Revolut Hungary could soon become a much more visible part of the country’s banking infrastructure, as the fintech company is expected to join Hungary’s ATM deployment programme. The change could eventually bring hundreds of new cash machines, although customers should not expect an immediate transformation in cash withdrawals.
Hungary’s ATM network shrank slightly in the second quarter of 2026 despite regulations designed to expand access to cash. According to Bankmonitor, however, the decline is likely to be temporary, with Revolut expected to become involved in the nationwide expansion of cash machines.
The number of ATMs in Hungary stood at 5,688 at the end of the first quarter of 2026, before falling by 29 to 5,659 at the end of the second quarter. The decrease was particularly noticeable in and around Budapest.
Further expansion is nevertheless expected. By the end of 2026, settlements with more than 500 inhabitants are required to have at least one ATM.
Why Revolut Hungary may have to install ATMs
Hungarian rules require payment service providers whose issued bank cards account for at least 1% of the market to operate a minimum number of ATMs. The machines must also be distributed geographically, meaning providers cannot simply concentrate them in Budapest and other major cities.
Revolut has around two million customers in Hungary, according to Bankmonitor, putting it comfortably above the relevant threshold. Until recently, however, the company was not considered a domestic payment service provider for the purposes of the requirement.
That changed after Revolut established a Hungarian branch and began migrating existing Hungarian customers to it in May 2026.
Bankmonitor reports that the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has confirmed that Revolut will have to participate in the ATM installation programme in the future. As a result, the central bank could require the company to install several hundred machines from next year.
For foreign residents, this is significant because Revolut is widely used as an alternative to traditional Hungarian banks, particularly by customers who frequently make international payments or hold several currencies.
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What changes for Revolut customers?
For now, very little.
Determining Revolut’s precise ATM quota and installing the machines will take time, meaning the current cash withdrawal options available to customers are not expected to change in the short term.
According to Bankmonitor, Revolut cards are still treated as foreign-issued cards for ATM withdrawals. This is important because some Hungarian banks charge an additional fee when customers use Revolut cards.
At present, Erste ATMs charge HUF 1,200 (approximately EUR 3.30) and OTP ATMs HUF 1,999 (around EUR 5.50) for withdrawals made with Revolut cards, Bankmonitor reports. Other Hungarian banks do not currently impose this particular additional fee. Euro conversions are approximate and based on an exchange rate of roughly HUF 366 to EUR 1 on 25 September 2026.
The arrival of Revolut’s own ATMs could therefore give customers another option for accessing cash. It remains unclear, however, exactly how the machines will operate or what fee structure Revolut will apply.
Bankmonitor also notes that, over the longer term, the costs of installing and operating a sizeable ATM network could potentially be reflected in Revolut’s pricing in some form.
Revolut Hungary enters a changing cash market
The expansion comes at an unusual time for Hungary’s payment market. The government and central bank have introduced several measures intended to preserve access to cash, including mandatory ATM coverage in smaller settlements.
At the same time, Hungarians are increasingly turning to electronic payments.
According to MNB data cited by Bankmonitor, electronic transactions reached a record share in 2025, accounting for 50% of payments compared with cash transactions. Bank transfers are also becoming cheaper: 48% of retail transfers were free in 2025, compared with 37% in 2023.
Hungary has also doubled the monthly limit for certain free cash withdrawals to HUF 300,000 (approximately EUR 820).
The expected arrival of Revolut ATMs therefore comes as two trends develop simultaneously: authorities are working to guarantee nationwide access to physical cash, while consumers continue moving towards cards and digital payments.
For Revolut Hungary customers, the immediate impact will be limited. In the longer term, however, the company’s entry into the Hungarian ATM market could expand withdrawal options and make Revolut an increasingly physical presence in a market where it has so far operated primarily as a digital banking service.
As we wrote earlier, Revolut launches Hungarian bank accounts.
