Revolut Eyes a U.S. Bank

Fintech giant Revolut is reportedly considering the acquisition of a U.S. bank, a strategic move to accelerate its American ambitions without waiting years for a bank charter approval. By purchasing a bank with a national license, Revolut could vastly expand its financial services, including the addition of business lending to its suite of corporate credit cards. This marks a growing trend of leading fintechs buying their way into full banking status.

Why does this matter? The move would let Revolut offer a far broader range of regulated products: think business loans, international payment tools, crypto trading, and FDIC-insured deposits. The operational risks and legacy tech hurdles are real, but the benefits—like regulatory certainty and direct customer relationships—are compelling.

Analysts note that this isn’t just about expanding into new markets; it’s about changing the game entirely. Fintechs like SoFi and SmartBiz have already paved the way, showing that buying a bank can supercharge growth and unlock new services for business and consumer clients alike.

Key Theme: Fintechs aren’t content to be banking “alternatives.” More of them are aiming to become banks themselves, using acquisitions to offer a deeper, integrated suite of services that rivals, and even outpace, traditional players.

“This move, driven by the need for a faster path to a U.S. banking license, reflects a new chapter: the most ambitious fintechs are no longer just disrupting finance—they’re stepping up to own it.”

Big Picture: Pair Revolut’s ambitions with PayPal’s mainstream push for crypto payments and JPMorgan’s aggressive stance on data access, and a new financial landscape is emerging. The trend is clear: fintechs are moving from disruptors to fully integrated, regulated financial institutions.