It's 2019. It's time for a web app 😡

[Frank]

I’ve got some thoughts. I think this topic is very complex. And that’s one of the main reasons it takes so long to figure out a strategy.

• Should it be a MVP or a proper web desktop banking?
• Irony here: features like stock trading would profit most from the large screen, but are relevant for a small number of users and relatively complex to implement.
• Statistics show that people move away from web banking to apps. So it is limiting the product for some “heavy users”, but no for most.
• Device independent access is a great user benefit, but it creates new security risks (websites are way easier to fake for phishing attempts, for example.)
• How to define the feature set? Bunq seems to struggle here. Developing both platforms is a lot of work. New features are usually only deployed for the app. People now get annoyed by the website’s limited features.
• Some desktop banking tasks might be replaced by multi banking apps (open banking) in the not so distant future – this is also an argument for web banking, since Revolut becomes a multi banking app itself.

My guess is they will come up with some sort of desktop banking experience eventually. I am all for it. But from their perspective, the priority for this is low. And a relatively fast pace in app development isn’t making this easier.

[ihackalot]

Thanks for your contribution, you made really great points!

@Frank

Should it be a MVP or a proper web desktop banking?

All development these days is done in steps, and they do too. R Business web app started simple and they kept adding features in time.

@Frank

Irony here: features like stock trading would profit most from the large screen, but are relevant for a small number of users and relatively complex to implement.

I think there’s use cases for both mobile and desktop. One is not better than the other, it is simply more adapt to a certain context. And you can get a job done either way, it’s just a matter of being very specific. Take Binance for example. It does a great job of allowing users manage their portfolio both on mobile and web/desktop (which is just an electron wrapper). So you can be successful on both, but none is enough to cover the use cases of the modern user.

@Frank

Statistics show that people move away from web banking to apps. So it is limiting the product for some “heavy users”, but no for most.

I’d like to know more about it. As far as I understand, users just make use of alternative platforms depending on the context. So if you give them a mobile app they will use it when they are off their desks of course. Which doesn’t mean they are moving to mobile. They are simply being smart with the tools they have in context they are. As I said, no single platform can replace another, unless you are able to enclose the full feature set of the other platform with the first one.

@Frank

Device independent access is a great user benefit, but it creates new security risks (websites are way easier to fake for phishing attempts, for example.)

That’s correct, but not new at all. Revolut Business already works on the web. Additionally, I’d say that no matter what client you are considering, they all need to communicate to Revout server/cloud anyway. So that wouldn’t lessen the worry about security anyway. A web client is just another client, and there’s an abundance of experts in the field.

@Frank

How to define the feature set?

Have no experience with Bunq, but I’d be happy to start with the very basics of account management. There’s already an API in place the ability of third parties to build custom Revolut clients with modern stacks based on React or Angular is demonstrated by the projects open sourced on github. Once you have an API in place, yes it’s still a lot of work to provide a performant client, but it’s not A LOT OF WORK. Revolut has been successful so far with the Business branch and porting features to the mobile platform as soon as possible. I don’t see the STRUGGLE (but I’m not saying it’s not challenging either).

@Frank

Some desktop banking tasks might be replaced by multi banking apps (open banking) in the not so distant future – this is also an argument for web banking, since Revolut becomes a multi banking app itself.

“Software ate the world, the web ate software, and JavaScript ate the web.” Everything that can be developed in JS eventually will.

@Frank

My guess is they will come up with some sort of desktop banking experience eventually.

It may be. But I don’t get the need for a native desktop client, considering we are talking about a network-heavy application. There would little speed benefit if any. And it would be kind of expensive to maintain a performant app for each platform, unless you go Java, but that’s not native anyway.

Again, I appreciated the contribution, it’s good food for thoughts

[Frank]

Those are all valid points, and none of the points I made were about convincing anybody that they shouldn’t offer web banking, or that those “problems” can’t be solved. My guess is, their decision to not offer it already, is mainly a business decision. I am relatively sure they evaluated this more than once, and decided to prioritize something else. To invest in something else instead. And the points I made were just some of the points I came up with that could have been relevant.

@ihackalot

But I don’t get the need for a native desktop client

I wasn’t suggesting that. With “sort of”, I was referring to the difference between a MVP (like N26) or a more comprehensive (web) application.

[MTR01]

Frankly I would be happy to pay more to get the web app!

[drew3232]

Sorry to hijack this thread but I CANNOT find how to start a topic of my own - just trying to find out what kind of protection Revolut’s crypto has if they go bankrupt? Thanks.

[donmarcelito]

@resolut

Right, but this goes both ways. Revolut’s app, despite some shortcomings, is actually very good. Once they build all that into a web page, it is almost inevitable that the app will suffer due to loss of focus and struggle for resources. What that means is that someone who continues to demand a web app is not just showing their need, depending on how they do it it is actually just as arrogant towards other people’s needs namely those who love great apps.

So Revolut has either to decide what target group they put first or allocate their resources to satisfy both needs I suppose. In the end a web app seems to most people without a development-background like a trivial essential though and since there are not only two dudes demanding one, it probably would be a good move of Revolut to announce if they are working on something or dont intend to do anything about it.
I demand an answer if my needs will be satisfied! If yes I will kick Transferwise out the door and put up more funds on Revolut, but if not (as most dudes in a relationship) I will keep cheating on Revolut and constantly get down good on Transferwise!

[Zoro]

I agree, it is necessary the web portal!!
All banks, like Revolut, have one!!

[efstajas]

Just wanna add my 2c: I also think a web app would be super nice to see. And to the people that said here that a web app is “old school” and “anti-disruptive”: I vehemently disagree, in fact, I’d say having a web app is the complete opposite of old-school. Services these days are more and more expected to be ubiquitous and not bound to a single device type. In fact, probably the most modern approach I can think of is having ONLY a web app and running it on all platforms, including mobile. Different form factors come with different strengths, and especially for banking there’s quite a lot of use-cases that would be more effective & comfortable to carry out on a big screen.

I use both N26 and Revolut, and while I generally much prefer Revolut’s UI, features, and general vibe, the N26 web app is extremely useful and convenient to have, especially when needing to grab PDF statements, managing standing orders or just for checking your balance real quick while sitting at your desk.

[j.rosecky]

+1. I seriously dislike doing sophisticated or serious tasks using my phone. Money transactions are exactly that.

[Kreijstal]

Even if it was true, wouldn’t losing your phone worry you a little?
Maybe you never lose your phone, what if it gets stolen?

[Graham_Lees]

@Frank

There is an automated phone line for blocking stolen cards.

I didn’t know that Frank. Thanks for the reminder.
Here is the reference if anyone is interested:

My card has been lost or stolen | Revolut Help Centre

[the-mike]

Issue is: when your phone (and card) get stolen - how to call the phone-number? (other than hoping that a friendly receptionist helps you out in the hotel lobby)

[Laurenz_L]

In that case you could try https://www.revolut.com/de-DE/kontaktiere-uns where they offer a hotline. However, you’re right: I never lost a phone. Manly because it’s quite expensive to do so. I never had a phone stolen as well. In that case I need to rely on the phone’s and companies security.

Anyways: There are many apps out there with no web interface and if that’s the concept it might have various reasons. Revolut is free for Standard users but those users cause costs as well. Business e.g. has different structures.

[Laurenz_L]

And if there’s a web app you need that friend or friendly receptionist to let you use their computer. And most likely you’ll log in to your account from a machine you don’t control and more of a problem: a web app will require 2FA. So I hope you then carry backup codes printed out or quickly receive a replacement SIM to receive the SMS.

[the-mike]

True that, BUT every hotel has a public “internet station” in the lobby - so people can do the online-checkin for their flight.
The only thing you need: access to that station, your login-name and password to reach the “block the card”-feature.
Obviously, the web-app should have more functionality, which could be hidden behind a “two factor-autentification” - but the “twofactor” shouldn’t be needed for the “block the card NOW”-thing, as one’d have the need for that only, if both card and cellphone are “gone”…

ALSO the webapp wouldn’t need to call an international phone-number, which in several countries might cost some SEVERE fees.

[Regalia]

It is now available.

https://app.revolut.com/start

[moon]

Why there is not official info about this feature from Revolut?

[nomadus]

Follow this post thread:

Good news!! Revolut has launched a web page to access your account

Finally, Revolut has launched a web access through the following site https://app.revolut.com/start

[ihackalot]

This is over I feel really confident now all needed features will be coming soon. As a result, I’ll also be using Revolut more, as it’s looking a lot less as an app for fun money and more as what your bank should look like. Not there yet though.

Next crusade: Create joint accounts!

[MadNomad]

Link sends me to the “Enter phone number for link to download app” screen