Public Bank foreign currency accounts in Malaysia - an overview

Multi-currency or foreign currency accounts can be helpful for people who send and receive foreign currency payments, travel often, or want to diversify their investments. Public Bank offers a couple of options for foreign currency accounts, including a current account for day to day transactions and a fixed deposit account to get a higher rate of interest.

This guide introduces all you need to know about Public Bank foreign currency account options, including fees and interest rates and how exchange rates are applied. We’ll also highlight the Wise Multi-Currency Account as a smart option for people looking to hold and manage multiple currencies with low fees and the mid-market exchange rate.

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How does a foreign currency account work?

Foreign currency accounts allow customers to hold one or more foreign currencies. Depending on the account type you may be able to convert between currencies within the account, receive payments from overseas, make cash withdrawals and send money internationally.

Foreign currency accounts are particularly useful if you send and receive payments from overseas. Get paid in a foreign currency and hold the balance until you need it next, with no pressure to switch bank to MYR immediately. Or, wait until the exchange rate looks good, buy the foreign currency you need and hold it in your account ready for making payments or spending as you travel.

Different foreign currency accounts have different features and fees - and may use different exchange rates too. Let’s look at how the foreign currency accounts from Public Bank work.

PB Foreign Currency Current Account

The Public Bank Foreign Currency Current Account is available in the following currencies¹:

• New Zealand dollar (NZD)
• Australian dollar (AUD)
• British pounds (GBP)
• US dollar (USD)
• Euro (EUR)
• Japanese yen (JPY)
• Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
• Swiss franc (CHF)
• Singapore dollar (SGD)
• Thai baht (THB)
• Chinese renminbi (CNY)
• Canadian dollar (CAD)

Accounts are available for both individuals and businesses - although it’s also worth noting that placements of CNY for businesses can be made for trade related purposes only. A minimum deposit of 1,000 USD or the currency equivalent is required to open the account, and interest is calculated daily and paid monthly in the currency of the account. More on the interest rates available a little later.

PB Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit Account

If you want to hold foreign currency as an investment, or if you have funds you’re willing to lock away for a period to get a better interest rate, a fixed deposit account may suit you. In a fixed deposit account you’ll make a currency placement and then won’t be able to access it for a pre-agreed period of time. You’ll usually earn a better interest rate compared to a regular savings account, but if you need to withdraw your funds early there will be a penalty to pay.

Public Bank Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit Accounts are available to individuals and businesses and can be denominated in²:

• New Zealand dollar (NZD)
• Australian dollar (AUD)
• British pounds (GBP)
• US dollar (USD)
• Euro (EUR)
• Japanese yen (JPY)
• Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
• Swiss franc (CHF)
• Singapore dollar (SGD)
• Thai baht (THB)
• Chinese renminbi (CNY)
• Canadian dollar (CAD)

As with the current account option, CNY placements for businesses are only allowed for trade purposes.

The minimum deposit for this account type is 10,000 MYR or the currency equivalent for each currency you want to hold. Placements can be made for 1 to 12 months and interest is paid upon maturity in the currency of the account.

Public Bank’s fees and interest rates

Before choosing a foreign currency account you’ll want to know the costs involved with opening and operating your account, and how much interest you may earn. Let’s take a look.

Interest rates

Interest rates in both Public Bank foreign currency accounts are determined by the currency involved. The current account pays a relatively low level of interest, on a monthly basis while the fixed deposit account may provide ways to boost your interest if you lock your money away for a fixed period.

Here are the rates available at the time of research from the Public Bank Foreigh Currency Current Account³:

*Correct at time of research - 9 February 2022

And as a comparison, here’s how much you may earn if you opt for a Public Bank Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit Account, split by currency and placement length⁴:

*Correct at time of research - 9 February 2022

Fees and charges

Maintenance and transaction charges apply to the Public Bank Foreign Currency Current Account. A couple of fees may also apply to the Fixed Deposit account option, and if you need to withdraw your money early from a fixed term agreement you may also lose interest you’ve accrued.

Here are the key Public Bank Foreign Currency Current Account fees⁵:

And there are the key costs associated with the Public Bank Foreign Currency Fixed Deposit account⁶:

Currency exchange rates for Public Bank Berhad

If you need to convert your funds from a foreign currency to MYR - or vice versa - you’ll want to check the Public Bank’s exchange rate. Banks typically offer a different rate depending on whether you’re buying or selling a currency, and the different service you need - like buying notes or sending a telegraphic transfer for example. Check out the Public Bank exchange rates online or in your local branch to see what’s on offer⁷.

When you have found out the rate that’ll be applied to your transaction, it pays to compare it to the mid-market exchange rate, which you can find on Google. The mid-market exchange rate is the rate banks get when they buy and sell foreign currency on wholesale markets. However, it’s not usually the rate they offer customers. Instead, they add a markup or margin to their retail rates - which is an extra fee but it’s tricky to spot.

Compare the Public Bank rate with the mid-market rate to see if an extra fee has been added in here. If it has you might be better off with a currency exchange service or foreign currency account which doesn’t add a markup to rates - like the Wise Multi-Currency Account. More on that later.

Opening a Public Bank Foreign Currency Account in Malaysia

To open your Public Bank foreign currency account you’ll need to visit your local branch. A member of staff will help you decide which account is most suited to your needs, and confirm the documents you need to proceed. Contact details can be found on Public Bank's website under "Contact".

Pros and cons of PB multi currency accounts

Here’s a summary of some of the pros and cons of the 2 different Public Bank foreign currency account options:

If you’re looking for a more flexible foreign currency account with no minimum balance and low fees, read on for more about the Wise Multi-Currency Account.

Hold over 50+ currencies and convert with the real exchange rate - Wise Multi-Currency account

Open the Wise Multi-Currency Account online and for free, and hold and exchange 54 currencies all in the same place. There’s no minimum deposit and no maintenance charge to pay. You can also get your own local bank details to get paid for free in 10 currencies, and a linked debit card to spend around the world using the real exchange rate with no foreign transaction fees.

All currency exchanges with Wise use the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden fees. There are just low, transparent charges which can mean you save significantly versus a foreign currency account from a mainstream bank.

Wise isn’t a bank, and the Wise Multi-Currency Account doesn’t pay any interest. However, you’ll be able to hold and manage dozens of currencies online and in the Wise app, convert instantly and for lower costs, and all with no minimum balance or monthly fee.

See how much you can save with the Wise Multi-Currency Account today!

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