Expat banking provider
Wise
Multi-currency payment account
A multi-currency payment account for holding, receiving and sending money. The Wise Account is not a bank account. Listed for comparison.
At a glance
- Provider type
- Global multi-currency payment account / EMI
- Legal status
- Payment institution / EMI
- Expat fit
- Internationally mobile users, salary and pension receiving, and cross-border spending.
- Availability
- Broad international coverage
- Account model
- Multi-currency payment account
- Currencies
- Hold 40+ currencies. Local account details are available in multiple currencies depending on location.
- Minimum / eligibility
- No general high-balance requirement.
- Relocation continuity
- Product availability varies by registered address. Confirm what changes if you move again.
- Protection / safeguarding
- EMI / payments provider. This is not a bank account. The entity and the safeguarding regime depend on location.
Is this actually a bank?
International banking apps and account providers can look similar while operating under different legal models.
This is not a traditional bank account.
Legal status: Payment institution / EMI.
Wise Account. This is not a bank account.
The reviewed material says the entity depends on location. Confirm which legal entity would hold the account.
Who might use this account?
May be relevant to: Internationally mobile users, salary and pension receiving, and cross-border spending. That describes the published focus. It is not a view on whether this account is appropriate for you.
Can you open it where you live?
Residence can affect onboarding, product availability, account entity and card eligibility.
Broad international coverage. Product availability varies by registered address.
Availability: Broad international coverage. Confirm current eligibility with the provider.
Account model
Wise Account. This is not a bank account.
Multi-currency payment account. Payment institution / EMI.
Receiving salary and regular income
Salary and pension receiving are part of the published use case. Confirm the payer can use the details you are given.
Local account details: Available in selected currencies, depending on location.
Holding money in several currencies
Being able to transfer a currency is not always the same as being able to hold that currency.
Hold 40+ currencies. Local account details are available in multiple currencies depending on location.
Moving money between countries
Send globally, with card spending. Local and SWIFT receiving depend on the currency and location.
Conversion fees are publicly disclosed. Check the rate and any fee for the currencies and amount involved.
A transfer can involve your provider, a bank in the middle, and the recipient’s bank. A live price for those charges is not shown here.
Spending while abroad
Card spending is described.
Card spending is described. Any conversion charge should be checked for the currencies involved.
Savings and cash management
Not publicly stated as a core savings product on the material used.
A current interest rate is not shown here.
What does the account cost?
The total cost can include a monthly account fee, a minimum-balance fee, transfer fees, FX conversion, intermediary bank fees, card charges and ATM charges.
Pricing and conversion fees are publicly disclosed. Check the current tariff for the route you need.
No general high-balance requirement.
Check the provider’s current tariff before opening an account.
What protection applies?
Bank deposit protection and payment or e-money safeguarding are different legal frameworks.
EMI / payments provider. This is not a bank account. The entity and the safeguarding regime depend on location.
Customer-money protection depends on the legal entity, account type and jurisdiction.
What happens when you move again?
Servicing may continue, the legal entity may change, some products may be limited, cards or savings may be restricted, or a new local account may be needed.
Product availability varies by registered address. Confirm what changes if you move again.
Questions to ask
Can I open this account in my current country?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can I keep the account if I move?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Which legal entity would serve me?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Is this a bank or a payment account?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Which customer-money protection applies?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can salary be paid into the account?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can I receive pension payments?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Which currencies can I hold?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can I receive local transfers?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can I send international transfers?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
What FX costs apply?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Does the account come with a debit card?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Can I use the card internationally?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Are there minimum balance requirements?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Is there a monthly fee?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Are savings products available?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Are there restrictions for certain nationalities?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
What happens if my tax residence changes?
Confirm the current answer with Wise. It depends on the legal entity, your residence and the product.
Sources and review
- Wise Account
- Currencies you can hold
- Publisher programme page. WiT Access has not joined this programme.
Information is based on publicly available provider information reviewed by WiT Access. Account eligibility, fees, currencies and product features can change. Reviewed 6 October 2026.
Request an introduction
This form asks WiT Access to pass an enquiry about Wise. It does not mean a formal introducer agreement is in place, and it is not a paid referral. It does not mean the provider can open an account where you live.