Banking Without Borders

Revolut is betting big on AI agents to handle customer service, sales, and even fraud cases, but are people really ready to trust a chatbot with their money?

Meanwhile, Curve’s £120m sale to Lloyds has turned into a messy showdown with investors threatening legal action, and Starling’s big rebrand has left customers and critics asking whether it’s bold… or a flop?

In this September recap, Jonny and Jan dive into:

• Revolut’s new AI division and what it means for banking
• Klarna’s IPO and the rise of the “Klarnauts”
• Curve’s shareholder drama and why Lloyds might back away
• Starling’s rebrand: aubergine cards, “electric teal” and all
• The latest UK & EU savings rate changes

👉 If you enjoy these roundups, please follow Banking Without Borders, and leave us a rating to support the show.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community 

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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 cut through the noise around budgeting. Forget complicated spreadsheets or patronising advice about skipping coffee, we share our own stories, the practical frameworks we use day-to-day, and the simple mindset shifts that make budgeting feel like freedom, not punishment.

You’ll learn:

• Why living below your means is the foundation of financial freedom.
• Where most people overspend (and what to cut first).
• The exact steps to set saving goals and automate them.
• Watch-outs like lifestyle inflation, “subscription creep,” and cutting the wrong things.
• How to budget with purpose so you can start investing and building real wealth.

Whether you’re just starting out, running your own business, or trying to get control of your finances, this episode will give you the tools to budget smarter, without feeling miserable.

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 Ultra is one of the boldest products we’ve seen in banking: £45/€50 a month for lounge access, travel insurance, boosted savings, and 16 subscriptions Revolut claims are worth over £4,000 a year.

In this Banking Without Borders episode, Jonny and Jan break down:

• The core financial features (ATM limits, FX, savings, RevPoints)
• The subscription bundle and where most of the value lies
• Our own testing of perks like eSIMs and lounges
• The cancellation pitfalls you need to watch for
• How Ultra compares (and where cracks show vs Amex Platinum)

Stick around to the end for our verdicts, and who Revolut Ultra really makes sense for. 

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 just hit a $75B valuation via a secondary share sale, more than some UK high-street banks and even Nubank (despite Nubank’s larger revenue and users).

In this Banking Without Borders episode, Jonny and Jan break down:

• What the secondary sale really signals (and why headlines matter)
• Revolut’s numbers: revenue, profit, users, deposits, and margins
• The super-app moat (wealth, business banking, subscriptions) vs. copycats
• Bull vs Bear cases: regulation, US expansion, rate cycles, fees, customer trust
• Lessons from Amazon/Tesla … and cautionary tales like WeWork
• IPO timing, venue (London vs NASDAQ), and how we’d approach the stock at listing

Stick around to the end for our verdicts: Jan's cautious take vs. Jonny’s bullish case.

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, we cover some of the biggest fintech stories of August 2025:

• PayPal’s $10 billion chaos — how a broken fraud system nearly caused mass unauthorized withdrawals, and why German banks had to step in.
• N26 leadership shake-up — founders pushed aside as regulators and investors demand stability.
• Starling acquires Ember — what this means for business banking and Making Tax Digital in the UK.
• UK bank branch closures — one in three branches gone in just five years, replaced by “banking hubs.”
• Revolut’s bold move into Africa — starting with Morocco, but can they actually get licensed?
• Plus: the latest UK interest rate changes and savings accounts to watch.

Join Jonny and Jan as they unpack the news, share insights, and debate what these moves mean for the future of banking and fintech.

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, we dive into one of the strangest fintech stories of the year: Lloyds Bank is reportedly in talks to buy Curve, but why would the UK’s biggest high street bank want a struggling wallet app? We break down what’s really going on, from Apple Pay’s NFC lock-in to Lloyds’ wider payments strategy.

We also cover:

• Monzo’s return to the top spot in the CMA banking satisfaction survey
• Monzo’s plans to launch mobile services and chase “super app” status
• Bunq setting sights on the US market
• Revolut becoming the biggest bank in Lithuania by assets

Join us as we unpack what these moves mean for banking, fintech, and your money.

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]

Getting started with investing can feel intimidating, but the truth is, it’s never been easier, and you don’t need to be a financial expert to grow your money. 

In this episode, we break down the essentials of investing for beginners:

• What the stock market actually is (and why it matters)
• The main products you’ll come across, stocks, ETFs, index funds, bonds, and more
• The best apps and platforms for getting started
• Simple strategies like dollar-cost averaging and dividend investing
• Common mistakes to avoid as a beginner

By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap to start investing with confidence.

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]

July was not a good month for the UK’s fintech scene. Revolut is still stuck waiting for its full banking licence, Wise is officially moving to New York, and Starling looks like it might follow. Meanwhile, Klarna is expanding, Chase is moving into Europe, and Monzo just got hit with a £21 million fine.

Is this just a series of bad headlines, or are we watching the start of a fintech exodus?

In this month’s recap, we break down everything that happened, explore what’s driving this shift away from the UK, and explain why it matters.

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]

Thinking of getting into investing, or switching trading platforms in 2025? In this episode, Jonny and Jan break down some of the most popular brokers, Revolut, Trading 212, Trade Republic, and Interactive Brokers, and share what it’s really like to use them day-to-day.

Jonny reveals the huge mistake he made starting out (and how it’s now cost him thousands), and together they discuss fees, ease of use, tax benefits like ISAs, and which platforms are worth avoiding completely. Whether you're a complete beginner or already dabbling in stocks and ETFs, this episode is packed with first-hand insight and practical takeaways.

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]

Still using Wise when you travel? You might be losing money. In this episode, we break down why both WISE and Revolut might not be the best option in 2025, and what you should be using instead.

We share our top debit and credit card picks for international travel, reveal hidden fees most people overlook (like dynamic currency conversion and ATM charges), and offer simple tips to help you keep more money in your pocket while abroad.

Cards mentioned: Starling, Chase, Trading 212, Monzo, Barclaycard Rewards, Halifax Clarity, Yonder, Currensea.

Plus: a clever hack to withdraw cash abroad without using an ATM.

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]