Best expat bank accounts in the UK

Opening an expat bank account in the UK is a great way to manage your money in your new country of residence, as well as unlock international investment advice. The best part? No matter how often you move around the world, your non-resident bank account stays the same!

If you’re living abroad, planning on moving to the UK or have other international account needs, you’ve come to the right place. This guide will cover everything you need to know about expat bank accounts in the UK, including our recommendations for who to bank with.

For an expat-friendly alternative to bank accounts, try Wise. With low fees*, great exchange rates and the ability to send secure international transfers to 160+ countries, this money services provider is a brilliant way to manage your money abroad.

Learn about the Wise account

What is an expat bank account?

An expat bank account is a bank account for people living overseas who want to manage their funds in one central and convenient location. You might have also heard the terms offshore, international and non-resident bank accounts.

Is this the same as an offshore account?

Yes, expat bank accounts and offshore accounts are the same. Both accounts allow expats who are new to a country to grow and manage their money. You can find more information about offshore bank accounts on our blog.

Best expat accounts in the UK at a glance

With so many non-resident bank accounts in the UK to choose from, it can be tricky to know where to begin. We’ve listed some of the best accounts in the table below:

Name	Provider	Fees and features
Expat Account	HSBC	Multi-currency account available in GBP, EUR or USD Premier MasterCard included Dedicated relationship manager for premier accounts No monthly fees
International Current Account	Lloyds Bank	Money held in GBP, EUR or USD No charge for international payments Easy access with mobile and internet banking Monthly fee of £7.50 (€8/US$10)
Gold Account	Santander	Available in GBP, EUR or USD currencies Quarterly interest if you hit minimum requirements Online, mobile and telephone banking to manage your money No monthly fees
International Account and Cash Management Account	Natwest	Various expat accounts with different benefits No or low monthly fees Easy online, mobile and telephone banking to manage funds Fixed-term savings pot for Cash Management Account
International Bank Account	Barclays	Open an account in GBP, EUR or USD No monthly fees Digital online banking for 24/7 access Relationship Manager included if account is opened with a minimum of £250,000

If the above non-resident bank accounts aren’t quite the right fit, why not consider Wise?

The Wise account offers similar features to an international or expat bank account, but with low fees* and great exchange rates. For the smart way to send money to 160+ countries abroad, choose Wise.

5 of the best expat bank accounts in the UK

Keep reading for more information about the best non-resident bank accounts, including who is eligible to apply.

HSBC Expat Account

This multi-currency account is available in GBP, EUR or USD and comes with a premier mastercard with no annual fee, as well as complimentary travel security service.¹ Premier account holders also get a dedicated relationship manager to help you and your family manage your money.

With 24/7 mobile, online or telephone banking, it’s easy to manage your account from wherever you are in the country.

Eligibility:
To open an HSBC Expat Account, you must be over 18 years of age, a resident of an eligible country or region, and meet one of these criteria:²

• Save or invest at least £75,000 (or currency equivalent) within 3 months of opening your account.
• Have a salary of at least £120,000 (or currency equivalent) paid into your account.
• Already be an HSBC Premier customer in another country or region.

Lloyds International Current Account

With a Lloyds International Account, you can hold your funds in GBP, EUR or USD, as well as benefit from fee-free international transfers.³ Get access to your funds with 24/7 mobile and internet banking, or use the Lloyds Phone Bank to get help via telephone.

There’s a monthly fee of £7.50 (€8/US$10) with this account. However, no monthly fee is charged for the first three months, except when you have upgraded to a Premier International Current Account with a sole annual income of £100,000. With a Premier account, you get no monthly fees, a Visa debit card for each currency and worldwide travel insurance for you and your family.⁴

Eligibility: ⁵

• A gross annual income of £50,000 (or currency equivalent). For joint accounts, at least one holder needs a gross annual income of this amount.
• Have £25,000 (or currency equivalent) to save (solely or jointly) with Lloyds Bank international banking services.

You also need to make an initial deposit into your new account within 30 days.

Santander International Gold Account

Santander’s Gold Account is an everyday current account that offers GBP, EUR or USD currencies and a free Visa debit card available in all three. There are no monthly fees with the Gold Account, and you can easily manage your funds through online, mobile and telephone banking.⁶

If you have between £75,000 - £999,999 in your account, you’ll also receive quarterly interest payments.

Eligibility:
To be eligible for a Santander International Gold Account, you need to be an international customer with a minimum overall balance of £75,000 (or currency equivalent) across your Santander accounts.

NatWest International Accounts

Natwest offers three expat bank accounts in the UK, including the International Select Account, International Cash Management Account and International Premier Account. All three non-resident bank accounts have different benefits.

The NatWest International Select Account

This everyday bank account has everything you need for your day-to-day banking needs, including easy banking via the Natwest mobile app and the ability to lock and unlock your debit cards online. For this account, there is a monthly fee of £8.⁷

Eligibility: ⁸

• 18+ years of age, and
• resident in one of Natwest’s listed countries, and
• open the account with a minimum deposit of £25,000 or pay a mandated salary of £40,000

The NatWest International Cash Management Account

With this expat bank account, you can manage multiple funds in up to 25 currencies, including GBP, EUR or USD. You also get access to a fixed-term savings pot which calculates how much your money will earn over a 3, 6, 9 or 12 month term. There’s no monthly fee for The NatWest International Cash Management Account.⁹

Eligibility: ⁸

• 16+ years of age, and
• resident in one of Natwest’s listed countries, and
• open the account with a minimum deposit of £25,000 or pay a mandated salary of £40,000

The NatWest International Premier Banking Account

Natwest’s Premier International Bank account has several exclusive benefits, including a dedicated Premier Banking Manager to help with your finances. This account is subject to application, status and acceptance by NatWest International.

Eligibility: ¹⁰

• 16+ years of age, and
• resident in one of Natwest’s listed countries, and
• pay in a £75,000 mandated salary per annum, or; make a minimum deposit of £100,000 at account opening.

Barclays International Bank Account

With the Barclays International Bank Account, you can open an account in GBP, EUR or USD, managing your finances easily through online banking and the Barclays mobile app. If you open your account with a minimum of £250,000 (or currency equivalent), you’ll also get access to a Relationship Manager who can help with your financial goals.¹¹

There are no monthly fees with this account, however, you will be charged £40 per month if your average balance in savings and/or investments falls below £100,000 (or currency equivalent) for four consecutive months.¹²

Eligibility: ¹³

• Be a resident of a Barclays qualifying country
• Have a minimum of £100,000 (or currency equivalent)in savings and/or investments across all your Barclays accounts

Manage your money internationally? Check out the Wise account

Wise is a great alternative to a non-resident bank account for managing money in different currencies and making international payments abroad. Better yet, Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate.

Unlike some of the expat bank accounts mentioned in this article, there’s no minimum balance to open a Wise account in the UK and across the world. This means you can get even more bang for your buck when managing your money in a new country.

Find out how you can do more with your money with Wise today.

Open your Wise account 🌍

Frequently asked questions about expat accounts

There’s lots to know about opening an expat bank account in the UK. That’s why we’ve found the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.

How do you open an account in the UK as a foreigner?

To open a bank account in the UK as a foreigner, you will typically need the following documents:

• Valid passport as proof of identity
• Visa (if required)
• Proof of address in the UK

Many banks, including those mentioned earlier in the article, offer expat or international accounts designed for those without a full UK address.

Can you keep a UK bank account if you move abroad?

This all depends on who you bank with! Some UK banks may allow you to keep your account open, but you won’t be able to open new products. Some banks, like Barclays, will let you keep your UK bank account open if you’re outside the UK on a temporary basis for six months or less.¹⁴

If you are planning on moving abroad from the UK, it’s a good idea to tell your bank and see what they can offer you.

Are there accounts for international students studying in the UK?

Yes, some UK banks offer accounts specifically for international students, but these may come with a monthly operating fee.¹⁵ It can be more cost effective for international students to wait and open a student bank account when they arrive in the UK, since these come with many perks like student discounts and railcards.

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Sources used in this article:

1. HSBC - expat account
2. HSBC - eligibility for an HSBC expat account
3. Lloyds - Lloyds international current account
4. Lloyds - Lloyds premier international current account
5. Lloyds - eligibility for international current account
6. Santander - International Gold Account
7. Natwest - International Select Account
8. Natwest - eligibility for International Select and Cash Management Account
9. Natwest - fees for Cash Management Account
10. Natwest - eligibility for International Premier Account
11. Barclays - Relationship Manager at Barclays
12. Barclays - monthly fees for Barclays International
13. Barclays - Barclays International eligibility
14. Barclays - living outside the UK
15. UCAS - International student account operating fee

Sources last checked: 10-Feb-2025