Revolut customers rally together, contributing more than £1 million to support refugees since 2020 

In June 2020 to coincide with World Refugee Day, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, unveiled their partnership on the Revolut App’s charity donation product.  

Since then, Revolut customers have collectively raised more than £1 million to support refugees. These contributions have played a pivotal role in ensuring UNHCR’s continuous presence on the ground, protecting and assisting forcibly displaced families who are in dire need or highly vulnerable.  

Revolut users are offered three different ways to donate; they can round up their spare change, set up recurring donations or make one-time donations to support UNHCR. 

Distinguishing itself from other financial institutions and payment solutions, Revolut ensures that 100% of the donated amount is received by the charity partner, free from any fees. These contributions, regardless of their size, have played a critical role in assisting UNHCR in safeguarding and supporting those who have been forced to flee their homes, helping them in seeking refuge and rebuilding their lives. 

Furthermore, Revolut users have consistently answered the call in times of crisis, generously responding to UK for UNHCR’s emergency appeals. Most notably, they rallied to aid people affected by the floods in Libya (2023) and, prior to that, provided crucial support following the Türkiye–Syria earthquakes (2023), in response to the war in Ukraine (2022) and during the Afghanistan emergency in 2021.

UNHCR teams distribute hygiene kits, blankets, and other relief items to families displaced by the floods in Al Marj, eastern Libya. At least 4,000 people have died as a result of Storm Daniel, with thousands still missing and more than 40,000 people displaced.

For instance, customer donations toward UK for UNHCR’s Libya Floods Emergency Appeal have helped UNHCR to scale up its operations rapidly, addressing the escalating needs of thousands of internally displaced people, refugees and others affected by the devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel.  

UNHCR extended vital protection services to over 11,000 refugees and asylum seekers, encompassing the safeguarding of unaccompanied and separated children, addressing mental health and psychosocial needs, supporting families to find shelter, and ensuring the provision of essential civil documentation. In addition, UNHCR distributed essential relief items and hygiene kits to more than 39,000 individuals and supplied the Ministry of Health with medical resources to benefit up to 10,000 people. 

Beyond fundraising, in 2022 Revolut extended its support by providing payment services to Ukrainian refugees. In order to facilitate swift and convenient access to funds for those displaced by the war, Revolut simplified its account setup process and eliminated several foreign transaction and top-up fees. 

Vlad Yatsenko, CTO & Co-founder of Revolut, commented: “As crises emerge all over the world, it is nothing but essential that charities on the ground are able to effectively provide support to those most in need. We are incredibly proud to offer a service that helps deliver crucial funds to these charities, quickly and fee free. We are incredibly grateful to all our customers who together have donated tens of millions to charities all over the world.”

More recently, in September of this year, Revolut joined UK for UNHCR in a session at CogX festival to discuss strategies for ensuring that a 21st Century humanitarian response narrows the digital divide for refugees. This includes enhancing access to banking, improving connectivity and establishing remote work opportunities for those forced to flee their homes. 

Emma Cherniavsky, Chief Executive Officer at UK for UNHCR, said: “We are truly grateful to Revolut customers for their unwavering support. Your donations have been a lifeline, allowing UNHCR teams to respond swiftly to the most urgent needs of displaced families. Your continuous support exemplifies the true power of compassion and solidarity, capable of making a world of difference in the lives of those who have lost everything.”