Revolut makes travel revolution.
But wait I thought revolut was a bank!? Yes it is.
What we know:
Revolut has acquired Swifty, a Berlin-based AI travel startup incubated at Lufthansa Innovation Hub. Swifty’s conversational AI agent autonomously handles travel bookings—from flights and hotels to payments and invoicing—via a simple chat interface. The startup’s founders, Stanislav Bondarenko and Tomasz Przedmojski, join Revolut to enhance its lifestyle and loyalty offerings. This move aligns with Revolut’s broader strategy to evolve into a financial super app, integrating AI-driven services that go far beyond banking.
🚨 Why This Is Disruptive ?
1. Banks are no longer just banks.
• Revolut is redefining what a digital bank can be—offering not just financial services, but lifestyle orchestration.
• Traditional banks risk becoming utilities while fintechs like Revolut become platforms for daily life.
2. OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are in the crosshairs.
• Swifty’s AI bypasses the need for users to visit Expedia, Booking.com, or Skyscanner.
• With embedded payments and invoicing, Revolut could become a one-stop shop for travel—especially for business users.
3. Generative AI providers face new competition.
• Instead of licensing AI from OpenAI or Google, Revolut now owns proprietary agentic tech.
• This could reduce reliance on third-party LLMs and shift the balance of power in enterprise AI contracts.
4. Big banks are behind the curve.
• Most incumbents are still piloting chatbots or experimenting with AI for fraud detection.
• Revolut is already deploying AI to generate revenue and increase stickiness through lifestyle integration.
5. Loyalty and lifestyle are the new battlegrounds.
• Swifty’s tech will likely be embedded into Revolut’s loyalty programs, offering travel perks, dynamic rewards, and personalized experiences.
• This could erode the value proposition of co-branded credit cards and traditional loyalty schemes.
Revolut will be able to predict your future vacation destination….
Indeed! Watch this space….