Revolut has submitted its application for a UK banking licence to the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FinTech challenger, which is currently valued at $5.5 billion, said the move marked the next important step in its plans to “create a financial super app.”

The company, which has so far operated through its Lithuanian banking licence in the EU, said a UK banking licence will allow Revolut to further progress its development of highly personalised products to meet customers’ financial needs in the UK.

The banking licence allows Revolut to provide full service current accounts with products such as overdrafts, loans and deposit accounts.

Revolut has already launched products including commission-free stock trading, cryptocurrency trading, savings wallets, junior accounts and rewards.

The company also said that on the approval of the licence customers would have the additional security of deposit protection under The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person.

Revolut was granted an EU banking licence in Lithuania in December 2018 and has begun rolling out banking services in central Europe with the company planning to roll out banking operations across additional European markets in 2021.

Since launching in 2015, Revolut has gained over 13 million customers and employs over 2,000 people worldwide, with around 800 based in London.

In July 2020, the company closed its Series D round with an $80 million extension, for a total of $580 million at the same $5.5 billion valuation.

Nik Storonsky, founder and chief executive at Revolut, said: “A UK banking licence allows us to provide the essential financial products UK customers expect from their everyday primary bank account, such as loans, credit cards, overdrafts and deposit accounts, coupled with the additional trust and security that is offered through FSCS protection.

“We want to be the best in class for customer experience, value and capabilities, and offering full bank accounts allows us to do just that. In the future, we want to offer many more innovative products to our UK customers and we are excited to continue driving innovation and competition in the banking industry. Becoming a fully licenced bank in the UK is a central pillar of that ambition.”

Former Standard Chartered European chief executive Richard Holmes joined Revolut in October 2020 as an advisor to the board with a brief to develop Revolut’s bank proposition.

His responsibilities include developing the board and leadership team for the new entity.

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