Revolut launches payment services for Ukrainian refugees

To ensure individuals displaced by the invasion have quick and easy access to their money, Revolut eased many of the requirements needed to set up an account as well as waiving a number of FX and top-up fees.

Over two million refugees have already crossed Ukraine’s borders seeking safety, many with limited possessions and documentation. In order to purchase the basic necessities, quick and easy access to money has become imperative for thousands of families.

„Revolut is enabling those who have crossed its borders to access their money by linking the app to their Ukrainian bank account, opening a corridor to give them access to money. Revolut is offering payment services to anyone fleeing Ukraine, providing access to additional currencies and savings mechanisms,” according to a company’s blog.

The standard account has no monthly fee and can be used to send and receive money, as well as exchange currency. The Revolut card can be used anywhere in the EEA and Ukraine, with a limit of €1,500 a day via outbound bank transfer and Revolut peer-to-peer. Friends and relatives already in Europe will also be able to transfer money to them quickly and securely. Standard plan fair usage limits apply.

Setting up an e-money account in the EEA usually requires proof of a right to reside in Europe. „With many of those displaced by the invasion unable to provide this due to a lack of documentation, we’ve eased this requirement to make sure as many refugees as possible can set up an account to access their funds. Although the access to accounts has been eased, we’ve put all the necessary measures in place, through a dedicated team, so that all regulatory requirements are properly followed and satisfied,” Revolut explains.

Once their Revolut account is set up, those fleeing Ukraine will be able to link any Ukrainian bank card with their Revolut account and can then immediately begin topping up their account in a variety of currencies. To support this initiative, Revolut is also waiving a number of FX transfer fees to ensure there are no additional charges for individuals displaced by the invasion exchanging their Ukrainian Hryvnia into another currency.

Vlad Yatsenko, Co-founder and CTO of Revolut said: “With the war in Ukraine displacing more than two million people already, we felt it was imperative to help those most affected by providing a service that gives them easy, quick access to their money. Bank transfers are often slow and expensive so we hope this Revolut initiative provides a simpler alternative. I am immensely proud to be part of a British fintech that can quickly help the Ukrainian people in their time of need.”

If you’ve been displaced by the invasion, follow these steps to open an account:

. Download the Revolut app

. Tap ‘Sign up’ and enter the phone number you’re currently using. It can be any phone number, including your Ukrainian phone number, as long as you can receive text messages to it

. Select the country you’re currently in as your country of residence, e.g. Poland or Slovakia

. Provide your current address outside Ukraine, e.g. address of the shelter, and fill out your personal info

. Confirm your identity by selecting and uploading your Ukrainian passport* or identity card, as these are the documents that allow Ukrainian refugees to open an account

*If you’re of another nationality coming from Ukraine, you’ll need to follow the same steps and upload your passport as well as your Ukrainian visa.