• The full ECB deposit rate passed straight to you (recently bumped to 2.25%)
• The 3% promotional rate for new customers — and who's locked out of it
• How "Saveback" actually works, and the savings-plan catch attached to it
• Fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals worldwide (plus the one €100 gotcha)
• How it stacks up against Revolut and Trading 212 on fees, limits and support
• The customer service meltdown they fixed with 1,000+ agents and a 24/7 phone line
• The reliability wobbles during volatile markets — and who they actually matter for
• The big question: can a fee structure this generous really last?

Using Trade Republic? Tell us what you actually think. Join our new Discord to chat directly with Jan and Jonny — link below. 

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode, Jonny and Jan put Revolut and Wise head-to-head to settle which is actually the better card for spending abroad this summer — then ask the bigger question: are either of them the best option out there? Using live data pulled from both providers on 9 June, they break down the real cost of spending £2,000 across six countries, the ATM fee traps nobody mentions, and the cheaper alternatives most travellers overlook.

• The two completely different ways Wise and Revolut charge you — and why one is far less transparent than the other
• Real fees for spending £2,000 abroad in the USA, Spain, Thailand, Morocco, Indonesia and Australia
• The £1,000 monthly threshold that quietly makes Revolut Standard more expensive
• ATM withdrawal fees compared, and why even Revolut Ultra (£55/month) still won't give you unlimited free cash
• Wise's Smart Conversion vs Revolut's "all-or-nothing" rule — and the decline trap that can leave you stuck at checkout
• Why holding 40+ currencies matters for freelancers and digital nomads
• The cheaper alternatives: First Direct, Chase, Monzo, Trade Republic and Trading 212
• The honest debate: if you only travel once a year, is switching even worth it?

Data spreadsheet linked here. Rates were accurate at the time of recording and may have changed.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode, Jonny and Jan go through every Revolut plan — Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, and Ultra — breaking down what you actually get, what each one costs, and the catches Revolut doesn't shout about. Whether you're brand new to Revolut or wondering whether to upgrade, this episode will tell you exactly which plan makes sense for your lifestyle.

What we cover:

• The Standard account — decent app, underwhelming product, and how it compares to free alternatives like Monzo
• Why the Plus plan is mostly a pricing decoy — and who it's genuinely useful for
• Premium's subscription arbitrage trick: how one included app can make the whole plan free
• Metal's insurance value for skiers, car renters, and daily FT readers
• Ultra — worth £660 a year? The honest answer
• Revolut's cancellation policy and the costly trap hiding in the small print

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for June 2026 — every major category, the accounts worth your attention, and a few that look better than they really are.

We also break down two key dates for savers this month: the CPI inflation release on the 17th of June and the Bank of England base rate decision on the 18th, and what both could mean for rates in the second half of the year.

In this episode:

• Easy access accounts topping 4.5%, including Tembo, Chase, and Hanley Economic BS
• Cash ISAs up to 4.76% — flexible and non-flexible options covered
• Fixed rate bonds up to 4.85%, including a time-limited cashback offer from Raisin (ends 8 June)
• Notice accounts — and an honest take on whether they're worth it
• Regular savers — why the 7.1% headline rate isn't what it seems, and the three accounts actually worth opening
• Current account switch offers worth up to £200

All accounts are listed and updated daily at DepositScout.com. Affiliate links for selected accounts are in the show notes.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

Monzo just launched in Europe, and the way they've done it is smarter than most people have noticed. One Irish banking licence. All 27 EU member states. Spain next. This is a bigger deal than it looks.

In this episode:

• Monzo just launched in Europe — and their Irish banking licence quietly unlocks all 27 EU member states
• Spain is next, and it's no coincidence — 1 in 3 new bank accounts opened there in the last 3 years were with Revolut
• We compare what you actually get as a European customer with each account right now
• The legal quirk in Monzo's Spain launch that could have serious implications
• Why Monzo customers hold more than twice as much money per head as Revolut customers — despite lower savings rates
• Both annual reports dissected: £4.5bn vs £1.7bn in revenue, and the numbers that actually matter
• Can Monzo — late to the party and lighter on features — genuinely compete with Revolut's 68 million European customers?

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan break down HSBC Premier — the free bank account that requires £100,000 to get through the door. 

We cover the strict eligibility criteria, an honest audit of the bundled Aviva travel insurance and Square Health perks, how the credit card mileage engines work, and why this account is simultaneously the most impressive banking infrastructure in the UK and one of the worst places to park your savings.

If you hold HSBC Premier — or you're thinking about opening one — this is everything the marketing won't tell you.

In this episode:

• The three ways to qualify in 2026 — and the £500 switch bonus on the table right now
• What the £1,600 healthcare bundle actually covers (and where the shared allowances catch people out)
• The free credit card vs the £290 World Elite — which mileage engine is worth it
• The Global Money Account, Nova Credit, and why expats have almost no reason to bank anywhere else
• Why leaving your cash in the default savings account costs the average Premier customer nearly £3,000 a year

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]

Revolut has increased subscription prices across several European markets — including Germany, France and the Netherlands — while adding a wave of new perks to Premium, Metal and Ultra.

But are these benefits actually useful… or are they just designed to justify higher monthly fees?

In this episode, Jonny and Jan break down:

•  The exact Revolut price increases across Europe 
•  Whether Metal and Ultra still offer good value 
•  New perks like Super Duolingo, eSIM data, airport fast track and AI website builder Lovable 
•  Why some of these “benefits” may really be funnels to spend more money 
•  Huge differences between countries and subscription value 
•  Why the UK could be next for price hikes 
•  Whether Revolut is becoming too complicated for its own good 

They also discuss subscription fatigue, hidden value most users never activate, and whether Revolut’s strategy is becoming more about recurring revenue than genuinely improving the product.

If you use Revolut Premium, Metal or Ultra — or you’re considering upgrading — this episode will help you decide whether the new pricing actually makes sense.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Subscribe on YouTube

https://link.technicallymoney.com/oy8e

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates. 

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at [email protected]