Revolut just applied for a US banking license - and the company it's coming for is Chime (CHYM), America's largest neobank, now public on the Nasdaq. One is a global money super-app; the other is dead-simple, fee-free US banking. Here's the full side-by-side.
Revolut vs Chime at a glance
| Feature | Revolut (US) | Chime |
|---|---|---|
| Publicly traded | No - private (IPO target ~$200B, ~2028) | Yes - Nasdaq: CHYM (~$11.6B) |
| Founded / HQ | 2015 · London | 2012 · San Francisco |
| Users | ~70M global (small in the US) | 8.6M (US) |
| Monthly fee | $0 · $9.99 (Premium) · $16.99 (Metal) | $0 |
| Account model | Fintech on partner banks (Lead Bank / Cross River) | Fintech on partner banks (Bancorp / Stride) |
| FDIC insured | Yes - up to $250k (partner banks) | Yes - up to $250k (partner banks) |
| Debit card | Visa/Mastercard · steel Metal card on top tier | Visa |
| Fee-free ATMs | Limits per plan | 60,000+ (MoneyPass + Allpoint) |
| Out-of-network ATM | Free up to limit, then ~2% | $2.50 |
| Cash deposits | Not a focus | Yes - at retailers (free at Walgreens) |
| Foreign exchange (FX) | Free up to limit ($1k Std / $10k Prem), then 0.5% | No added fee (Visa rate) - USD only |
| Multi-currency | Yes - 30+ currencies, spend in 150+ countries | No - USD only |
| International transfers | Yes - SWIFT, multi-currency | No - domestic only |
| Stock investing | Yes - Revolut Securities | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Savings APY | Up to 5.50% (Metal plan) | Up to 3.75% (with qualifying direct deposit) |
| Fee-free overdraft | Not offered | Yes - SpotMe up to $200 |
| Early direct deposit | Not offered | Yes - up to 2 days early |
| Credit-builder card | No | Yes - no interest, no hard check |
| Rewards / cashback | RevPoints not yet in the US | Cash-back at select merchants |
| Travel perks | Yes - insurance (Premium), lounge + concierge (Metal) | No |
| Best for | Global/travel + investing in one app | Simple, fee-free US banking |
The big picture
These two aren't really the same product. Revolut is a global money super-app - multi-currency accounts, cheap FX, stock and crypto trading, travel perks, all behind tiered plans ($0 / $9.99 / $16.99). Chime is the opposite bet: one simple, fee-free US checking and savings account with no monthly fee, fee-free overdraft, early payday, a credit-builder card and a high-yield savings tier. Revolut sells breadth; Chime sells simplicity. Both hold your money at FDIC-insured partner banks (up to $250,000).
Where Revolut pulls ahead
If you travel, hold multiple currencies, or want banking and investing in one app, Revolut wins easily: 30+ currency accounts, cheap FX (free up to a limit, then 0.5%), international transfers, stocks via Revolut Securities, and crypto - Chime does none of that. Its Metal tier even advertises savings up to 5.50% APY, plus travel insurance, airport lounge access and a steel card.
Where Chime wins
For a lot of Americans, Chime is simply the better everyday bank: no monthly fee, no minimum, $2.50 as the only common fee, 60,000+ fee-free ATMs, SpotMe overdraft up to $200, pay up to two days early, savings up to 3.75% APY, and a Credit Builder card that reports to all three bureaus with no interest or hard credit check. No plans to compare, no FX math - it just works, for free.
Revolut is fighting on two fronts, by the way: it's also taking on Nubank across Latin America - we broke that down here.
What it means for investors
Only some of this is investable. Chime (CHYM) went public in June 2025 (~$11-12B) and is the pure-play US neobank bet. Revolut is still private (eyeing a ~$200B IPO around 2028). For a US-listed diversified challenger, there's also SoFi (SOFI), and for the Latin America angle, Nubank (NU). Compare them all in the stock screener.
Final Take
There's no single winner - it depends on you. Choose Revolut if you travel, invest, or want a global all-in-one app. Choose Chime if you want simple, genuinely fee-free US banking. For investors, Chime (CHYM) is the cleanest way to bet that simple, free banking keeps winning American wallets - and the real test starts now, as Revolut moves onto its turf.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always do your own research before investing.
