Banking Without Borders
Banking Without Borders is a podcast about modern money — from digital banks and cashback cards to savings, credit cards, FX, global accounts, and the financial products reshaping how people manage money in the UK and beyond.
We focus less on hype and more on what actually matters: who a product is for, how it makes money, where the trade-offs are, and whether it’s genuinely worth using.
If you want clear thinking, real-world context, and fewer buzzwords and less BS when it comes to banking, cards, and personal finance, this is the podcast.
Episodes
66 episodes
The Best & Worst Travel Cards For Summer 2026
Summer 2026 is officially here, and so are the hidden fees waiting to ambush your holiday budget! In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we pull back the curtain on international spending to ensure your next vacation is as fee-fre...
Best UK Savings Rates — July 2026 | 8% Regular Saver, 4.90% Fixed & More
In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for July 2026 — including a new headline regular saver rate from Santander, fixed bonds pushing to 4.90%, and the latest switch bonuses with some deadlines coming up fast. We also cover the Hal...
Amex Platinum vs Revolut Ultra: If You Had To Pick One, Which Would You Choose?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan go head-to-head on two of the most talked-about premium cards in the UK — Amex Platinum and Revolut Ultra. One's a credit card, the other's a debit subscription, and yet they keep...
Monzo vs Revolut vs Starling vs Chase UK – Which Digital Bank Wins?
We pit the four biggest UK digital banks head-to-head to crown a winner. Spoiler alert: there's no single answer—it depends what matters to you.From cashback and travel rewards to customer service and credit cards, we break down exactly ...
Is This The Best FREE Bank Account in Europe? (3% Interest & 1% 'Cashback')
In this episode, we make the case for Trade Republic being the best bank account in Europe — then try our hardest to poke holes in it.What we cover:Why it's not Revolut or Wise — and why we keep recommending Trade Repu...
Revolut vs WISE: Who Has The Best Travel Card?
In this episode, Jonny and Jan put Revolut and Wise head-to-head to settle which is actually the better card for spending abroad this summer — then ask the bigger question: are either of them the best option out there? Using live data pulled fr...
Every Revolut Plan Explained — What Nobody Tells You Before You Upgrade
In this episode, Jonny and Jan go through every Revolut plan — Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal, and Ultra — breaking down what you actually get, what each one costs, and the catches Revolut doesn't shout about. Whether you're brand new to Revolu...
Best UK Savings Rates — June 2026 | Easy Access, Cash ISAs, Fixed Bonds & More
In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for June 2026 — every major category, the accounts worth your attention, and a few that look better than they really are.We also break down two key dates for savers this month: th...
Can Monzo Compete With Revolut In Europe?
Monzo just launched in Europe, and the way they've done it is smarter than most people have noticed. One Irish banking licence. All 27 EU member states. Spain next. This is a bigger deal than it looks.In this episode:M...
Is HSBC Premier the Best Bank Account in the UK?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan break down HSBC Premier — the free bank account that requires £100,000 to get through the door. We cover the strict eligibility criteria, an honest audit of the bundled Aviva...
Revolut Just Raised Prices Across Europe — Is It Still Worth Paying For?
Revolut has increased subscription prices across several European markets — including Germany, France and the Netherlands — while adding a wave of new perks to Premium, Metal and Ultra.But are these benefits actually useful… or ar...
How to Fly Business Class Without Paying Business Class Prices
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jan breaks down how to actually fly business class without spending business class money. Why flexibility is the single biggest lever you have — and what that really means bey...
5% Easy-Access Is Back! UK Savings Rates Update - May 2026
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we cover the May 2026 savings rate update — breaking down where UK savers can earn the highest interest right now, what the Bank of England's latest decision means for rates, and which accounts...
Is AMEX Platinum Really Worth £650?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we ask whether the Amex Platinum is still worth £650 a year — and we've read the small print so you don't have to.The welcome bonus: 75,000–90,000 points, but Amex appears to be A/B...
Can the Yonder Card Replace Revolut? We Asked the CEO!
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we sit down with Tim Chong, co-founder and CEO of Yonder. In this episode:Yonder Premium vs Revolut Metal — Tim makes the case for why they're not actually compet...
Monzo Max vs Revolut Metal: Which Premium Bank Account Is Right For You?
In this episode, we put Monzo Max and Revolut Metal head to head to help you figure out which one — if either — is actually worth paying for every month.The travel insurance small print that could leave you entirely uninsured on hol...
Cash ISAs Explained: eToro, XTB, Bonus Rate Traps & How to Pick the Right One
It's a new financial year, which means a fresh £20,000 ISA allowance — and a market that looks more competitive than ever. But several of the headline rates are not quite what they seem.In this episode:• Why eToro's 4.78% ...
Ranking Exclusive UK Private Bank Accounts: Coutts vs HSBC vs Barclays vs Lloyds
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we rank the four biggest names in UK private banking — Lloyds, HSBC Global Private Banking, Coutts, and Barclays — and ask whether the exclusivity actually holds up.We cover what ...
Don’t Miss the Cash ISA Deadline: Up to 4.81% on ISAs & 4.75% on Easy-Access!
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we run through the best UK savings accounts for April 2026.Cash ISAs are the main focus this month, with the tax-year deadline creating a lot of competition across the market. We ...
When Did Bank Cards Become Status Symbols?
This week on Banking Without Borders, Jan and Jonny are asking when bank cards stopped being financial tools and started becoming status symbols. From metal cards and paid-for “premium” designs to the new Revolut Audi F1 card...
Should Revolut Be Your Main Bank Account?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we ask the big question now that Revolut is a proper UK bank: should it be your main bank account?We break down what actually matters in a main bank account, from trust and FSCS p...
Has Trading 212 Built a Better Card Than Revolut?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders we compare Trading 212 and Revolut through the lens of card spending, rewards and travel.What may surprise a lot of people is that Trading 212, still best known as an investing platform, ...
Revolut Finally Gets Its UK Banking Licence: What Changes Now?
In this episode of Banking Without Borders we break down Revolut finally securing its full UK banking licence after a process that began back in 2021.This is a major milestone for Revolut in the UK, because it means the company can now o...
Best UK Premier Bank Accounts Ranked (NatWest vs HSBC vs Barclays vs Lloyds)
In this episode of Banking Without Borders we compare the UK’s major Premier or “status” bank accounts from the big four high street banks: NatWest, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds.These accounts typically require £75k–£100k i...
Up To 7.5% On Savings! UK Rates Update – Best Cash ISAs, Easy Access & More (March '26)
In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we break down the best savings accounts in the UK right now and where savers can earn the highest interest.• Best Cash ISAs right now including Trading 212, Moneybox and Tembo