Last year, Revolut customers in Romania spent the most on shopping, around 20% of the total volume of transactions.
Groceries and supermarkets (15%), entertainment (14.7%), followed.
The largest budget increases were recorded, compared to 2020, for the category of general expenses (+ 326%), for entertainment (+ 123%) and travel (+ 111%).
More than 30 million transactions were made in grocery stores and supermarkets, reaching a total volume of transactions of EUR 310 million.
19.4 million transactions for transportation (+73% compared to 2020) and EUR 179 million, followed.
Last year, Romanian users spent over EUR 126 million on travel, double the budgets allocated to this category of spending in 2020, and 80% more than in 2019.
Customers also spent in cafes, bars, restaurants EUR 180 million, an increase of 103% compared to 2020 and 150% compared to 2019.
In-store purchases are gradually recovering
For most of the year, online payments outperformed the number of transactions and volumes traded compared to physical payments, except for the summer period.
During the 12 months, 51% of the amounts traded through the Revolut platform by Romanian customers were subject to digital payments, while 49% were physical payments.
In terms of the physical payments / digital payments ratio, July 2021 was the record month, with 57.5% of the expenses made in the merchants’ points-of-purchase.
On the other hand, in November, e-commerce attracted 58.4% of the total amounts traded, while physical payments only 41.6%.
In 2021, the total volume of digital payments was 86.5% higher than in 2020, while physical payments increased by 56% compared to the first year of the pandemic.
Digital payments were preferred for transactions with higher average values (EUR 29 / digital transaction vs. EUR 15 physical transaction).
However, the most spectacular increase was recorded by smartphone payments, which increased almost 5 times, in the number of transactions in 2021 compared to 2020.
The average value of a smartphone transaction in 2021 was approximately EUR 97.
Revolut buyer profile in Romania
The average Romanian Revolut customer using the super-app intensively for purchases last year has 25-34 y.o. (33%) and lives in Bucharest or in one of the biggest cities .
This user makes 16 transactions/ month, on average, through Revolut, mainly for grocery supplies (Mega Image, Lidl, Kaufland, Carrefour, Auchan).
Mobility and service stations (Bolt, Uber, OMV), general merchandise and electronics shopping (Emag), food delivery services (Glovo, Food Panda) and travel (Booking), follows.