I don’t know about you, but I use my mobile phone for work – a lot. I pay invoices, create invoices, check and send emails, dictate, pitch, decline and check my heart rate after a client changes their mind – again. So it makes sense to me, that banking on your mobile phone, using mobile banking applications is ideal. There are, however, many to choose from. In fact, there might be too many. Here are a few, and my personal favourites are BUNQ, Revolut, and Transferwise. But, you really need to choose the one that makes the most sense for your needs. Here are a couple of mobile banking applications for Europe, and a bit about them.
Revolut
Revolut is a mobile banking app that was launched back in 2015. This is considered to be the best banking app in Europe, having 10 million customers. It offers a variety of options, including money transfers abroad, without any hidden charges. Revolut says they are simply ‘a better way to handle your money’.
They can exchange with 28 different currencies too.
Transfer money worldwide, right away, and with no hidden charges. All currency conversions are at the interbank rate.
https://www.revolut.com/en-US/send-money-abroad
Their website is slick and interesting, it is free and fast to sign up, and if you travel a lot of business, or want an easy account to get paid into – this might just work for you.
There are a lot of features, but if you want everything then it will have to be METAL. And here is what you get for that price:
- Free UK account
- Free Euro IBAN account
- Spend in over 150 currencies at the interbank exchange rate
- Exchange in 30 fiat currencies – no monthly limit
- No fee ATM withdrawals up to £800 per month
- Overseas medical insurance
- Delayed baggage & delayed flight insurance
- Global express delivery
- Priority customer support
- Instant access to 5 cryptocurrencies
- Exclusive Revolut Metal card
- Disposable virtual cards
- LoungeKey Pass access
- Free lounge passes for your and up to 3 friends if your flight is delayed >1 hour
- Generous top brand discounts with Perks Plus
- Revolut Junior accounts for up to 5 kids
- 0.1% cashback within Europe and 1% outside Europe on all card payments (capped at £12.99 per month)
- 1 free SWIFT transfer each month
- Unlimited cross border free transfers
I’m going to bet you won’t need all of those things, but honestly, it is a pretty sweet deal if you travel a lot for work, and get paid in multiple currencies. For mobile banking applications in Europe, you get a lot of bang for your buck if you travel and work.
And, hello crypto access.
Monese
Same with Revolut, it was launched back in 2015. If you are just opening a bank account in the UK, then this one is simple and fast. One of its advantages, among others, is that you can create an account without having a UK address.
If you aren’t interested in having a big range of bonuses, their free account can do a lot for those that need a UK bank. It also has 14 languages to choose from, so it is pretty cool in that respect.
Get our mobile account, and it’s absolutely free. You also get special allowances enabling you to use your card abroad without fees. Great for travelling, receiving your salary, or paying your bills.
They have a few things free with each of their plans.
But what is interesting is it doesn’t seem to get more impressive from that.
But for £14.95, which is like 3-4 coffees from Starbucks it’s alright… I guess.
Starling
This app is straightforward to use. It also offers a variety of options, like handling all the aspects of your account, adding notes and receipts to your payments, and much more.
Having used Starling, the card is a classic almost Tiffany’s blue, it was easy to use and I appreciated the quick set up of pots for saving. It wouldn’t have made it into my most often used accounts. It is worth noting that it did win Best British Bank and Best Current Account 2020. Which is no easy feat in today’s banking market.
Business banking built for how you work now, from Britain’s Best Business Banking Provider 2020. With no monthly fees, 24/7 in-app support and an application that takes minutes from your phone, over 200,000 UK businesses are skipping the admin and staying on top of their finances with Starling.
https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/
I really like this, though –
https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/sme-business-toolkit/
Monzo
This one is probably one of the most popular bank challengers in the UK. Offering a full current account and savings account, also recently, their newest offer is personal loans. This app is very easy to use, and has a very pleasing interface. Monzo is hugely popular for freelancers, and offers some great basic functions. they say it is ‘banking made easy’ and it is true.
They have a number of offerings and can be set up in minutes. They are also making a great social impact – https://monzo.com/i/socialimpact
Their Plus account, personal that is, is just £5 a month and has all of this –
Which is pretty good.
Curve
If you want less hassle than managing all your accounts and cards separately, then Curve is handy. This app allows you to connect all your cards and accounts in just one place.
Check out the marketing spiel below to get a feel for them:
Curve is to Banking what Netflix is to TV and Spotify to Music. We connect All Your Cards in One* Smart Card. And One Even Smarter App. We bring you financial freedom and endless opportunities. All in One place. Simply One-derful.
Honestly, if that’s not smart, I dunno what is.
I like to vibe, it offers some valuable things like the phone and travel insurance, and it’s a smart concept.
N26
N26 is a licensed digital bank that is perfect for depositing money. This one is very helpful, especially when you want to monitor your expenses, it’s easy to track them with N26.
I had one of these and actually just hated the card. But anyway.
This is pretty cool.
Okay but for the rest, it’s long, the perks of the N26 Metal are medical travel insurance, trip insurance, flight insurance and more. It feels like it is trying to be a lifestyle card, and with the perks on offer it works. Not sure that anything above the N26 standard is worth it if you don’t travel or need sub-accounts though.
For the security it is all the same:
Holvi
This mobile banking app is easy to use and very intuitive. This is said to be perfect for those who are self-employed or business owners. You can easily open an account with this one.
I like the vibe of the website, but that doesn’t mean anything really. I love that it is aimed at small businesses, because let’s face it, most business is small business. they moved out of the UK in October 2020, so you’ll need to read more about that. In general though, cool company and shame they are leaving the UK.
Holvi is leaving the UK – when and why?
Transferwise
Another mobile banking app that allows you to send money around the world using your own currency. This one is really perfect for those who love to travel and work with multiple freelancers around the globe.
I use Transferwise a lot, I don’t however use their card option. Here are some simple perks that come with a Transfer wise account:
And we are now paying attention.
Absolutely massive difference there, much of your cash is going to get swallowed.
The account is free to set up, you get international banking details for free too. The transfer is cheap, and you get the real exchange rate every time. This one just makes sense in terms of mobile banking applications for Europe.
If you care, the card is bright green. The account is called a borderless account, and really is used by millions.
Get A Borderless Transferwise Account here. Note: Transferwise are now called Wise.
BUNQ
They call themselves The Bank of The Free. This is my preference. Although I have tested Currensea (full disclosure I am an investor, but still don’t use it), regularly use Transferwise, and had a little savings pot on Starling.
I have a business account with BUNQ, after having a personal account for quite some time. I love the look of the card, I like the ease of use and here are a couple of other things I like about BUNQ:
It gives me an automatic monthly export of income, I can pay invoices, get paid, and the interest is 9 times higher than traditional banks. One of the most simple mobile banking applications for Europe.
We’ve been a fully-fledged bank since 2014, getting our official banking licence from the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). Since then, we’ve been making lives easier for our users in 30 European countries.
I like the mass interest too.
Finally
Before you sign up to any financial apps, or subscription models make sure that you understand the tie-in, the costs, the fees, the hidden-charges, and the full capabilities. Most of the time it is better to start with the free option, and see how you get on – and if you make use of the account.
I am not a banker or a financial advisor, this is just an overview and some anecdotal experiences. Images used under Fair Usage, no monetary gain, or affiliate links are contained within this article.
