Top 5 UK Bank Accounts For Expats
Bank accounts for expats are designed for people living, working or retiring overseas who still need access to UK banking services. The best accounts offer low international transfer fees, competitive exchange rates and easy online account management.
- Revolut – Excellent exchange rates and international spending features.
- Wise Account – Hold and exchange multiple currencies at low cost.
- Barclays International Banking – Suitable for higher-net-worth expats.
- Lloyds International Current Account – Traditional banking with international support.
- HSBC Expat – Dedicated international banking service with multi-currency options.
Top Tips For Choosing The Best UK Bank Account For Expats
- Check whether the account can be opened from overseas.
- Compare FX markups, not just transfer fees.
- Consider accounts that support multiple currencies.
- Multi-currency accounts can reduce exchange rate costs.
- Digital banks often make international transfers cheaper.
- Expats should check whether they can keep their account when moving abroad.
Did You Know?
- More than 5.5 million British citizens live overseas.
- The UK sends billions of pounds abroad annually through personal remittances.
- Currency exchange fees can cost expats hundreds of pounds a year.
Expat UK Bank Account Alternatives
| Name | Logo | Interest Rate | Switching Offer | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | CTA | Feature | Expand |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Interest Rate 4.5% | Switching Offer £0 | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Added value:
| Revolut will give you a boosted savings rate of 4.50% AER (variable) if you open an Instant Access Savings account before 22 January 2026. No withdrawal fees. No minimums. Revolut Expert Review & Rating: Updated 25/06/2026 Is Revolut good for investing? Revolut is a good choice for investors that want to buy and sell major shares and cryptocurrencies. No funds, or smaller cap stocks, but a good entry-level account for most investors. One of the most commonly asked questions about new banks and fintech is if they are a safe place to keep your money. The answer is generally, yes, if they are regulated by the FCA as funds are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000. But, Revolut, is regulated as an e-money institution and not as a bank so you do not get the FSCS protection. Revolut says that if they were to go bust, client funds would be paid out of a “safeguarding” account which is a type of ringfenced account where client funds are held. When funds are in this type of account, Revolut cannot (in theory, at least) lend them out or use them to run the business. This is how banks traditionally made money, they pay you a smaller amount of interest than they receive on the money they lend out and make a profit from the difference (among other things). For small money transfers, Revolut is safe enough, but as with all currency conversions if you are sending over £10,000 abroad you should be using a currency broker. You’ll get much better rates, more control over when you buy and sell, help with all the AML (anti-money laundering) issues that may come up, and the ability to lock in the currency exchange rate for up to a year in advance (if you think it will move against you).
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