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What is a Revolut joint account?
The Revolut joint account is a bank account shared between exactly two people. It is a separate account, independent from the personal accounts of both members, not simply a shared view of an existing account.
Its main characteristics:
- Its own IBAN: the joint account has its own bank identifier, which can be used to receive transfers or set up direct debits
- A dedicated card for each member: each holder receives their own card (physical or virtual) linked to the joint account
- Full transparency: both members see every transaction in real time
- A shared balance: a single balance, visible to and funded by both members
- Independence of personal accounts: personal finances remain strictly separate
This model is very different from a traditional joint current account, where the two holders often have intertwined access. Revolut designed the joint account as a tool for managing shared expenses, not as a replacement for your main account.
How to open a Revolut joint account
Opening a joint account is done entirely from the app. Prerequisite: both people must have an active, verified Revolut account (identity verification completed).
From the home screen, tap the "Accounts" icon or go to the section dedicated to multiple accounts.
In the list of available account types, choose "Joint account".
Enter the phone number of the person you want to share the account with, or pick them from your Revolut contacts. They must have an active Revolut account.
The invited person receives a notification and must accept the invitation. Both members must confirm the creation of the joint account.
The joint account starts with a zero balance. Each member can transfer money into it from their personal account. Recurring automatic transfers can be set up.
The joint account is usually up and running within minutes of both members confirming. Each can then order a physical card or use a virtual card straight away.
The benefits of the Revolut joint account
The Revolut joint account meets a specific need, and meets it well: transparent management of shared expenses between two people who trust each other.
Transparency and no arguments
Both members see exactly the same transactions, at the same moment. No more "did you spend that?" or end-of-month calculations. Every expense is attributed to the card that paid, and therefore to the member concerned.
Dedicated physical and virtual cards
Each member can have their own physical card in the name of the joint account, plus unlimited virtual cards (depending on the plan). Both cards draw on the same shared balance.
Instant internal transfers
Moving money between your personal account and the joint account is instant and free. It is far simpler than making bank transfers between two accounts at different banks.
A shared history you can actually use
Analytics and categories work on the joint account just as they do on a personal account. You can see your shared spending by category, set shared budgets and spot the items that are getting out of hand.
Shared savings Vaults
You can create Vaults (savings pots) on the joint account. Ideal for saving together towards a shared project: holidays, renovation work, buying a property.
The little-known trick: two cards for a single paid subscription
Here is one of the least-known advantages of the Revolut joint account. If one of the holders has a paid plan (Premium, Metal or Ultra), it is possible to order up to 2 additional physical cards linked to the joint account, in the name of the subscription holder.
In practice: you have a Metal subscription, so you can order 2 additional metal cards for your joint account. You and your partner each have a metal card, with the benefits of the Metal plan (unlimited exchange, RevPoints ×5, lounge access at a reduced rate), for the price of a single subscription.
Note: the additional cards are issued in the name of the main subscription holder. Limits (exchange, ATM withdrawals, etc.) apply at the level of the shared joint account, not per individual card.
What the Revolut joint account does not replace
Let us be honest about the real limitations of the Revolut joint account, which is an excellent tool but not a universal one.
It is not a main current account
The Revolut joint account is designed for shared expenses, not for centralising all your finances. If you are looking for a true shared current account to receive salaries, manage a mortgage or receive benefits, traditional banks remain better suited to that role.
No credit attached
You cannot get an authorised overdraft or a loan directly on the joint account. Revolut's credit features are only available on personal accounts.
RevPoints stay personal
RevPoints do not accumulate in a shared pool through the joint account. Each member earns RevPoints on their personal account, based on the spending made with their joint account card. There are no "couple's" RevPoints.
No investing from the joint account
Buying shares, ETFs or cryptocurrencies is not available on joint accounts. Those features remain accessible only from personal accounts.
Limited to two members
A Revolut joint account can only have two holders. For flatshares of 3 or more people, this limit calls for alternative arrangements.
Each holder keeps their own individual plan
The joint account is not tied to a single shared Revolut subscription. Each holder has their own individual plan (Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal or Ultra), and the joint account's features reflect each person's plan independently. If one has Metal and the other Standard, each enjoys their own plan: there is no "shared plan" applied uniformly to the joint account. Shared limits (exchange allowances, ATM withdrawals, etc.) depend on the rules specific to each card used.
Tips for couples
The joint account works all the better when the ground rules are clear from the outset.
Set the rules before opening the account
Even before creating the account, discuss:
- Which expenses go through the joint account? (Rent only? Groceries? Meals out together?)
- How much does each member contribute per month, and when?
- Who decides whether an unusual expense is "shared" or not?
- How do you handle one member's personal expenses paid by mistake with the joint card?
Monthly automatic transfer
Set up an automatic monthly transfer from each personal account to the joint account, on a fixed date (ideally just after payday). This makes contributing to shared costs as automatic as paying the rent.
Use Vaults for shared savings
Create a Vault dedicated to shared projects. For a holiday planned in 8 months' time costing €2,400, set up an automatic transfer of €300/month into the Vault. By the time you travel, the funds are there without any effort.
Keep your personal account for personal spending
The golden rule: the joint account for everything shared, the personal account for everything individual. Never mix the two flows.
Tips for flatshares
The two-member limit complicates things for flatshares of 3 or more people. Here are the practical workarounds:
A two-person joint account with a "treasurer"
In a flatshare of 3 or more people, appoint a "treasurer" who opens the joint account with a lead flatmate. The others pay their share back in real time via Revolut Pay or instant transfers. It is not perfect, but it is smooth.
Revolut Pay for ad hoc repayments
For one-off shared expenses (groceries, shared meals), Revolut Pay lets you request an instant repayment from a Revolut contact, without needing a joint account. It is the equivalent of Lydia (the French peer-to-peer payment app) or Splitwise, but built in.
Budget automations
Create a rule in your personal account to automatically transfer your share of the common costs to the joint account each month. Everyone pays, nobody forgets.
Joint account and separation
The unpleasant but unavoidable question: what happens if the relationship ends?
Closing the joint account
Either member can initiate the closure of the joint account from the app. The procedure:
- Empty the joint account balance (transfer the funds to the personal accounts as agreed)
- Cancel all direct debits set up on the joint account's IBAN
- Close the account from Settings → Joint account → Close account
- Both members receive a closure notification
Splitting the funds
Revolut does not arbitrate the split of funds in the event of a dispute; that is not its role. How the remaining balance is divided is a decision between the two members. If the disagreement persists, the usual legal routes apply, as for any joint bank account.
Data and history
After the joint account is closed, each member keeps access to their personal transaction history. Joint account statements can be exported as PDFs before closure if needed for administrative or tax purposes.