If you often make payments abroad, today’s online money specialists can help you keep on top of your business overseas or take care of family members back home from one flexible account. These foreign currency accounts aren’t just about helping you manage your finances – you’ll also save time and money with streamlined transactions.
Reviews of cards you can hold multiple currencies on
Get a £20 welcome bonus when you spend your first £20 (T&Cs apply).
With the Revolut standard plan, customers can make international payments in more than 150 currencies (fees may apply), and exchange up to £1,000 per rolling month in multiple currencies, with no additional fees on weekdays. You can also spend on your Revolut card for free and withdraw up to £200 a month (or 5 withdrawals per month) with no charges. The account has no monthly fee, is easy to apply for via the app, and you can be up and running in a matter of minutes. A further benefit of the account includes the ability to earn RevPoints when booking accommodation with Revolut Stays. RevPoints are earned through everyday spending, turning card purchases into perks.
Pros
Low overseas fees
Quick sign-up
Earn cashback on spending
Set budgets for financial goals
Virtual cards for online purchases
Easy to transfer money internationally
Linked 'Junior' account available for one child
Cons
1% currency conversion charge on weekend spending abroad
Free cash withdrawals in the UK and abroad both limited to £200 per month
Cannot deposit cash or cheques into the account
Charged a fee to receive your bank card
Minimum opening balance
£0
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month) conversion fee plus cash fee of £0 up to £200 per month
Monese lets you hold accounts in GBP, EUR and RON. The Simple plan has no monthly fee but international transfers incur a 2% fee. The account comes with a debit card which you can use for purchases in the UK and abroad - the first £2,000 each month is fee-free in foreign currencies. Fee-free ATM withdrawals are limited to £100 a month both in the UK and overseas. The account also includes a round-ups feature and savings pots and it offers multilingual customer support. You can manage your account online or via the app.
Pros
UK current account that does all you can expect, including direct debits and standing orders.
Fast and easy set-up (no credit check or proof of local address needed).
Colourful app that is easy to use, allows you to categorise your transactions and freeze the card if you lose it.
Free card payments and ATM withdrawals abroad.
You can load cash into the account for free.
Can open both a UK and European account and switch instantly.
Cons
With a free plan, fee-free ATM withdrawals and cash loads are limited to £200 per month.
You can’t put your savings in a separate account or earn interest on them.
It doesn’t offer anything more than a current account.
Starling lets you hold a GBP account for free and enables you to send money overseas at competitive rates. But on top of this, you can choose to set up a euro account and hold, send and receive euros for free, making it ideal if you have family in Europe. You can also use a single debit card to manage both your EUR and GBP accounts. If you want your EUR card transactions to come from your EUR account, simply select the 'card and currency controls section' within the app and turn it on. There are no fees for using your debit card abroad or in the UK.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable.
Pros
Split any bill with a tap
24/7 customer support
Bill manager & instant alerts
Pays interest on current account balance
Cons
No branch network
Limited options for depositors
No competitive switch incentives if you switch your account
Limited product range compared to other banks
Lower ATM withdrawal limit than some other digital challengers
Monzo customers can receive money into their account in more than 40 different currencies. All you need to do is share your IBAN with the person or company that's paying you. Note that a 1% conversion fee applies and there's a cap of £1,000 per transaction. The bank has also partnered with Wise to give you an easy way to send money abroad (again, a fee applies). You can apply for a Monzo current account in just 15 minutes and there are 3 plans to choose from, one of which has no monthly fee. Your money will be protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.
Pros
Easy to set up
Good for budgeting and categorising spending
Automatic saving feature
Fee-free spending abroad
Slick app with face login
Overdrafts and loans available
Cons
Free ATM withdrawals outside the EEA limited to £200,
£1 fee for depositing cash at PayPoints,
Maximum cash deposit of £1,000 every 6 months
No rewards program
Minimum opening balance
£0
Switch service guarantee
Yes
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0%
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% conversion fee plus cash fee of 0% on up to £400 per 30 days (3% thereafter)
A foreign currency account, also called a multicurrency or borderless account, is a type of account that lets you send and receive funds in multiple foreign currencies, potentially changing your current way of conducting international business. Through these borderless accounts, funds are either exchanged into pounds sterling or held in the currency of the transaction until you’re ready to exchange them.
You can use a foreign currency account for business and personal needs. And depending on the account, your balance may even earn you interest.
An international bank like HSBC or Barclays may allow you to deposit and withdraw money from your foreign currency account at a branch or online. Some only offer major currencies – pounds, euros and dollars, for example – for withdrawal at a branch.
Your typical bank account generally converts money to and from pounds sterling for transactions in foreign currencies. However, a foreign currency account allows you to send and receive funds in multiple currencies. You save time with a streamlined transaction and money by avoiding the high fees that come with conversions. And you won’t need to worry about short-term currency fluctuations affecting your bottom line.
The ability to switch among currencies helps you to take advantage of strong exchange rates and send money overseas without the extra charges you’d typically pay for wire or bank-to-bank transfers.
Currencies typically accepted into a foreign currency account include:
Great Britain pounds sterling (GBP)
euros (EUR)
Hong Kong dollars (HKD)
US dollars (USD)
Australian dollars (AUD)
Canadian dollars (CAD)
Japanese yen (JPY)
New Zealand dollars (NZD)
Singapore dollars (SGD)
Renminbi (RMB), though currency restrictions often apply
What are the pros and cons of a foreign currency account?
Convenient borderless accounts can save you time and money, but they aren’t without risks. Protect yourself by watching out for these pros and cons:
Pros
Hold multiple currencies. Send and receive funds in different currencies while avoiding an exchange between them. If you deal in minor or exotic foreign currencies, look into international money transfer specialists that accept a wider range of less common transactions.
Leverage exchange rates. Most accounts let you switch among currencies to take advantage of strong exchange rates, which can keep a ton of money in your pocket if you conduct large business transactions.
Earn interest on your currencies. Many foreign currency accounts pay you interest on select currencies. Interest is typically offered in tiers, with better rates going to larger balances.
Avoidable monthly fees. Depending on your business, some banks may waive maintenance and other fees on your foreign currency accounts.
Overdraft protection. If you’re unsure of the timing of your foreign currency payments, many banks allow you to go into a temporary deficit on specific currencies – although you may be charged a fee.
Cons
Miscellaneous fees. You can expect to be charged special cash handling and overdraft fees on some of your transactions. Find the lowest fees you’re eligible for when deciding on an account.
High minimums. Your bank may require a daily minimum before hitting you with high fees. HSBC and other international banks don’t require minimums, however.
Low interest. If your account offers interest, don’t expect the rate to be as high as your standard savings account. Foreign currency accounts are notorious for low interest rates.
Currency value changes. The value of your money fluctuates constantly. A sudden rise or fall affects the total balance of your foreign currency account.
How do I compare foreign currency accounts?
Find a foreign currency account that’s flexible enough for your needs by comparing accounts across multiple banks. Weigh factors among them that include:
Supported currencies. Many banks support at least a handful of major currencies, but make sure those you frequently conduct business in are accepted.
Account minimum. Some banks require a minimum monthly account balance. Find one that matches your cash flow to avoid high fees and penalties.
Account fees. Ask for a complete list of fees to avoid the surprise of a high maintenance fee on your account each month. Look also for processing or handling fees on specific currencies and transactions.
Currency conversion charges. In addition to exchange rate differences, your bank might charge a fee each time you convert your money into another currency.
Transfer amounts. Transaction limitations vary by bank, so you’ll want to make sure your account can handle payment amounts typical for your business – minimums and maximums.
Turnaround speed. Before choosing an account, learn how long the typical transaction takes between your home bank and accounts overseas.
Flexibility and support. Some foreign currency accounts allow for transfers, deposits and withdrawals over the phone, online or at a branch. Ask about fees related to each option.
Can I only get a foreign currency account from a high street bank?
No, there are a selection of digital-only and app-based financial services providers that offer competitive foreign currency transfer services, as well as accounts you can use while travelling. These include:
Starling Bank. The digital challenger bank not only offers fee-free overseas spending with its debit card, making it one of the most-pain-free ways to access and spend your money abroad, but it also offers existing current account holders the option to open a second Euro-denominated account. Transfers between the two accounts don’t incur any fees, while the currency exchange will be made at the interbank exchange rate. You can use a single debit card to manage both your existing GBP account and the EUR account, by switching a setting in the Starling Bank app.
Revolut. The digital-only banking app offers several accounts which include an array of useful features for frequent travellers. These include no conversion or bank fees on spending overseas, alongside fee-free cash withdrawals up to £800 a month, depending on your account.
Wise. This money transfer service offers a low-cost way to send cash internationally in a range of popular currencies. The firm also offers a multi-currency account, allowing you to manage your money in up to 50 currencies and receive money in up to 10 currencies, depending on where you are based. Wise doesn’t charge multi-currency account holders any fees when spending in any of the currencies held in the account.
What fees can I expect?
A borderless account can come with monthly, maintenance and transaction fees that could quickly eat into your balance. Shop around for a bank and account that minimises charges such as:
Deposit or withdrawal fees. Many banks offer unlimited deposits or allow a set number of fee-free withdrawals monthly.
Monthly service charges. If you can’t find an account with no service fees, look for one that waives fees with high balances. And make sure that balance meets your business’s needs.
Transaction fees. Many international banks have worldwide partnerships that can minimise how much you’re charged for each transaction.
Cash-handling fees. Some banks limit how much you can deposit to your account within a specified period. If you exceed this limit, you’re charged a fee to process future deposits.
Overdraft fees. Like typical bank accounts, you could pay overdraft fees if your account balance dips below zero.
When comparing accounts, know roughly how many transactions you expect to conduct through your account. Many accounts offer free unlimited deposits for high numbers of transactions monthly.
How do I open a foreign currency account?
Signing up for a foreign currency account isn’t much different from opening any other type of bank account. You’ll need your basic personal and financial information, along with the standard forms of government-issued ID.
Focus on banks that offer foreign currency accounts, like:
HSBC
Barclays
Santander
Metro Bank
Citibank
Halifax
You may be able to start the process of opening an account online. If not, call a representative to get started.
Bottom line
If you make transactions in other currencies on a regular basis, a borderless account can help save time and money. Whether it’s for personal or business purposes, this type of account can allow you to manage multiple currencies, get better exchange rates and streamline the process of sending and receiving money. Foreign transaction accounts are available from many large banks; just make sure to be aware of any fees before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A foreign currency account is a good option for people living abroad with financial obligations in the UK.
Yes. You’ll typically pay a nominal fee for transfers, but you might also have to pay conversion fees, depending on the bank.
No. This type of account doesn’t come with a debit card. If you did want to access your money while overseas, you’d need to make a trip to a branch location.
Yes. However, it could be considered an over-the-counter transaction that incurs a separate charge.
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Shirley Liu is Finder's global program manager. She was previously the publisher for banking and investments and has also written comparisons for energy, money transfers, Uber Eats and many other topics. Shirley has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Media, Journalism and Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about helping people find the best deal for their needs. See full bio
This new account comes with cashback on direct debits, interest on the balance in your account and a regular saver with one of the best rates in the market.
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