Compare
Understand what to compare when you bank in more than one country.
Residency, currencies, cards, transfers, FX, account protection and provider permissions can all matter when your banking life crosses borders.
An international bank account is not one single product type. It may be a current account for non-residents, a multi-currency account, an expat banking service, or a broader banking relationship designed for people who live and transact across borders.
The right comparison starts with what you actually need the account to do. A bank that is strong for everyday spending may not be best for holding several currencies, receiving salary from abroad or moving large sums.
Before comparing providers, clarify your residence, expected currencies, source of income, payment needs and whether you expect to move again.
The best account is not necessarily the most international-looking one. It is the one that still works when your residence, income and currencies change.
Compare eligibility, account structure, payment capability, FX costs, protection and portability — not just the headline monthly fee.
The comparison further down lists providers from publicly reviewed material. It does not rank them, publish a live rate, or decide whether an account can be opened where you live.
The basics
Providers use the word for several different things. It can mean non-resident banking, a multi-currency balance, cross-border payments, an account you can keep after a move, an expat service, or staff who are set up to deal with customers in more than one country.
The label “international” does not guarantee that the account can serve every country or every type of customer.
Typically. A current account a provider offers to customers whose life or payments cross a border.
May be useful for. Everyday money when you are not sure a domestic account will keep working.
Check. Which countries of residence it accepts, and whether that answer changes if you move.
Typically. Everyday banking framed around people who have moved, or who still have ties at home.
May be useful for. Keeping a home-country account, opening one abroad, and understanding cards and credit after a move.
Check. What stays open, what is restricted, and which documents the bank wants at the new address.
Typically. Balances you can hold, receive and send in more than one currency.
May be useful for. Income in one currency and spending, or a transfer, in another.
Check. Which currencies you can hold, which you can receive locally, and when conversion is priced.
Typically. A broader relationship that may include an account, servicing, and sometimes lending or investments.
May be useful for. When the question is wider than a current account.
Check. What is included, which entity provides each part, and whether residence still limits the products.
Account types
The same provider may offer more than one of these. None of them is automatically the better choice. Match the type to the job.
| Type | Primary purpose | Typical use | Key question |
|---|---|---|---|
| International bank account | Banking that can work across borders | Holding, receiving or spending when life is in more than one country | Will this provider accept my residence, and keep doing so? |
| Expat banking | Everyday banking after a move | Keeping a home account, opening one abroad, cards and credit | What changes when I am no longer resident? |
| Multi-currency account | More than one currency in one relationship | Income in one currency and spending in another | Where does conversion happen, and what does it cost? |
| Local bank account | Banking where you live | Salary, bills, local payments and local credit history | Does it cover the cross-border part, or do I still need another account? |
| Private banking | A broader relationship around a larger balance | Servicing, and sometimes lending or investments, as well as an account | What is included, and what still depends on residence? |
International bank account
Primary purpose. Banking that can work across borders
Typical use. Holding, receiving or spending when life is in more than one country
Key question. Will this provider accept my residence, and keep doing so?
Expat banking
Primary purpose. Everyday banking after a move
Typical use. Keeping a home account, opening one abroad, cards and credit
Key question. What changes when I am no longer resident?
Multi-currency account
Primary purpose. More than one currency in one relationship
Typical use. Income in one currency and spending in another
Key question. Where does conversion happen, and what does it cost?
Local bank account
Primary purpose. Banking where you live
Typical use. Salary, bills, local payments and local credit history
Key question. Does it cover the cross-border part, or do I still need another account?
Private banking
Primary purpose. A broader relationship around a larger balance
Typical use. Servicing, and sometimes lending or investments, as well as an account
Key question. What is included, and what still depends on residence?
Eligibility
Eligibility can depend on residence, nationality, immigration status, tax residence, source of funds, income, employment, the purpose of the account and the provider’s own policy. A passport on its own is rarely the whole file. Have a clear description of where you live and where larger balances come from.
Eligibility is a provider decision and can change over time.
Legal structure
The name on the app can sit above a different legal entity. A branch and a subsidiary are not the same thing. The account may be booked in one jurisdiction, under one governing law, supervised by one regulator, and written into one contract. Those are the facts to ask for.
01
Bank brand
02
Legal entity
03
Account jurisdiction
04
Regulator and contract
Multi-currency
Ask separately about holding a balance, receiving income, local account details, conversion, the list of supported currencies, any base currency, and the currency a card settles in. Those lists can differ.
One account, or linked balances
Illustration of currency codes people ask about. Not a recommended set, and not a rate.
Being able to hold a currency is not the same as being able to receive local payments in that currency.
Cards
The cost can sit in a foreign transaction fee, in the FX conversion, in a cash-machine charge, or in a choice at the till to pay in your home currency. That last choice is often called dynamic currency conversion. Card acceptance also depends on the card network and on the country. This page does not publish a fee.
When paying abroad, the cheapest option is not always the one that looks fee-free.
Payments
Look at money coming in and money going out. A payment may use an international route such as SWIFT, or a local rail where the account has local details. Scheduled payments, bills and repeating transfers may only exist for some countries. A bank in the middle of the chain can deduct a charge.
International payments can involve more than one fee layer.
01
Where a payment can be sent, and where it can arrive from.
02
The currency you send and the currency the recipient is paid in.
03
What the provider says is usual, and what can delay it.
04
Whether you can see the fee and the rate before you confirm.
05
Your bank, a bank in the middle, and the recipient’s bank can each charge.
06
The account number, codes and name a payer needs.
07
A cap on the amount, or extra review above a certain size.
Foreign exchange
A provider may price conversion through the distance from a mid-market reference, a spread, or a markup inside the rate. Conversion may happen when money arrives, when you spend, or only when you choose it. Some providers adjust the rate when the market is closed. Ask whether that applies. This page does not publish a rate.
Compare the amount you receive after conversion, not just the headline transfer fee.
FX cost comparisonCosts
A low monthly fee does not mean the account is cheap if FX and international transfers are expensive.
Ask for each of these in money, on the way you expect to use the account. Check the provider’s current terms. None of these amounts is published here.
Savings
A savings balance may be a separate account, with its own eligibility, its own currencies, and its own access rules. Interest may be variable or fixed. A notice account can delay withdrawals. Residence can take a savings product off the table even when the current account stays open. Interest can also be reportable where you are tax resident. This page does not publish a rate, and it does not say how any country will tax it.
Income
Salary, a pension, dividends, rent and business income can each arrive by a different route. An employer may need a local account number. A pension payer may pay in one currency only. Ask whether an incoming foreign-currency payment stays in that currency or converts on arrival.
Credit
A current account may remain open when a credit card does not. An overdraft may change. A mortgage is usually a separate application. Credit history is often local to a country, and residence can matter as much as income. Nothing on this page is an approval, or a list of criteria a lender will use.
An account being available does not mean credit products will also be available.
Protection
The money may be a bank deposit with a legal entity, supervised by a regulator. Deposit protection, where it exists, is a matter for that jurisdiction and that entity. If the provider is not a bank, customer money may be safeguarded rather than held as a deposit. If investments sit alongside the account, custody is a further question. This page does not state a protection amount for any country.
Portability
Continuity can mean the account stays open. It can also mean new paperwork, a different booking entity, a replacement card, a change to credit, an update to tax residence, or a product that is no longer offered. Ask each of these before you treat the account as portable.
Compare smarter
A comparison is useful only if it reflects how you intend to use the account. Read these eight points against that use, including whether the account is personal, private or business.
01
Who the account is aimed at: residents, non-residents, or both, and whether a move changes that.
02
The countries of residence the provider says it can support, and any limits inside those countries.
03
What you can hold, receive and spend, and whether balances are separate.
04
Foreign transaction charges, cash-machine charges, and whether a card works where you will be.
05
How money arrives and leaves, including local details, limits and banks in the middle of a payment.
06
How conversion is priced, and whether it happens when money arrives or only when you choose it.
07
Which legal entity holds the money, which regulator supervises it, and what protection applies.
08
Whether the account, the card and any credit still work if you move again. Personal, private and business accounts can differ.
Due diligence
Use this against a provider you are already speaking to. It does not score banks, and it does not produce a ranking.
| Question | Why it matters | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Can they serve my residence? | An account you cannot open is not a comparison. | Ask about your country of residence and nationality, and get the answer for the account you would open. |
| Can I keep the account after moving? | A move can change which products remain. | Ask what happens to the current account, cards, savings and any credit. |
| Which currencies can I hold? | The currency list is part of the product. | Ask for the balances available, not a general marketing list. |
| Which local account details do I get? | A payer may need a local number. | Ask which currencies have them, and which name appears on them. |
| What FX spread applies? | The rate can cost more than the fee. | Ask how the rate is set on the amount you expect to convert. This page does not publish a percentage. |
| What are international card fees? | Spending abroad can be priced separately from the account fee. | Ask about the card fee, the conversion, and cash-machine charges. |
| What are transfer fees? | A payment can be charged more than once. | Ask about outgoing, incoming and intermediary charges. |
| Can I receive salary? | Wages may use a local payment system. | Ask whether your employer can pay the details you would be given. |
| Can I receive pension income? | A pension payer may have its own rules. | Ask the provider and the payer which details and currency they can use. |
| What protection applies? | A brand is not the same as a deposit guarantee. | Ask which entity holds the money and whether deposit protection applies. |
| Can I access credit? | A current account and a loan are separate decisions. | Ask whether an overdraft, card or mortgage is even in scope. Do not treat a conversation as approval. |
| What happens if I move again? | The next country can reset the earlier answer. | Ask before you rely on the account through a second move. |
Can they serve my residence?
Why it matters. An account you cannot open is not a comparison.
What to check. Ask about your country of residence and nationality, and get the answer for the account you would open.
Can I keep the account after moving?
Why it matters. A move can change which products remain.
What to check. Ask what happens to the current account, cards, savings and any credit.
Which currencies can I hold?
Why it matters. The currency list is part of the product.
What to check. Ask for the balances available, not a general marketing list.
Which local account details do I get?
Why it matters. A payer may need a local number.
What to check. Ask which currencies have them, and which name appears on them.
What FX spread applies?
Why it matters. The rate can cost more than the fee.
What to check. Ask how the rate is set on the amount you expect to convert. This page does not publish a percentage.
What are international card fees?
Why it matters. Spending abroad can be priced separately from the account fee.
What to check. Ask about the card fee, the conversion, and cash-machine charges.
What are transfer fees?
Why it matters. A payment can be charged more than once.
What to check. Ask about outgoing, incoming and intermediary charges.
Can I receive salary?
Why it matters. Wages may use a local payment system.
What to check. Ask whether your employer can pay the details you would be given.
Can I receive pension income?
Why it matters. A pension payer may have its own rules.
What to check. Ask the provider and the payer which details and currency they can use.
What protection applies?
Why it matters. A brand is not the same as a deposit guarantee.
What to check. Ask which entity holds the money and whether deposit protection applies.
Can I access credit?
Why it matters. A current account and a loan are separate decisions.
What to check. Ask whether an overdraft, card or mortgage is even in scope. Do not treat a conversation as approval.
What happens if I move again?
Why it matters. The next country can reset the earlier answer.
What to check. Ask before you rely on the account through a second move.
Ask for the name on the contract, not only the brand in the app.
Ask which authority authorises the entity that holds or safeguards the money.
Ask about your current country of residence. A general list of countries is a starting point.
Some providers do, for some countries. Ask about the country you would be resident in.
Ask before you rely on the account through a move, including cards and any credit.
Ask for the balances on the account you would open.
Holding a currency and receiving a payment in it can be different.
Ask which currencies come with local details, and in whose name they are issued.
Ask how the rate is set. This page does not publish a percentage.
Ask for outgoing, incoming and any intermediary charge separately.
Ask about the card fee and the conversion when you spend abroad.
Ask whether an employer can pay to the details you would be given.
Ask the provider and, where you need to, the pension payer.
A current account and a savings account can have different eligibility.
An open account does not mean an overdraft, card or mortgage will be offered.
Ask about the other person’s residence and the documents required.
Ask whether deposit protection applies and, if it does not, how the money is held.
Ask which body handles a complaint, and in which country.
Ask about notice, cards, regular payments and where the balance can be sent.
Ask about notice, any closure fee, and payments that are still in flight.
Watch for
The brand is visible and the contracting entity is not.
You can see a fee and cannot see how the rate is set.
A transfer is described as free, and the exchange rate is not shown before you confirm.
You cannot tell whether the money is a bank deposit or held another way.
The provider will not say whether your country of residence is accepted.
Money arriving in one currency is converted without a choice you can see.
Spending abroad is described as included, without a word on the rate or the cash machine.
A property deposit or similar sum has no clear review or document path.
You cannot get a plain answer on how to close the account or move the balance.
The provider cannot say what happens to the account if you move.
A warning sign is not automatically a reason to reject a bank. It is a reason to investigate further.
Common situations
Situations in which the questions come up. They are not a reason to choose one account type.
01
Ask whether the home account can stay open, which products may be restricted, and what a new local account still needs to do.
02
Ask which currency arrives, whether it converts on receipt, and what the card uses when you spend.
03
Ask whether pension income can be paid in, in which currency, and what happens to the account if you later move again.
04
Ask whether the account details are accepted for a deposit, how a large payment is reviewed, and which currency you send.
05
Ask about proof of address, a local phone number where one is required, and whether credit is even in scope.
06
Ask how source of funds is documented, which entity holds the money, and whether a personal account is the right product.
Right fit
Local banking can be simpler for local payments, a local credit history, branch access and local direct debits. The right answer may be a combination of local and international accounts rather than one account doing everything.
FAQs
Compare accounts
Compare traditional international banks, digital banks and payment-account providers that can help people manage money across countries.
Account availability, currencies, legal status and customer protection depend on your country of residence and the specific entity serving you.
Not every provider below is a bank.
Global brand does not mean global account availability
A provider may operate internationally without offering the same account in every country. Your residence can affect account eligibility, available currencies, fees, cards, payment features and the legal entity serving you.
Bank account and payment account are not the same
A bank may hold eligible deposits under a deposit-protection framework. An e-money or payment institution may instead safeguard customer money under a different legal regime. These protections should not be presented as equivalent.
What to compare
01
Can you open the account where you live?
02
Is it a bank account, a digital bank account or a payment account?
03
Which legal entity actually holds the account?
04
Which currencies can you hold, receive and spend?
05
Can you receive money using local account details?
06
How do international transfers work?
07
Is money covered by deposit insurance, safeguarding or another framework?
08
What happens when you move country again?
10 providers listed for comparison.
A reach mark means the reviewed material names that footprint. It does not mean every resident there can open the account. DBS and OCBC are Singapore banks, so they sit outside the international-bank and offshore-bank filters.
Digital bank
A licensed digital bank account with a European focus. Multi-currency and travel features depend on the plan.
Best aligned with
Residents of supported European markets.
Customer money protection
Licensed European bank. Country availability matters.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Singapore bank
A Singapore bank account with multi-currency features, for residents, relocators and regional clients.
Best aligned with
People moving to or living in Singapore. This is not described as a universal offshore account.
Customer money protection
Singapore-regulated bank. Foreign-currency deposits have distinct protection considerations.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
International bank
A Jersey-booked international bank account, with a core balance in GBP, EUR or USD.
Best aligned with
Expats and globally mobile customers.
Customer money protection
The account is described as held with HSBC Bank plc, Jersey branch. Cross-border availability depends on where the client lives. Deposit protection depends on that entity and the rules that apply to it.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Multi-currency payment account
A digital money account for supported UK and EU markets. It is not a traditional bank account.
Best aligned with
Mobile users in supported UK and EU markets.
Customer money protection
EMI, not a bank. The relevant entity depends on whether the account is a UK or EU account.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Offshore bank
Jersey-booked international accounts for non-UK residents in eligible countries.
Best aligned with
Qualifying expats and non-residents.
Customer money protection
Accounts are based in Jersey. Eligible-country restrictions apply.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Singapore bank
A Singapore account plus a Global Savings Account, including a remote route for selected passport holders who plan to relocate.
Best aligned with
Selected foreign nationals relocating to Singapore.
Customer money protection
Singapore-regulated bank. Foreigners need an eligible passport or pass, depending on the onboarding route.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Digital bank
A digital banking and multi-currency app. Whether the account is a bank account or an e-money account depends on the country and the entity.
Best aligned with
Mobile users and frequent cross-border spending.
Customer money protection
The banking or e-money entity varies by country. Disclosures have to be read for the market that would serve you.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Offshore bank
A Gold current account booked in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, for international customers who meet the eligibility rules.
Best aligned with
Eligible international clients who want an offshore current account.
Customer money protection
International banking entity. Residency and minimum-balance rules are material to whether the account is available.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Offshore bank
An international or offshore bank account. Eligibility and the account centre depend on the jurisdiction.
Best aligned with
Internationally mobile customers using an offshore bank account.
Customer money protection
Regulated bank. The exact entity and the protection scheme depend on the booking centre.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
Multi-currency payment account
A multi-currency payment account for holding, receiving and sending money. The Wise Account is not a bank account.
Best aligned with
Internationally mobile users, salary and pension receiving, and cross-border spending.
Customer money protection
EMI / payments provider. This is not a bank account. The entity and the safeguarding regime depend on location.
The protection framework depends on the legal entity serving you and where the account is booked.
A conventional bank relationship designed for customers with international needs.
A bank account legally booked in an international financial centre or a separate banking jurisdiction.
An app-first bank account. The regulated entity can still vary by country.
A payment account that can hold and move currencies. It may not be a bank deposit.
Compare legal status and protection before comparing convenience.
Compare the account model, currencies and who it may suit. Open a profile for availability, protection and the full eligibility notes.
| Provider | Type | Legal status | Currencies | Transfers | Minimum | Best aligned with | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital bank | Digital bank | Multi-currency and travel-oriented | Cards | Plan-dependent. | Residents of supported European markets. | View |
| Singapore bank | Bank | SGD plus 12 foreign currencies | Foreign-currency spending | My Account can have no initial | People moving to or living in Singapore | View |
| International bank | Bank | Core account in GBP | Global transfers | Typical eligibility includes £75 | Expats and globally mobile customers. | View |
| Multi-currency payment account | E-money institution | Multi-currency capabilities across | Card | Low or no traditional bank balance requirement | Mobile users in supported UK and EU markets | View |
| Offshore bank | Bank | International Select in GBP | International transfers | £25,000 minimum relationship balance | Qualifying expats and non-residents. | View |
| Singapore bank | Bank | The Global Savings Account supports | Debit-card spending | Global Savings has currency-specific | Selected foreign nationals relocating to Singapore | View |
| Digital bank | Account model varies by country | Personal users can hold and exchange | Cards | Free and paid plans | Mobile users and frequent cross-border spending | View |
| Offshore bank | Bank | GBP, EUR and USD current-account options | Visa debit | International customers outside core | Eligible international clients who want | View |
| Offshore bank | Bank | Major currencies including GBP | International payments | Varies by account and customer location | Internationally mobile customers using | View |
| Multi-currency payment account | Payment institution / EMI | Hold 40+ currencies | Send globally | No general high-balance requirement. | Internationally mobile users | View |
| Provider | Type | Currencies | Transfers | Best aligned with | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital bank | Multi-currency and travel-oriented | Cards | Residents of supported European markets. | View |
| Singapore bank | SGD plus 12 foreign currencies | Foreign-currency spending | People moving to or living in Singapore | View |
| International bank | Core account in GBP | Global transfers | Expats and globally mobile customers. | View |
| Multi-currency payment account | Multi-currency capabilities across | Card | Mobile users in supported UK and EU markets | View |
| Offshore bank | International Select in GBP | International transfers | Qualifying expats and non-residents. | View |
| Singapore bank | The Global Savings Account supports | Debit-card spending | Selected foreign nationals relocating to Singapore | View |
| Digital bank | Personal users can hold and exchange | Cards | Mobile users and frequent cross-border spending | View |
| Offshore bank | GBP, EUR and USD current-account options | Visa debit | Eligible international clients who want | View |
| Offshore bank | Major currencies including GBP | International payments | Internationally mobile customers using | View |
| Multi-currency payment account | Hold 40+ currencies | Send globally | Internationally mobile users | View |
Digital bank
Singapore bank
International bank
Multi-currency payment account
Offshore bank
Singapore bank
Digital bank
Offshore bank
Offshore bank
Multi-currency payment account
WiT Access provides general information and comparison resources. Account availability, currencies, charges and customer-money protections vary by provider, legal entity and jurisdiction. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, tax or legal advice.
Payment accounts and e-money accounts are not necessarily protected in the same way as bank deposits.
Further reading
Banking
5 min read
Mobility
8 min read
Get clear on eligibility, currencies, fees, FX, protection and what happens if you move again.
WiT Access provides general information and comparison resources. Nothing on this page constitutes financial, tax, legal or credit advice. Banking eligibility, product availability, fees, exchange rates, account protections and lending terms vary by provider and jurisdiction.