Banking app Revolut has introduced Street Mode, a location-aware security feature that adds a one-hour delay to transfers above a user-set threshold when they're away from designated safe locations, such as home or work.
After the delay, users must complete a second biometric check before the transaction goes through, creating a window to catch and cancel suspicious activity. The feature introduces friction at strategic moments that fraudsters specifically target — when users are traveling, shopping in unfamiliar areas, or otherwise distracted.
Users designate trusted locations where transfers require only a single selfie verification, while transactions initiated elsewhere trigger the delay mechanism. As the brand explains: "Just like you might use an anti-theft backpack to protect your valuables, you can now add an extra layer of defense to your Revolut account."
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As scammers exploit moments of distraction, security features are becoming more contextually aware. Street Mode represents a broader movement toward adaptive fraud prevention — tools that recognize when users are in higher-risk situations and adjust protections accordingly. The challenge for financial services will be balancing robust security with user experience, ensuring that protective measures don't create so much friction that customers abandon legitimate transactions.