Best USD accounts in Italy

Whether you’re a US citizen living in Italy, or an Italian traveling to the US frequently, a USD account can be a handy tool to make cross currency transactions cheap, quick and convenient.

Some banks offer USD accounts to Italian residents – but there are also ways to open a USD account in Italy with specialist services that can be more flexible. You could choose to open a multi-currency account covering EUR and USD from a provider like Wise, for example. This guide covers all you need to know to help you choose the best USD currency account for you.

What is a dollar (USD) currency account?

A USD currency account lets you hold and manage dollars while living in Italy. It can be a single-currency account, often provided by banks, or a multi-currency account that also supports euros and other major currencies. For expats, it offers a way to separate dollar income or savings from everyday euro spending, making it easier to transfer, save or spend without needing to convert between currencies each time.

What can you do with a USD account in Italy?

A USD account in Italy gives expats and internationally minded residents the tools they need to handle their money with less stress. Instead of juggling constant conversions between dollars and euros, you can keep part of your finances in the currency you use most. Here are some common ways a dollar account could fit into daily life:

• Get paid from abroad: If your salary, pension, or freelance income comes from the US, local USD account details make it straightforward to receive payments from the US.
• Save and hold dollars: Keep part of your savings in USD to protect against exchange rate shifts or for future plans in the US.
• Send international transfers: Move funds easily between the US and Italy, or to other countries, without relying on costly conversions each time.
• Spend and withdraw directly: A linked debit card lets you pay in dollars where accepted, or withdraw cash abroad.
• Switch between currencies: Multi-currency accounts give you control to convert dollars into euros or other currencies when the exchange rate is most favourable.

Types of USD accounts

Typical USD accounts you’ll find in Italy include:

Multi-currency accounts: With a multi-currency account you can keep USD together with euros and other currencies under one roof. They’re made for flexibility, often coming with debit cards, mobile apps and handy tools to switch between balances whenever you need to.

• Wise: Lets you hold USD alongside 40+ other currencies, with low-cost conversions at the mid-market rate and a debit card you can use almost anywhere.
• Revolut: Supports USD, EUR, and 30+ other currencies, with app-based budgeting tools, travel perks and different account tiers to suit your lifestyle.
• Payoneer: Designed for freelancers and small businesses, offering USD receiving accounts plus other global currencies so you can easily collect payments from clients abroad.

Foreign currency accounts: A foreign currency account is usually built around one main currency like USD. Italian banks sometimes provide these options for people who want to save in dollars, invest, or cover regular international payments.

• Intesa Sanpaolo USD Currency Account – Foreign currency deposit account which does not have a bank card, but allows deposits and withdrawals in branches instead.

Best USD accounts in Italy

Living in Italy while still earning or spending in US dollars can feel like juggling two worlds, but the right account makes it easier to keep everything connected. Some people prefer the reassurance of a local bank that gives you a familiar in-branch service together with some savings or deposit options in dollars. This route can work well if you want the security of a long-established bank and expect to move larger sums internationally.

Others are drawn to the ease of digital providers like Wise or Revolut, which let you keep USD and euros side by side and spend abroad with a card that connects straight to your balance. For freelancers or small businesses, services like Payoneer make it easy to get paid in US dollars from international clients and manage cash flow across borders.

We’ve chosen these options, based on factors like supported currencies, ease of use and how transparent their pricing is. Below is a quick snapshot of each, followed by more detailed explanations to help you make a final choice.

Banks and alternatives	💡 At a glance
Wise Account	Hold and exchange USD and 40+ other currencies; spend in 150+ countries and receive with local USD account details.
Revolut Account	Tiered plans; hold/exchange USD, GBP, EUR and more; budgeting tools and travel perks for higher tiers.
Intesa Sanpaolo USD Currency Account	Single‑currency USD; no card; allow branch services including deposits and withdrawals.
Payoneer Account	Created for freelancers and businesses, with GBP receiving accounts, multi-currency balances and a card.

Wise USD account in Italy (multi‑currency)

Wise offers a multi-currency account built for flexibility. You can hold USD alongside 40+ other currencies in one place, and switch between them whenever you need using the mid-market exchange rate with a small, transparent fee starting from 0.47%.

Local USD account details are included, which makes receiving pounds from the UK straightforward. Incoming SWIFT or wire payments in dollars have a small fee. You can also order a Wise debit card to spend directly in 150+ countries or withdraw cash from ATMs abroad. Accounts are free to open and easy to set up and manage entirely online.

• Hold and exchange USD with 40+ other currencies
• Get local account details to receive USD
• Spend or withdraw abroad with the Wise debit card

Account opening fee: None for personal customers. Business customers need to pay €55 to unlock full account features.

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of Italy and many other countries worldwide.

Supported currencies: USD, GBP, EUR and 40+ others.

Monthly fees: None.

Exchange rates: The mid-market rate.

Revolut USD account in Italy (multi‑currency)

Revolut provides an app-based account where you can manage USD, EUR and 30+ other currencies from your phone. All plans include a debit card, instant spending notifications and budgeting tools. The Standard plan has no monthly fee and covers everyday needs, while Plus, Premium, Metal and Ultra tiers add higher allowances and perks like airport lounge access and higher no fee ATM withdrawals. Currency exchange has no extra fee within your plan’s limits, but there are some variable fair usage fees once you go beyond.

• A debit card included on every plan
• Hold and exchange USD, EUR, and 30+ currencies
• Extra travel perks and higher allowances on premium plans

Account opening fee: None.

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of Italy and other supported countries.

Supported currencies: USD, GBP, EUR and 30+ others.

Monthly fees: No fee on Standard plans; Higher tiers range from €3.99–€55 per month.

Exchange rates: Revolut rate with no additional fee during market hours up to plan allowances; up to 1% fee above; up to 1% surcharge at weekends.

Intesa Sanpaolo USD Currency Account

Depending on your personal circumstances and requirements you may be able to open a Intesa Sanpaolo USD Currency Account which is a single currency account with no debit card. You can deposit and withdraw cash at branches if you need to, and make payments electronically.

International transfers in euros in the SEPA area have no fee, but other foreign payments within the EU/EEA, or in foreign currencies to other countries cost from 13.6 EUR. There’s also a 47 EUR annual fee to pay.

• Send and receive USD payments digitally
• Deposit cash if you choose to, in a bank branch
• Well known bank with a large network for face to face service

Account opening fee: None.

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of Italy

Supported currencies: USD (other currencies may be available, but you need to open an additional account)

Monthly fees: No monthly fee – annual fee of 47 EUR

Exchange rates: Bank’s own exchange rates for conversions, which may include a markup

Payoneer USD account for freelancers in Italy

Payoneer is built for freelancers, contractors and small businesses who need to get paid in USD. The account provides local receiving details in the US, so clients can pay you as if you had a domestic account. Balances can be held in USD and several other currencies, converted into Euros, or withdrawn to your Italian bank. You can also use the Payoneer Mastercard to spend directly from your balance, making it a convenient option for global business payments.

• Local USD account details for receiving payments from US clients
• Multi-currency balances with simple conversion options
• Mastercard available for worldwide spending and withdrawals

Account opening fee: A registration fee may apply in some countries.

Eligibility criteria: Open to verified individuals over 18 and businesses worldwide.

Supported currencies: USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CAD, AUD and more.

Monthly fees: No monthly fees, but there is an annual 29.95 USD fee.

Exchange rates: Markup on top of the market rate with a 0.5% conversion fee.

Fees for USD accounts in Italy

Pricing can vary depending on whether you choose an Italian bank or an online provider, so it’s always worth reviewing the fee schedule before you open your account. Here are some of the most common charges to look out for:

• Account opening fee: Some banks in Italy may ask for an initial deposit or setup fee to open a USD account. Digital providers such as Wise and Revolut don’t charge anything to get started.
• Monthly maintenance or service fee: A regular fee that some banks apply unless you keep a minimum balance. Online providers like Wise typically don’t charge maintenance fees, which may be suitable for day-to-day money management.
• ATM withdrawal fees: Most bank accounts in Italy are set up for euro cash withdrawals, and taking out other currencies usually comes with extra costs. For everyday flexibility abroad, specialist providers such as Wise or Revolut include a small monthly allowance of free withdrawals before applying small fees.
• Foreign transaction fee: Many banks add a surcharge of around 3% when you spend in a currency that isn’t held in your account. With providers like Wise, you can pay directly from your USD balance and spend using the Wise card without incurring foreign transaction fees.
• Currency conversion fee or exchange rate markup: Banks often build in a margin on the exchange rate, which makes conversions more expensive. By contrast, providers like Wise use the mid-market rate with a small transparent fee.
• Wire or bank transfer fees: Sending USD abroad through a bank can involve fixed charges on top of less favourable exchange rates.

How to open a USD account in Italy

The exact steps to open a USD account in Italy depend on your chosen bank or provider. Banks often ask you to visit a branch, while online platforms usually keep the process quick and simple. In either case, having the right documents ready will make things easier.

With banks: If you decide to open a USD account with an Italian bank, be prepared to stop by a branch in person, especially if you’re new to the bank. Most banks will ask you to show proof of identity, proof of address in Italy, and in some cases, evidence of income or employment.

With online providers: Opening a USD account with a digital provider, such as Wise or Revolut, is done entirely online through their website or app. The process usually involves registering with your email or phone number, verifying your identity with a photo ID and linking an existing bank account for transfers.

Once set up, you can add USD to your balance, get local account details to receive payments and order a debit card for everyday spending. These accounts don’t usually require a minimum balance or opening deposit, making them an attractive option for expats or frequent travellers who need quick access to dollars.

How to use your USD account in Italy

For many expats, a USD account is a flexible financial tool that bridges life between Italy and the United States. Depending on the provider or bank you choose, you can use your account in a variety of ways.

• International transfers: Send money from Italy to the US or other countries without needing to convert into euros first. Wise, for example, lets you transfer dollars abroad using the mid-market exchange rate and low transparent fees.
• Receiving payments: Freelancers, remote workers and retirees can use local USD account details to get paid directly in dollars,as if they had a US-based bank account.
• Holding and exchanging funds: Keep dollars in your balance until the exchange rate looks favourable, then convert into euros or another currency when the timing works best.
• Spending abroad: Use a linked debit card to pay directly from your USD balance when travelling or shopping online with US-based retailers, avoiding extra foreign transaction charges.
• ATM withdrawals: Take out cash in local currencies worldwide. Providers like Wise and Revolut include a set number of free withdrawals each month, making access to your money straightforward wherever you are.
• Managing multiple currencies in one place: Some providers allow you to add other balances like EUR, GBP, or AUD, making it easy to keep all your international money in one place without juggling multiple accounts and providers.

Conclusion

Choosing the right USD account in Italy comes down to how you plan to use it. Some expats prefer the stability of a bank, with options for saving or moving larger sums through well-known and established channels. Others find that digital providers offer the flexibility they need, with multi-currency balances, simple apps and linked cards for everyday life in Italy and abroad.

There is no single best account for everyone. Your choice should reflect your priorities, from earning interest and managing payments between countries to keeping costs low when you spend in different currencies.

If flexibility and transparency are what you’re after, Wise is worth considering. With local USD account details, mid-market exchange rates and a debit card that works in more than 150 countries, Wise makes managing dollars alongside euros and other currencies feel effortless.

Useful resources

Here are some helpful links if you’re looking to open or manage a USD account in Italy:

• Wise – Hold and exchange USD and 40+ other currencies, with local account details and a debit card for global use (checked 9th January 2026).
• Revolut Italy – Multi-currency digital account with debit card, budgeting tools, and travel perks (checked 9th January 2026).
• Intesa Sanpaolo USD Currency Account – Information and fees relating to foreign currency accounts – in Italian (checked 9th January 2026).
• Payoneer – Business-friendly platform for freelancers and companies, with local USD receiving accounts (checked 9th January 2026).