Revolut Enters Morocco with Banking Ambitions in Sight

Revolut has submitted an application to Bank Al-Maghrib to launch operations in Morocco, local media publication L’Economiste reported. The filing seeks approval for a limited financial services license that would allow the UK-based fintech to operate as a payment provider in the country.

Two-Stage Entry Plan

The company reportedly intends to start with payment services, including quick account opening, fee-free international transfers, and multi-currency cards. Within two years, Revolut plans to apply for a full banking license to expand its range of financial products.

In July, Revolut appointed Amine Berrada as head of Moroccan operations. Berrada, a former Uber operations director for Southern and Eastern Europe, will lead the market entry and oversee growth.

“Revolut is on a mission to build the world’s first truly global financial superapp, and I’m thrilled to contribute to launching and scaling its presence in Morocco,” commented Berrada. “I’m especially proud to be doing this for my home country, helping bring cutting-edge financial services to millions of Moroccans.”

Morocco’s young and digitally active population is a key target for Revolut’s app-based model. If approved, the company plans to introduce additional features such as crypto trading and budgeting tools.

More Expansion Plans

Elsewhere, Revolut is eyeing an entry into China as part of its broader expansion strategy across Asia, according to a recent report, which cited details from a pitch deck the fintech shared with investors last year.

The British fintech is evaluating opportunities around hiring, licensing, and scoping within China, a market of more than 1.4 billion people. However, it faces significant challenges due to the dominance of local payment giants like Alipay and WeChat.

Read more: Revolut Pitched China Expansion to Investors: Report

Recently, Revolut partnered with Ant International, a unit of the company behind Alipay, to facilitate money transfers in Chinese yuan to recipients in China. This partnership aims to tap into the estimated $48 billion in annual remittances sent to the country.

The fintech giant also reinstated its crypto staking services for customers in Hungary following a temporary suspension caused by new government regulations. Revolut had halted most of its cryptocurrency features in Hungary after a law was introduced that criminalizes trading on unlicensed crypto platforms.