Can I use Wise as a bank account?

With a Wise Account you can hold a Balance in any of 50+ supported currencies, send payments to 80+ countries, and spend around the world with your linked Wise card.

You’ll also get local bank details for up to 10 currencies — including USD, GBP, EUR and more, to receive convenient local payments from 30+ countries.

But how does the Wise Account really work? If you’re wondering: can I use Wise like a bank account — or can I use Wise as a business bank account, read on.

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Can you use Wise as a bank account?

No, you cannot use Wise as a bank account, because Wise is not a bank, it’s a financial technology company.

However, with the Wise Account you’ll get some features which are similar to those available from regular bank accounts, such as the option to hold a Balance, send and receive payments, and spend with a linked card.

This means you can use Wise for many day to day financial transactions and even as a primary account depending on your needs.

Pros and cons of using Wise as your primary account

We’ll run through some of the similarities and differences between a Wise Account and a bank account in more detail next — first, a quick overview of the pros and cons of using Wise as a primary account:

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Available for personal and business customers Send and receive payments conveniently Get a linked Wise card for in person, online and mobile spending Great range of multi-currency and international options No ongoing account fees — you just pay for the services you use Currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate	Not all features of a bank account are available through Wise No credit, overdraft or loan options Account features and fees may vary according to your location

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

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What are the main differences between a Wise Account and a bank account?

While there are similarities between accounts from traditional banks and credit unions vs Wise Accounts, there are also some differences. Here’s a look at some key features you’ll want to compare if you’re considering using Wise as a primary account.

Security/safety

Wise isn’t a bank, however, Wise is a trusted Money Services transmitter that is regulated by Federal and State regulators. In the US Wise holds 48 state licenses as a money transmitter, and where it doesn’t hold a license it works with banking partners to deliver services, depending on where you’re located¹.

Wise is also overseen by regulatory bodies in a range of other countries. As a digital company, Wise has been built with security in mind and operates a selection of industry standard manual and automatic security measures.

Traditional banks are overseen and regulated by local, regional and global bodies. Because banks offer additional services compared to Wise — such as credit and loans — they may be subject to additional regulation and licensing requirements.

Pricing

Wise personal customers can open an account for free, with no monthly fee to pay. There’s a low, one time fee to get a linked Wise card, with transparent transaction fees after that for any services used³.

Wise is a specialist in international services and currency conversion, and offers the mid-market exchange rate whenever you need to switch from one currency to another. This drives down the cost of sending, receiving and spending foreign currencies.

Banks have a pretty varied approach to pricing, depending on the account type you open. Some use ongoing maintenance charges which you’ll pay even if you don’t transact much. Transaction fees usually also apply, plus some extra costs when you’re dealing in foreign currencies.

Account options

Wise offers accounts to personal and business customers. Wise Accounts but can be used for many regular day to day transactions like spending with your Wise card, sending payments at home and abroad, or receiving money from others.

Traditional banks have a broader range of account options compared to Wise, with accounts designed for saving and investments, plus credit, loan and overdraft products.

Interest

Wise Accounts aren’t interest bearing. Some traditional bank accounts offer checking accounts which offer interest — and many have saving account products which offer interest depending on the value of the Balance you hold.

Features

You can access many similar features with Wise vs traditional bank accounts, including options to hold, send and receive payments, and spend using your debit card.

Where Wise is different is usually in the range of multi-currency features on offer — all Wise Accounts can hold 50+ currencies, while banks only support USD.

On the other hand, banks may offer a bigger selection of services around credit — including credit cards, mortgages and loans — these are not available through Wise.

It’s also worth noting that Wise doesn't offer checking services, and you can’t pay into your Wise Account using cash. If you regularly need to deposit cash or checks — or if you prefer to pay using a check — a bank account may suit you better.

Card availability

Wise offers linked debit cards for personal and business customers. Most banks will offer personal customers with checking accounts a linked debit card — although savings accounts and bank business accounts may have more restrictions on card availability.

Wise Account vs traditional bank account — overview

Here’s a quick summary of the main differences between a Wise Account and a regular bank account:

	Wise	Traditional banks
Security	Fully regulated for the services it offers, with strong digital security measures	Regulated and licensed in the US, and internationally if they offer services overseas
Pricing	No ongoing account fees — low, transparent fees³ for services used	Maintenance charges may apply, with varied transaction fees depending on the account type
Account options	Wise Account for individual and business use — designed for international and day to day use	Broad range of account options usually available, including checking and saving accounts — plus options for loans, overdrafts, pensions, investments and more
Features	Features focus on international and multi-currency use, as well as receiving, sending and spending USD	Features can vary widely between provider and account type
Card availability	Available for personal and business customers	Usually available for personal customers with checking accounts — for other account types availability varies

Using Wise as a primary account account FAQ

Still got questions about using Wise as a primary account? Check out these common FAQ.

Can you hold money into your Wise Account?

Yes. You can use your Wise Account to hold 50+ currencies, including major currencies like USD, GBP, and EUR. You’ll get bank details for up to 10 currencies with your Wise Account, which you can use to receive local transfers from 30+ countries.

Hold your Balance, spend it with your linked Wise debit card, send payments to others, or switch to the currency you need with the mid-market exchange rate.

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Does Wise count as a bank?

Like we mentioned before, Wise isn’t a bank — but a Money Services provider.

So, while banks offer a large array of services, such as loans, savings and interest accounts, Wise specializes in holding and converting foreign currencies, and sending international bank transfers.

Focusing on these types of transactions — means you can often find a broader range of multi-currency features and lower fees compared to leading US banks.

Do you have to pay taxes on the money held in your Wise Account?

How tax works with your Wise Account will depend on how you use it, and the type of payments you make and receive².

Wise can not give tax advice — so it’s always best to contact your accountant or another professional if you’re unsure about your obligations.

Can you use Wise as a business account?

Open a Wise Account for your business and get the benefits offered to personal customers, plus a few extra business friendly perks such as batch payments and Xero accounting integration.

Wise business is available to freelancers, sole proprietors and business owners, with a small one time fee for full feature access, and low fees for any services you need after that.

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Wise Business

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Whether you’re a personal or business customer, a Wise Account can offer smart and intuitive ways to cut the costs of transacting in the US and beyond.

With multi-currency features and options to exchange currencies with the Google exchange rate, you may find that using Wise as a primary account for your day to day spending gives you more flexibility and lower overall fees compared to your normal bank.

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Sources:

1. Wise - Regulation around the world
2. Wise - How does tax work with my Wise Account?
3. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Sources checked on 01.10.2023