Banking Without Borders

Technically Money

Banking Without Borders is a podcast about modern money — from digital banks and cashback cards to savings, credit cards, FX, global accounts, and the financial products reshaping how people manage money in the UK and beyond. We focus less on hype and more on what actually matters: who a product is for, how it makes money, where the trade-offs are, and whether it’s genuinely worth using. If you want clear thinking, real-world context, and fewer buzzwords and less BS when it comes to banking, cards, and personal finance, this is the podcast.

  1. 4 days ago

    Up to 10% Cashback – The Craziest Cards You've Never Heard Of

    In this episode we pull apart five cards advertising up to 10% cashback — Krak, Nexo, Wirex, Plutus and Bybit — to see what those headline rates actually cost you. We're not recommending any of them; this is a discussion of where the numbers fall apart once you read the tiers. Krak (Kraken) — up to 2%: the only card here with real EMI protection, but 2% needs £50k parked on the platform. The one that's arguably "boring but legitimate."Nexo — up to 2%: spend against your crypto without selling it. Clever idea, but the top rate is paid in NEXO and UK users earn nothing.Wirex — up to 8%: three plans, nine tiers, and a 7.5-million-token lockup for the headline rate. Paid in WXT.Plutus — up to 9%: perks that refund your subscriptions, buried under a level system you'd "need to be a mathematician" to follow — and ~£4,000 of PLU to unlock the top rate.Bybit — up to 10%: requires up to $500m of trading volume in 30 days… for a reward capped at 600 USDT. The biggest number pays the least.The real lesson: every big rate hides one of three catches — pay a subscription, buy their coin, or park a fortune with them. And no card here is FSCS-protected.Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  2. 6 days ago

    Best UK Savings Rates — August 2026 | 8% Regular Savers, 5% Fixed & More

    In this episode, Jonny and Jan run through the best UK savings rates for August 2026 — where to actually put your money now the Bank of England has held the base rate at 3.75%. From 8% regular savers to 5% fixed bonds and a market-leading cash ISA, we cut past the headline rates to the catches that decide what you really earn. What we cover: Switch offers worth up to £600 — and which are genuinely easy to qualify forEasy-access accounts topping 5% — and why a 4.55% account can quietly beat themFixed rate bonds up to 5% — and whether locking in actually makes sense right nowCash ISAs — including eToro at 4.87%, why it's not a normal savings account, and the best fixed ISAsNotice accounts — and why they barely make sense this monthRegular savers at 8% — plus the £675 "top" account that isn't what it looks likeEvery account we mention is on DepositScout.com — filter by type, compare rates properly, run the savings and tax calculators, and check the rate history graphs before you open anything. eToro's 4.87% Cash ISA (Market Leading) OakNorth's Fixed Bonds Tembo's Home Saver Rates were correct at the time of recording and can change at any time. This is general information, not financial advice — always do your own research. Some links in the show notes are affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  3. 31 Jul

    IHG's Revolut Card: Genuine Bargain or Shiny Trap?

    IHG has brought out its first UK cards in three years — two Revolut debit cards dangling instant hotel status, boosted points and a 30,000-point welcome bonus. Jonny and Jan run the real maths on the free Essential and the £18-a-month Elite to work out whether £216 a year is a genuine bargain or a shiny trap. Essential (free) vs Elite (£18/month, £216/year) — status, welcome bonuses and metal cards comparedWhat an IHG One Rewards point is really worth, and why everyday spend earns just 0.2–0.6%Where the value actually hides: hotel spend, the welcome bonus and the £35k "full house"The catches — no Section 75, a Revolut account you can't avoid, and sneaky exit feesHow it stacks up against Hilton, Marriott and Currensea, plus the cheaper Platinum shortcutWho these cards genuinely suit — and who's walking into a trapJoin the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  4. 22 Jul

    Stocks & Shares ISAs: XTB vs Trading 212 vs IG vs eToro

    In this episode, we compare four stocks and shares ISA providers — XTB, Trading 212, IG and eToro — and work out which ones actually deserve your money. What we cover: DIY, managed and advised — and why the fees only make sense inside their categoryWhat you can actually invest in at each provider, and why eToro is the weakest despite being the nicest app to useFX fees, interest on idle cash, and fractional sharesThe cash ISA cut from £20,000 to £12,000, and the money market route people are talking aboutWhy we'd both pick XTB — and when Trading 212 is the better callSt James's Place, Hargreaves Lansdown, and what you're really paying more forSign-up for XTB: https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/i53xvc Sign-up for Trading212: https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/kf1n2y Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  5. 15 Jul

    Revolut's Dogecoin Card – The "No Fees" Card That Cost Us 12%

    Revolut's new light-up Dogecoin card promises "no exchange fees" — so we put £25 through it and tracked every penny. What we found was a £16.16 Amazon purchase actually cost £18.05, and a tax headache behind every tap.  In this episode: What the Doge card actually isThe  test: buying DOGE, spending it at Amazon, and where £2.54 went in 35 minutesThe hidden markup: how a "fee-free" card carried a ~2.9% round-trip spreadThe tax trap: why every tap is a potential taxFollow the money: interchange, dormant crypto balances, and why this card makes perfect sense for RevolutSerious bank or meme machine? A glowing Shiba Inu, just months after the UK banking licenceWho actually buys this — and our verdictsNothing in this episode is financial or tax advice. If you're considering spending crypto, speak to a professional about the capital gains implications. Watch the blowtorch unboxing: https://youtube.com/shorts/mh916J-LnJQ Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  6. 8 Jul

    The Best & Worst Travel Cards For Summer 2026

    Summer 2026 is officially here, and so are the hidden fees waiting to ambush your holiday budget! In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we pull back the curtain on international spending to ensure your next vacation is as fee-free as possible. We break down the exact anatomy of a perfect travel card, expose the legacy banks secretly draining your wallet, and dive into why the most popular fintech giants might not actually be your best option abroad. What We Cover: The 4-Point Travel Card Checklist: The essential features your card needs before you board a flight.Legacy Banks vs. Challenger Banks: Why traditional accounts from Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, and HSBC are costing you—and the free alternatives we highly recommend.The Wise & Revolut Debate: A transparent look at weekend markups, variable fees, and why they might not be the ultimate answer to international spending.Predatory ATMs & The DCC Trap: How to outsmart Dynamic Currency Conversion and avoid paying double fees at the terminal.Revolut vs WISE: Who Has The Best Travel Card? https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458086/episodes/19324904 Trading 212 👉 https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/naSs Get £25 using the link above or PROMO CODE "BWB". Sponsored content. Terms apply. Card distributed by T212, issued and provided by Paynetics (UK). Available with an Invest account. Other fees may apply. Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  7. 2 Jul

    Best UK Savings Rates — July 2026 | 8% Regular Saver, 4.90% Fixed & More

    In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for July 2026 — including a new headline regular saver rate from Santander, fixed bonds pushing to 4.90%, and the latest switch bonuses with some deadlines coming up fast. We also cover the Halifax rebrand to Lloyds and what it means for existing customers. In this episode: Switch offers up to £600, including HSBC standard at £220 — best accessible bonus this monthEasy access accounts up to 5.00%, including Revolut, Tembo and a notable rate increase from CahootCash ISAs — easy access up to 4.62% with Plum, fixed up to 4.60% with Tembo and Oak NorthFixed rate bonds up to 4.90% with Marcus and Afin BankNotice accounts — honest take on whether they're worth it right nowRegular savers — why 8% isn't as simple as it sounds, and the accounts actually worth openingHalifax is being rebranded to Lloyds — what changes and what doesn'tAll accounts are listed and updated daily at DepositScout.com. Affiliate links for selected accounts are in the show notes. Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

  8. 1 Jul

    Amex Platinum vs Revolut Ultra: If You Had To Pick One, Which Would You Choose?

    In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan go head-to-head on two of the most talked-about premium cards in the UK — Amex Platinum and Revolut Ultra. One's a credit card, the other's a debit subscription, and yet they keep ending up in the same conversation. So we're doing the thing everyone actually wants. Not "it depends" — but if you had to pick one and walk away with it, which is it? We cover: Overseas spending and FX feesLounges, hotels and car hireTravel insurance — including the catches in both policiesCredits, subscriptions and how to actually break even on the feePoints and welcome bonusesJoin the new Banking Without Borders Discord community  https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

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About

Banking Without Borders is a podcast about modern money — from digital banks and cashback cards to savings, credit cards, FX, global accounts, and the financial products reshaping how people manage money in the UK and beyond. We focus less on hype and more on what actually matters: who a product is for, how it makes money, where the trade-offs are, and whether it’s genuinely worth using. If you want clear thinking, real-world context, and fewer buzzwords and less BS when it comes to banking, cards, and personal finance, this is the podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Technically Money
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Banking Without Borders
  • Show Website
    Banking Without Borders

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