Monzo vs Revolut: Founders, CEOs and History
Monzo was founded in 2015 by Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein and is led by Diana Layfield. Revolut was founded in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky, Vlad Yatsenko and is led by Nikolay Storonsky.
Company facts
Founders
Monzo
Tom Blomfield
Tom Blomfield co-founded Monzo (originally Mondo) in 2015 and was its CEO until 2020, leading it from a prepaid card to a licensed UK bank with millions of customers.
Jonas Huckestein
Jonas Huckestein co-founded Monzo in 2015 and served as its first CTO, helping build the bank's own cloud-based core banking platform instead of buying legacy software.
Revolut
Nikolay Storonsky
Nikolay (Nik) Storonsky co-founded Revolut in 2015 and has been its CEO since. He led the company from a prepaid travel card to a multinational bank with ~$5.94 billion (£4.5 billion) of 2025 revenue and remains its largest individual shareholder.
Vlad Yatsenko
Vlad Yatsenko co-founded Revolut with Storonsky in 2015 and served as its long-time chief technology officer, leading the in-house engineering of its core banking, payments and card platforms.
CEOs and their tenures
Monzo
- Tom Blomfield2015–2020
Co-Founder and former CEO
Founded Mondo in 2015, led the crowdfunding rounds and 2017 banking licence, and stepped down as CEO in 2020.
Source - TS Anil2020–2026
Chief Executive Officer
Joined in 2018 to run Monzo's US business, became CEO in 2020 and led the turnaround to profitability, growing customers from about 4 million to over 13 million before moving to an advisory role.
Source - Diana Layfield2026–present
Group Chief Executive Officer
Former Google executive (EMEA partnerships, Search, International and Growth) and CEO of Standard Chartered Africa from 2011 to 2015. Became Group CEO in February 2026 and led the decision to exit the US.
Source
Revolut
- Nik Storonsky2015–present
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Has led Revolut since 2015, taking it to ~$5.94B (£4.5B) revenue in 2025 and a full UK banking licence in 2026.
Source - Vlad Yatsenko2015–present
Co-Founder
Long-time CTO who led the in-house build of Revolut's core banking and payments technology.
Source - Martin Gilbert2020–present
Chair
Former Aberdeen Asset Management chief who chairs Revolut's board through its UK licensing.
Source
Timeline: Monzo and Revolut side by side
2015Monzo
Mondo founded in London
Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein, Jason Bates, Paul Rippon and Gary Dolman founded Mondo.
2015Revolut
Revolut Founded at Level39 Canary Wharf
Nik Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko founded Revolut in London, launching multi-currency cards with zero FX fees.
2016Monzo
~$1.32M (£1M) crowdfund in 96 seconds; renamed Monzo
Record Crowdcube raise and rebrand after a trademark dispute.
2017Monzo
Full UK banking licence
Authorised by the PRA and FCA to offer current accounts.
2017Revolut
Launches Revolut Business & Crypto Trading
Debuted corporate business accounts and cryptocurrency exchange, igniting rapid user growth past 1M users.
2018Monzo
Unicorn valuation
Funding led by Accel valued Monzo at over $1.32 billion (£1 billion).
2018Revolut
$250M Series C at $1.7B Valuation & European Banking License
Achieved unicorn status led by DST Global and secured a European banking license from the Bank of Lithuania.
2020Monzo
Down-round and new CEO
Raised ~$79.2 million (£60 million) at ~$1.65 billion (£1.25 billion); TS Anil became CEO.
2020Revolut
$500M Series D at $5.5B Valuation Led by TCV
Raised $500M during the pandemic, expanding global operations into the United States, Japan, and Australia.
2021Monzo
Monzo Flex launched; $4.5B valuation
Raised $500 million led by Abu Dhabi Growth Fund at a $4.5 billion valuation.
2021Revolut
$800M Series E at $33.0B Valuation Led by SoftBank & Tiger Global
Closed a large $800M financing round valuing Revolut at $33.0 billion, becoming the UK's most valuable tech firm.
2023Revolut
Revolut posts ~$2.38B (£1.8B) revenue and ~$578M (£438M) pre-tax profit
2023 results showed revenue nearly doubling.
2024Monzo
First annual profit; ~$5.94B (£4.5B) valuation
FY2024 pre-tax profit of ~$20.3 million (£15.4 million); October employee share sale valued Monzo at ~$5.94 billion (£4.5 billion).
2024Revolut
Secures UK Banking License Authorization from PRA
Achieved landmark approval for a UK banking license with restrictions from the Bank of England.
2024Revolut
$45.0B Valuation Secondary Sale Led by Coatue and Greenoaks
Completed landmark secondary share sale valuing Revolut at $45.0 billion, solidifying Europe's top tech valuation.
2025Monzo
FCA fine; CEO succession announced
~$27.9 million (£21.1 million) FCA fine; Diana Layfield named next CEO.
2025Revolut
$75B valuation
November 2025 share sale led by Coatue, Greenoaks, Dragoneer and Fidelity.
2026Monzo
US exit, ~$2.24B (£1.7B) revenue, Nubank talks reported
Layfield took over in February, US operations closed, FY2026 revenue hit ~$2.24 billion (£1.7 billion), and takeover talks were reported in September.
2026Revolut
Full UK banking licence
Revolut Bank UK exited mobilisation on 11 March 2026.
2026Revolut
$115B secondary share sale
July 2026 sale priced shares at $2,017.
Acquisitions
Monzo
No verified acquisitions are listed.
Questions about Monzo vs Revolut
Who is the CEO of Monzo Bank Limited and Revolut Ltd?
Monzo Bank Limited is led by Diana Layfield and Revolut Ltd is led by Nikolay Storonsky. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Monzo Bank Limited founded vs Revolut Ltd?
Both Monzo Bank Limited and Revolut Ltd were founded in 2015, making them the same age.
How many employees does Monzo Bank Limited have compared to Revolut Ltd?
Monzo Bank Limited employs approximately 5,275 people, while Revolut Ltd employs approximately 12,000. Revolut Ltd has the larger workforce at 12,000 employees, compared to Monzo Bank Limited's 5,275. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Monzo Bank Limited and Revolut Ltd headquartered?
Both Monzo Bank Limited and Revolut Ltd are headquartered in United Kingdom, meaning they operate under the same primary regulatory and tax environment.
Who founded Monzo Bank Limited and Revolut Ltd?
Monzo Bank Limited was founded by Tom Blomfield, Jonas Huckestein. Revolut Ltd was founded by Nikolay Storonsky, Vlad Yatsenko.
Which company has a longer operating history — Monzo Bank Limited or Revolut Ltd?
Monzo Bank Limited has been operating for approximately 11 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Revolut Ltd has been in operation for around 11 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Monzo vs Revolut overview