Update 3/16/23: Reader TDD lets us know that Revolut is now on MyPoints for 10,000 (worth $63 – $66) and on Swagbucks for $50 with a simple $25 deposit. (I can’t find the Swagbucks offer.) Note: the referral offer is no longer valid – there’s no bonus for the new member anymore.
Update 6/25/21: Extended until to 7/14
Update 6/5/21: $50 referral bonus is no longer active. Bonus is now $30.
Update 5/17/21: There is a $50 referral bonus as well. Hat tip to reader AS
Offer at a glance
Interest Rate: Up to 5% APY
Minimum Balance: None
Maximum Balance: None listed, bonus rate is determined by how much you spend on a debit card
Availability: Nationwide
Direct deposit required: Yes, no minimum specified
Additional requirements: See below
Hard/soft pull: Soft pull
ChexSystems: No
Credit card funding: Unknown
Monthly fees: None – $17
Insured: FDIC
The Offer
FinTech Revolut is offering up to 5% APY. You receive 0.25% APY as the base rate (0.5% for paid Metal or Premium Members) and then 4.5% APY bonus rate. To receive the bonus 4.5% APY you need:
A direct deposit
Maximum balance you earn the 4.5% is determined by the amount you spent on your debit card the previous month. For example if you spend $5,000 the previous month then you could earn 4.5% on up to $5,000.
The Fine Print
All bank account bonuses are treated as income/interest and as such you have to pay taxes on them
Avoiding Fees
Standard account has no monthly fees. Premium has a monthly fee of $10 monthly fee and metal has a $17 monthly fee (not avoidable)
$30 Referral Bonus
Revolut is also offering a referral bonus of $30 to both parties. Need to be referred and complete the following requirements:
Sign up to a Revolut account using unique referral link
Verify their identity and pass our Know your customer (KYC) checks
Add money by connecting their bank account or debit card
Order a physical Revolut card
Complete 3 purchase transactions with their new Revolut card (this can be through a virtual card while they wait for their physical one)
Do not share your referrals in the comment. Instead they can be shared in this linked post.
Our Verdict
For the first month you’ll receive a bonus of 4.5% APY on the amount you spent last month or $1000, whichever is greater. You’d be better off putting spend on a credit card to either earn 2%+ cash back (24% annualized) or to meet minimum spend requirements for big sign up bonuses.
Some purchases can only be made on debit card instead of credit card. This account basically earns roughly $3.75 per month, not worth it considering a lot of the time debit card purchases come with fees. We will still add this to our best high yield savings account as I suspect it will have some limited uses.