Revolut and Nubank want to make neobanking their world
Nubank’s takeover talks with Monzo shocked the City. In this week’s column, Samuel Norman takes a look at how and why a deal might emerge and the battle that lies ahead with Revolut. Around a decade ago, a handful of colourful plastic cards found their way into Brits’ wallets. Monzo was one of the first, [...]
In the world of neobanking, two major players, Nubank and Revolut, are vying for dominance. Nubank, a Brazilian fintech giant with a $59 billion market cap, has been in discussions to acquire Monzo, a UK-based neobank founded in 2015. The potential acquisition would allow Nubank to compete with Revolut in Europe, where both companies have conditional approvals for US banking licences.
Nubank's revenue is heavily reliant on credit income, which makes up nearly 59% of its $16.3 billion in revenue. In contrast, Revolut offers a wide range of financial products, including multi-currency accounts, stock trading, crypto, eSIMs, and soon airport lounges. A deal with Monzo would provide Nubank with access to £25.7 billion in deposits and allow the company to tap into higher-return credit opportunities, something not possible under UK regulation.
Meanwhile, Revolut has not made any M&A moves but has used its licenses to deepen its monetisation, holding six fully-stamped permits across various countries. The outcome of this potential acquisition and the future of the neobanking market in the UK remains uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
