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Avios invests in online banking app Monese – what is its plan?

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On Monday I published a mini-rant about the bloated state of the UK credit card industry.  As part of that, I asked why investors were pouring vast sums into online current account start-ups (Monzo, Revolut, Starling etc) when such products have never made money even for legacy banks.

On the other hand, few start-ups are pushing into UK credit cards which have historically been hugely profitable.

A reader pointed out to me that Avios Group recently invested in Monese as part of a $60m funding round.

If you’ve never heard of Monese, it is like Revolut, Starling or Monzo but aimed at people who are new to a country and would otherwise struggle to meet the checks required to open a traditional bank account.

You can open a Monese account in various European countries, including the UK, simply by uploading a scan of your passport.  Monese is, of course, also happy to open an account for you if you are living and working in your home country.

If you are reading this on a tablet or mobile, you can click here to download the Monese app and have your account open within minutes.

I am assuming that Avios has a plan for Monese – we need to see what develops over the next few months.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (144)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Chris says:
    13 Dec13 December 06:33

    Website says dragon pass Not priory pass

  • tartan says:
    13 Dec13 December 06:59

    OT but for those in London, the pop up Amex Centurion Lounge opens today. It’s around the corner from my office so I might pop in later this afternoon.

    When: Thursday 13 December – Sunday 16 December 2018
    Where: Unit 6, 6a Langley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9JA
    Price: Complimentary
    No pre-booking required

    • Rob says:
      13 Dec13 December 08:33

      Note: there is a press event 4-6. I don’t know if that means it is closed or if they will sharply restrict it to civilians, but it will be restricted.

      • AJ says:
        13 Dec13 December 08:36

        Do you know what time it closes tonight?

      • tartan says:
        13 Dec13 December 10:00

        Thanks Rob – I would have thought they would have learnt from the previous events and informed customers of times when there would be restricted access!

      • Alan says:
        13 Dec13 December 12:31

        Oh FFS why do they do this every year? That’s the only time I can make it – will be pretty annoyed if can’t get in due to that. They should have held a press event outwith normally opening times!

        • Rob says:
          13 Dec13 December 12:36

          Rhys is there – he can guest you in I’m sure! I should be there around 5pm for 30-45 minutes if the interviewee this afternoon is punctual.

          • Alan says:
            13 Dec13 December 12:38

            Haha well if they’re not punctual they’ll probably not be getting the job!

            Planning to go with a friend – if we have trouble getting in will definitely namedrop you and Rhys 😀

        • tartan says:
          13 Dec13 December 14:43

          Well I made it in and I’m sitting in the lounge at the moment eating a very nice Rosemary and Chicken dish whilst enjoying a cocktail. It’s already pretty busy though and I suspect you would struggle once the post work brigade turn up.
          Apart from the bar and nibbles, the only other thing seems to be an area where you can get your xmas presents wrapped.
          Still, it makes a pleasant place to catch up with some paperwork for a few hours!

          • Alan says:
            13 Dec13 December 14:45

            Excellent – aiming to arrive by about 4pm so hopefully will beat most of the post-work crowd!!

        • tartan says:
          13 Dec13 December 14:54

          I’ve just discovered that there is also a downstairs area! They are offering monogrammed sleep masks, however when I enquired they said that they had hit their maximum number of orders for the day which was a shame.

        • tartan says:
          13 Dec13 December 15:49

          The cocktails are very good, so far I can recommend:-

          The Blue Door.
          The Cranberry Martini
          And the second one on the list who’s name momentarily escapes me………

          Look for a slightly inebriated guy in a flowery shirt at the end of the table in front of the bar!

          • Alan says:
            13 Dec13 December 15:56

            Very good of you to be taking the hit for the team of trying out the menu! Hopefully heading there shortly.

          • Rob says:
            13 Dec13 December 16:21

            Rhys should be there somewhere – tall guy, grey jacket, t-shirt.

          • Alan says:
            13 Dec13 December 21:05

            Haha indeed he was – overheard him talking about this Rob bloke, apparently total tyrant of a boss 😛

            Was great to put a face to the name, also good to catch up with yourself and to meet tartan!

            Very impressed with the pop-up lounge this year, superb drinks and really friendly staff – only wish I was in London for longer, but catching a flight to Sofia tomorrow morning booked with OB points 🙂

        • tartan says:
          13 Dec13 December 19:00

          It was a pleasure to meet Rhys, Rob and Allan there. It was probably a good thing that they chucked us out at 6 as the Japanese whiskey was very good……

          • Alan says:
            13 Dec13 December 21:07

            Yes, that was extremely drinkable – although the cocktails and hot chocolate were fantastic too. Arrived back at the Hilton Metropole just in time for more drinks and snacks too!

        • Cat says:
          13 Dec13 December 20:20

          How difficult was it to get in at about 5pm?

        • Cat says:
          13 Dec13 December 20:55

          Thanks Rob!
          I take it you were happier this year?

    • tartan says:
      13 Dec13 December 16:42

      Excellent description Rob, I was able to spot him immediately and say hello!

  • Tilly says:
    13 Dec13 December 07:14

    O/T – received an email from SPG/Marriott about the data breach but doesn’t state what data, if any, of mine has been accessed. It’s a long generic email about what happened but not about my data specifically. Has anyone had an email about their personal data and what has been accessed?

    • paulm says:
      13 Dec13 December 08:22

      I got the same email. I know a few people who have said that they have had emails that specifically said that their information has been accessed so thinking that this is just a general information message and my data may be ok

    • Mark2 says:
      13 Dec13 December 08:35

      My wife and I have received this message although we have never made a Starwood reservation.

    • Chris says:
      13 Dec13 December 09:43

      AFAIK it was the reservations DB that was compromised, hence credit card details and passport details being included.

      I would think most of us must have had at least one *wood stay in the affected period even if we weren’t active SPG members.

      They made bold claims about ensuring nobody is out of pocket but attached a warehouse full of strings to it – eg one would need to prove that any fraud was a result of passport (or other personal data) misuse and that the source of that data was *wood.

      So ignoring the impossibility of achieving that the rule is get pwned first, them ask for the cost of a new passport – if you want to avoid being ripped off then that’s on your own dime.

      (That said I saw a good point made the other day – 327m customers * £90ish per passport would eclipse the company’s market cap let alone its reserves. Not that every guest has a passport yada yada )

      • Mark2 says:
        13 Dec13 December 10:33

        Can the passport systems of USA, UK etc. cope with replacing 327m in a short time?

    • Russ says:
      13 Dec13 December 12:15

      No apology either unlike BA.

      May be my sense of humor but I thought this part was amusing: ‘Marriott received an alert from an internal security tool’

      • Tilly says:
        13 Dec13 December 15:04

        Don’t get me started.

        Feel like I’ve not really been told anything useful …….. like have my details been accessed or not? Have stayed in a Starwood and Marriott during the period systems were compromised.

  • Oli says:
    13 Dec13 December 07:56

    OT – I have 2 Lloyds upgrade vouchers (one of them is the one given by mistake in October). Can I upgrade a one-way flight for a family of four? Or does the cardholder has to be one of the travellers on each voucher?

    • Neil says:
      13 Dec13 December 08:11

      People have reported being allowed to use two vouchers at once provided the cardholder is travelling on the booking. No harm in giving them a call.

      • Oli says:
        13 Dec13 December 10:08

        Just made the booking for 4 people and 2 vouchers over the phone, no problem – thanks Neil! This might be of interests to others, BA just added flights from LHR to Marrakech every day in the sping (in addition to the existing flights from Gatwick) and I grabbed one during the Easter half term (average temperature 25 degrees there in April). Lots of availability.

    • Anna says:
      13 Dec13 December 08:38

      I’ve had 12,598 avios appear in my BAEC account today from “Avios programme activity” which I was not expecting! My avios account is closed so I might call up and ask if another voucher has appeared as well…

      • Anna says:
        13 Dec13 December 10:05

        Could be, looking at this. It’s a nice early Xmas present anyway. I’m now aiming at collecting enough avios for my retirement/50th trip; I need to book the flights next May so every little bit counts. Hoping to get 3 x CW or F to a US destination for a slightly shorter version of one of Liz’s road trips!

  • Mikeact says:
    13 Dec13 December 09:02

    Re Monese…. worth having one for free, if only to track what the Avios intention is.

  • Chris says:
    13 Dec13 December 09:05

    Hi Guys, OT but looking to book The Reach Resort in Key West, Florida for 2nd-5th July next year. Any ways to get a good discount on Hilton properties? I’ve got £50 back on £250 on the Amex but that states it’s only for stays before end Dec that are paid for in the hotel. Any advice would be appreciated 🙂

    • SimonW says:
      13 Dec13 December 09:31

      I pre-booked a Hilton stay online for later this month – it triggered the offer and I got the £50 back this morning. Dont see how amex know when i am actually staying in the hotel.

      • Chris says:
        13 Dec13 December 09:33

        Thanks! Was it a property in Europe? I have a feeling the t+c’s for that offer specify it has to be in the UK. Just seen the £100 off £1000 at Trailfinders which may end up working. TF have said my Hilton status will still be accepted, anyone able to confirm that?

        • SimonW says:
          13 Dec13 December 09:41

          aah yes. TBF the hotel was on the list of participating places. The Reach Resort looks decent though. Going to Miami in April so might head down there for a few days. Anywhere over 4th July will be lumpy prices though i think

        • Chris says:
          13 Dec13 December 09:56

          Yeah that’s the issue, it’s super pricy around then. We booked the W South Beach using the SPG points, very excited for that one, looks like a nice room.

        • SimonW says:
          13 Dec13 December 10:08

          The W is a party hotel. Have had great stays there. Good use of SPG points

    • Anna says:
      13 Dec13 December 10:09

      Yes – this might be one of the rare occasions when it’s cheaper to buy HH points and use them (if there’s availability left for early July). There’s a targeted offer on at the moment which I’ve used to top up my own balance as we’re going to NYC for 3 nights in May when hotels room are around $500 per night.

    • Jon says:
      13 Dec13 December 13:28

      I have a pre-paid Hilton stay for January (outside the offer period when the stay is supposed to be made). Can confirm it still triggered the Amex 250/50 offer.

  • Vasco says:
    13 Dec13 December 09:06

    OT: Just got rejected from the Virgin Atlantic premium card. I’m wanting to ask to reconsider, especially because I’ll be starting a new job in the new year where my income will be significantly higher. Do I literally have to write them at the postal address provided in the rejection e-mail (riding my horse and card to the post office, no doubt), or is there an email address I can reply to?

    • Rob says:
      13 Dec13 December 09:11

      Experience shows that only postal letters tend to get a positive response (and with a high acceptance rate).

      • Vasco says:
        13 Dec13 December 09:14

        Thanks Rob, I shall do that then. I assume this means I missed the boat on the increased bonus though, even if I get approved in the end, right?

        • Rob says:
          13 Dec13 December 10:19

          You should be OK because your original application was made during the higher bonus period and it is that application which they will be approving.

      • Chris says:
        13 Dec13 December 09:44

        I am annoyingly in Vasco’s boat – I’ve searched but can’t find the details Rob posted as to who/where to write. Anyone remember what day it was at least?

      • George says:
        13 Dec13 December 09:55

        Hey Chris – same boat for me too. The address is the one in the email you get post-rejection:

        Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards
        PO Box 10609
        Wigston
        LE18 9HA

        • Tom W says:
          13 Dec13 December 10:17

          Don’t think this is correct, the address i used (provided by Rob) was as follows. I had the Card within 7 days too!

          Jubilee House
          Gosforth
          Newcastle upon Tyne
          NE3 4PL

        • George says:
          13 Dec13 December 10:35

          Thanks for that Tom – I’ll give my original letter another week or so and then send one to Jubilee House instead.

  • George says:
    13 Dec13 December 09:12

    OT: Asked a few weeks ago, but toward the end of the day. Those more experienced than me – how do you handle doubled up insurance? I have insurance from my Platinum card, and I get the feeling upcoming Curve Premium / Revolut Metal / etc products also have travel insurance, which I don’t want. Is anyone aware of an opt-out, or do you just have to tolerate double insurance? TIA all

    • Mikeact says:
      13 Dec13 December 09:37

      I guess a lot of us have multi travel insurance on the back of various cards. We just stay with our main provider, and have done for years.

    • Rob says:
      13 Dec13 December 10:19

      Take it. Each policy has different opt-outs and exclusions so you might be grateful for it at some point.

    • Louise says:
      13 Dec13 December 12:07

      When I’ve claimed before they ask have you any other policies.
      They will liaise with them if needed (well in my case they did)

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