Cash Chats

Monzo, Starling, Revolut and others are part of a new raft of digital banks you can only open and manage from your smartphone. They’re becoming increasingly popular, often with a cult-like following from largely millennial customers - something you never see with traditional banks. Probably the most loved is Monzo, which is leading the bunch with more than 2.6 million customers and growing fast. Many people open one of these accounts for the incentive of fee-free spending overseas, but other people swear by the features that help you budget and keep track of your spending. But these banks still face challenges. Monzo asked 20% of its users to change their pins a few weeks ago, while some have faced payment problems and others gone out of business. And not all these new “banks” are actually banks! With lots to talk about, your host Andy Webb has been joined by Moneywise deputy editor Edmund Greaves to talk through how they are different from the traditional banks, and whether your money is safe. FURTHER READIN