Revolut wins French banking licence, expanding Its European footprint

Revolut has secured a full banking licence in France, giving the fintech company a stronger base for its expansion across Western Europe.

The licence was granted following a joint review by French financial regulator ACPR and the European Central Bank (ECB). The ECB’s Governing Council approved the application, making France home to Revolut’s second full banking entity in the European Union after Lithuania.

France is already one of Revolut’s most important markets, with more than seven million customers. The company has invested over €1 billion in Western Europe and hired more than 600 people in the region. It also plans to open a new Western European headquarters in Paris in 2027.

The licence will allow Revolut to expand the range of banking products it can offer. These could eventually include mortgages, loans and regulated savings accounts. However, some products may take time to arrive because the approval is understood to include regulatory conditions.

Revolut founder and chief executive Nik Storonsky described France as an ideal base for the company’s next stage of growth. He said the licence would help Revolut build banking services for more than 30 million customers across Western Europe.

France will be the first country served by the new banking entity. Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain are expected to follow. Revolut’s Lithuanian operation will continue serving customers elsewhere in the European Economic Area.

The French approval is the latest step in Revolut’s wider regulatory expansion. The company received a UK banking licence in March 2026 and expanded its regulated banking presence in Australia in July.

Revolut says it now operates across 40 markets. Its valuation reached $115 billion following a secondary share sale in June, as the company continues to expand ahead of a possible stock market listing in 2028.