If you signed up for Revolut and hoped to grow your credit score, you may be wondering: does Revolut build credit in US accounts? As of May 2026, the answer is now yes — Revolut launched a US secured credit card that reports to all three credit bureaus. The product is in a phased US rollout, so not every Revolut customer can apply yet, but credit-building through Revolut is no longer hypothetical.
This guide covers what Revolut's US secured card actually offers, how it compares to alternatives, and what is still missing from Revolut's US credit lineup. Terms and conditions apply, and APRs vary by creditworthiness.
What Revolut Offers in the US
Revolut is a UK-based fintech that grew fast in Europe before launching in the United States. The US product set has expanded in 2026 to include a true credit-building product alongside the existing banking suite.
In the US, Revolut now focuses on a checking account with no monthly fee, a high-yield savings account, currency exchange across more than 25 currencies, crypto and stock trading inside the app, free international transfers up to a monthly limit, a Visa debit card for everyday spending, and the new Revolut Secured Credit Card issued by Lead Bank, Member FDIC.
The checking, savings, and debit card products do not report to the credit bureaus — those are deposit-based. The new secured credit card does.
Does Revolut Build Credit in US Accounts?
Yes, through the Revolut Secured Credit Card, which started rolling out to US customers in 2026. Revolut also filed an application for a US national bank charter on March 5, 2026, with the OCC and FDIC, which would let it offer a wider product mix directly.
Key terms on the Revolut Secured Credit Card as of May 2026: a security deposit between $1 and $2,000 (you need at least $200 deposited to actually use the card), a $0 annual fee, 0% APR for the first 6 months, unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases, and reporting to all three major credit bureaus. The card is issued by Lead Bank, not Revolut directly, while the bank charter is pending.
The rollout is phased, so you may see a waitlist message in the Revolut app even if you have an account in good standing. Check the Cards tab in the app to see whether the secured credit card is available to you.
Why a Revolut Secured Card Can Build US Credit
US credit scoring is built around credit accounts that report monthly. The new Revolut Secured Credit Card is a true credit account, not a debit product, so on-time payments feed FICO and VantageScore models the same way they would on a Capital One Quicksilver Secured or a Discover it Secured.
The security deposit acts as collateral for the credit limit. As long as you pay on time and keep utilization low, the account contributes positive payment history and lowers your overall utilization ratio.
If you previously had no US credit history, six to twelve months of on-time activity on a Revolut Secured Card may push you into the fair-credit range, where unsecured rewards cards become realistic.
Alternatives Worth Comparing
The Revolut Secured Card is new and not yet available to every applicant. If you are still on the waitlist, three options stand out for fintech users who want a Revolut-style experience plus real credit building. Each one reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Current Build Card is built into the Current banking app. It works like a debit card, so you spend only what you have, and on-time payments report as credit activity. There is no security deposit, no annual fee, no SSN required to start, and no credit check.
Current Build Card
Current Build Card
$0 annual fee. No minimum deposit required. No credit check required. 1 point per dollar on eligible categories. Reports to Experian, TransUnion, Equifax.
Fee
$0
APR
0%
Minimum Deposit Amount
$0
Credit Check
No
Cashback
1 point/dollar on eligible categories (with qualifying payroll deposit)
Benefit
No credit check, no deposit minimum
The Self Visa Credit Card pairs a credit-builder loan with a secured card. Your loan payments build credit on their own, and after a few months you can unlock a secured card backed by your loan savings. As of January 2025, Self also offers a $100 minimum security deposit option, so you can choose between funding the card through the loan or paying the deposit upfront.
The Kikoff Secured Credit Card has a low minimum deposit and a simple monthly fee. It reports to all three bureaus and can help if you have a thin file or past credit issues.
How Revolut Secured Compares to These Alternatives
Revolut Secured offers 1.5% unlimited cash back, which Current Build matches at 1 point per dollar on dining and groceries and Self Visa does not match at all (Self has no built-in rewards). For pure cash-back, Revolut and Capital One Quicksilver Secured are now the strongest cards in this band.
The Revolut Secured Card requires the largest minimum to actually use ($200 deposit), while Current Build requires no deposit and Self Visa allows either a $100 deposit or the credit-builder loan path. If your cash is tight, Current is still the easiest entry point.
The upside of Revolut Secured is that it sits inside the same app as your spending, savings, currency exchange, and crypto holdings, which is useful for users who already live in Revolut.
How to Use Revolut and Still Build Credit
If you can apply for the Revolut Secured Card, the cleanest setup is to put one or two recurring bills (a streaming subscription, a phone bill) on the secured card, set autopay for the full statement balance, and let the on-time history compound.
If you cannot apply yet, keep using Revolut for travel, currency exchange, and savings, and add a Current Build Card or Self Visa on the side. Both report to all three bureaus and can carry you until your Revolut waitlist clears.
After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments on any of these cards, your score may rise enough to qualify for unsecured cards with stronger rewards.
Future Plans: Where Revolut US Goes Next
The US national bank charter application filed on March 5, 2026 is the bigger story. OCC charter approvals typically take 12-18 months, but if approved, Revolut would be able to issue deposits, personal loans, and unsecured credit cards directly without partner banks. That would put Revolut on equal footing with Capital One, SoFi, and other digital-first US banks.
For now, only the secured credit card is live, and it requires Lead Bank as the issuer of record. Even if Revolut launches more US credit products later, the steps to build credit are the same. Pay on time, keep balances low, and let the account age. Switching products later does not erase the history you build now.
Quick Recap
Revolut now builds US credit through its new Revolut Secured Credit Card, issued by Lead Bank with $0 annual fee, 1.5% unlimited cash back, and reporting to all three bureaus. The rollout is phased, so check the Cards tab in your Revolut app to see if you are eligible. If you are still on the waitlist, the Current Build Card and Self Visa Credit Card are strong alternatives that report to the bureaus and require no waitlist.
Track Every Reporting Update With Free Monitoring
Whether you stick with Revolut Secured, switch to a Current Build or Self Visa, or run more than one tradeline, watching your file each month is the cheapest way to see your first US FICO score appear and confirm that on-time payments are reporting. Creditship is a free credit monitoring tool with AI-powered guidance that alerts you to every change and points to the next concrete step instead of just a number on a dashboard.
Creditship
Creditship
Get free credit monitoring and concrete advice how to improve your credit from Creditship AI.
Standout feature
AI Credit Coach. AI analyzes your credit report in depth and gives you tailored, actionable steps to raise your score.
Fees
Free
Pros
Free credit report access plus monitoring and alerts
Cons
No credit repair feature
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- Build credit fast
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Revolut debit card help my credit score?
No, the Revolut debit card does not help your credit score. Debit cards pull money from your account, so there is no loan or credit relationship to report. Only credit accounts that report to the bureaus, like the new Revolut Secured Credit Card, build your score.
Does Revolut do a hard credit check when I sign up?
No, opening a basic Revolut account in the US does not require a hard credit check. The signup uses identity verification, not a credit pull. Applying for the Revolut Secured Credit Card may trigger a soft pull through Lead Bank — check the in-app disclosure before you submit.
Is the Revolut Secured Credit Card available to every Revolut user?
Not yet. As of May 2026, the Revolut Secured Credit Card is in a phased US rollout, and some Revolut customers will see a waitlist message in the Cards tab. Continue to use the Revolut account in good standing — eligibility expands as Revolut works toward its national bank charter.
Should I cancel Revolut if I want to build credit?
No, you can keep your Revolut account open. If you have access to the Revolut Secured Credit Card, that alone may build credit. If you do not, pair Revolut with a Current Build Card, Self Visa, or Kikoff card on the side and you can grow your credit history while keeping the Revolut benefits.
