Tools
Salary or travel?
The Revolut file, as a question. One currency for rent, or more than one for living. We name the licence before the card colour.
I live in
Desk pick · United Kingdom
Pay rent here
Full UK banks. FSCS on eligible balances. The high-street feel this desk still prefers for rent and salary.
Starling BankThe grown-up UK challenger: bank first, app second.UK bank · PRA / FCA8.1Strong
MonzoUK current account that made banking feel like a group chat.UK bank · PRA / FCA8.1Strong
Do not flatten Revolut into one bank. The UK bank sleeve and the e-money wallet are different legal objects. Atom bank plc is a PRA bank for savings and mortgages — salary still sits at Starling or Monzo. Beacon is a Cheshire credit union, not a current account.
Need a full filter? Account finder · IBAN country ≠ HQ
Questions
Why isn’t Revolut the salary pick in the UK?+–
It can be a UK bank for eligible customers. The e-money wallet is still a different legal object. For rent and salary this desk still prefers Starling or Monzo — one entity, FSCS, high-street rails.
Is Wise a salary account?+–
No. It is an EMI / payments firm. Excellent at FX and local details. It is not a high-street current account and it is not FSCS as a bank.
What about India?+–
UPI already moved money. Salary apps here sit on partner banks. DICGC follows the scheduled bank, not Fi or Jupiter. Travel is Wise or Niyo Global — not a US checking account.
Is Ally a neobank?+–
Ally Bank is an OCC national bank, FDIC-insured at its own name. No branches on purpose. Chime and Albert are fintechs. This desk puts Ally next to SoFi Bank and Varo Bank for US salary.
None of this is advice. Approval is the provider’s.