British fintech company Revolut is exploring a Philippine expansionthat would offer digital banking and electronic-money issuer services, the Department of Trade and Industry said. BusinessWorld reported that the company is considering a wholly owned local entity and is evaluating the regulatory pathways and corporate structures needed to secure licenses from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The announcement does not mean Revolut has received a Philippine license yet. It signals an early-stage market-entry plan in a country where digital banking and app-based payments continue to expand.
The DTI said the discussions cover digital banking, cross-border payments and financial inclusion. Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque offered to facilitate talks with relevant government agencies so Revolut can understand the regulatory process. The company’s plans were discussed during her October 2 meeting in London with Revolut Global Head of Government Affairs Adam Gagen. Any Philippine launch would still require regulatory review, capital and compliance arrangements, consumer-protection controls and a local operating structure before services could be offered to customers.
Revolut already operates a Manila technology hub launched in July 2025, supporting global work across the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The DTI said the facility is expected to create high-skilled roles in software engineering, data analytics, customer operations and financial-crime compliance. That existing technology footprint could provide a base for local operations, but a support or engineering hub is different from a licensed bank or e-money issuer. The company must still meet the BSP’s requirements for whichever products it seeks to offer.
If approved, Revolut could add another international competitor to the Philippines’ growing digital-finance market. Its proposition would likely be relevant to cross-border transfers, international spending, remittances and digitally served small businesses, although the final product scope has not been announced. Revolut holds banking licenses in Australia, Colombia, France and the United Kingdom, according to BusinessWorld. Philippine consumers should treat the plan as prospective, not as a current local service, until official licensing and launch details are released by Philippine regulators.
Sources:BusinessWorld·DTI Philippines
