Original text here from Patrice Bernard (LinkedIn)
Spotted by Bloomberg in its latest annual report (PDF) (see page 50), a unique bonus system developed by Revolut reveals how the neobank approaches risk and compliance—not as a bureaucratic necessity, but as a fundamental part of its company culture.
Recognizing that employees make up the first line of defense, Revolut systematically involves them in its risk initiatives. That includes conventional actions like mandatory training programs, carefully designed to link specific requirements with corresponding educational modules. It also extends to more ambitious efforts, such as certification tracks for staff who want to take their involvement further.
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But the most significant step is Revolut’s deep analytical approach to risk behavior. First, it studies the correlation between employee actions (including decisions that reduce exposure) and risk indicators. Over time, these micro-level analyses are aggregated to provide a macro view of the company’s culture, helping leadership monitor how risk awareness evolves across the organization.
Beyond metrics and monitoring, Revolut has gone a step further to incentivize accountability. Key risk-related behaviors are factored into a system called Karma—an individual performance score used to determine end-of-year bonuses. Employees who take clear action to support risk management earn points; those who disregard policies lose them.
Each department has at least one risk champion, tasked with selecting the most relevant behaviors to track within their area—especially the positive actions the company wants to promote. This avoids the common pitfall of generic performance evaluations that feel irrelevant or arbitrary to employees.
Importantly, Revolut’s model isn’t about punishing noncompliance—it’s about building collective awareness of the real-world challenges the company faces. Success depends on participation from everyone, at every level.
This framework likely ties into the broader HR platform Revolut has started marketing alongside its core financial services. If the rest of the solution matches the thoughtfulness of this risk model, it’s no surprise the company continues to gain traction.
