Best GBP accounts in the US

If you travel to the UK frequently, send payments abroad, receive a salary in British pounds, or want to diversify your savings and investments, a GBP account in the US can help. You can open a GBP account with a digital provider like Wise, or with a US bank. 

Account types, features and fees vary a lot depending on the product you select – with options for everyday spending, saving and business needs. This guide covers all you need to know.

What is a GBP currency account?

A GBP currency account is an account which lets you hold British pounds. Many GBP currency accounts also let you receive GBP payments, send money in GBP to others, or spend with a linked debit card.

Some GBP currency accounts hold British pounds only, while others are multi-currency accounts which support GBP as well as USD and other currencies.

What can you do with a GBP account in the US?

So – why might you want a GBP account in the US? Here are some common ways you might want to use your new British Pound account:

• Hold a balance in GBP: If you need to pay bills in British pounds, or if you’re planning a trip to the UK and want to hold GBP ready for your travel, holding a balance in pounds can be a huge help.
• Receive payments in GBP: Get paid from friends, family, clients or your employer in GBP without needing to automatically convert back to USD if you don’t want to. 
• Send payments in GBP: Use your account to send GBP payments to others, to cover an international mortgage, pay for international school fees, or send money to family for example.
• Spend and withdraw GBP: With providers like Wise you can spend with a linked card, online and in person, and also get cash in the UK for spending while you’re on your travels.

Types of GBP accounts

Here are the most common types of GBP accounts you’ll find in the US market:

Multi currency accounts: Multi-currency accounts support GBP as well as other currencies – providers like Wise let you hold over 40 currencies in one account. A multi-currency account allows you to convert between currencies whenever you want to. Some accounts offer ways to spend with a linked debit card, while most let you send payments in pounds and other currencies.

• Wise Account: Hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for receiving 8+ currencies including GBP, and SWIFT details for receiving international payments in 20+ currencies easily. 
• Revolut Account: Hold 25+ currencies and get local details to receive USD and GBP, with SWIFT details to receive other currencies. 
• Airwallex Account: Business account supporting 20+ currencies including GBP and USD, with ways to receive customer bank and card payments online.
• HSBC Global Money Account: Premium account supporting 8 currencies to send payments, including GBP and USD, with no HSBC transfer fees.

Foreign currency accounts: Foreign currency accounts support only 1 currency, and may be more aimed at people who want to save or invest in a foreign currency. 

• East West Bank Foreign Currency Account: Open Foreign Currency Demand Account and Foreign Currency Certificates of Deposit in GBP to diversify your savings.

Best GBP currency accounts in the US

You can open a GBP currency account in the US with a digital provider like Wise or Revolut, or a local or global bank, like HSBC or East West. There are also business account products from providers like Airwallex, Wise or Revolut which support GBP, with business friendly features and perks.

If you choose to open a GBP account with a bank, you’ll find most products are aimed at customers who want to send payments, save and invest. It’s less common to have GBP accounts which also offer linked debit cards for day to day use.

Digital providers like Wise offer ways to hold GBP alongside many other currencies, and offer both payment services and handy debit cards for daily spending online and in person. 

The right account for you will depend on your priorities – from saving and diversifying your investments, through to sending and receiving low cost payments and shopping in GBP with an international debit card.

Here we’ve selected some different providers and banks offering GBP accounts in the US for personal and business use, looking at convenience, cost and customer intention. 

We’ve got a closer look at each coming up right after the table, so you can decide if any suit your own unique needs.

💡 At a glance
Wise Account	Hold and exchange GBP and 40+ other currencies, spend with a Wise Multi-Currency Card in 150+ countries, send and receive payments globally in USD, GBP and more.
Revolut Account	Choose from 3 different account plans which all offer a debit card, and support 25+ currencies for holding and withdrawal. Travel perks available on some account tiers.
HSBC Global Money Account	Hold and send payments in 8 currencies including GBP, for HSBC customers with Premier status which requires a minimum deposit of 100,000 USD or more.
East West Bank Foreign Currency Account	Foreign Currency Demand Account and Foreign Currency Certificates of Deposit in GBP alongside other global currencies, for customers who want to save or invest in GBP.
Airwallex Account	Business account supporting GBP, USD and 20+ other currencies for holding and exchange, with low conversion costs and great exchange rates.

*Details correct at time of research – 19th August 2025

Wise Account

You can open a Wise Account online or in the Wise app, for personal or business use, and hold GBP alongside USD and 40+ other currencies all in the same account. 

You can exchange between currencies in the app with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees, order an optional debit card for spending and cash withdrawals, and send and receive payments globally in USD, GBP and more. 

Accounts offer local and SWIFT details to receive payments, with no fee to receive GBP to your Wise account using your local account information.

• Hold and exchange GBP and 40+ other currencies
• Mid-market currency exchange with low, transparent fees
• Use your Wise Multi-Currency Card in 150+ countries for spending and cash withdrawals

• Account opening fee: No opening fee for personal customers. Business customers pay 31 USD for full feature access*. No minimum balance
• Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of the US and many other countries and regions globally
• Supported currencies: 40+ currencies, including GBP, USD and EUR.
• Monthly fees: None
• Exchange rates: Mid-market exchange rates

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

Revolut Account 

You can open 3 different types of Revolut Account as a personal customer in the US, with an additional 4 plan options for business customers. As a personal customer you can choose a Standard plan with no monthly fee, or upgrade to a plan with maintenance fees up to 16.99 USD/month. 

Higher tier plans offer more no fee transactions, discounts and perks – but all accounts have a linked debit card and ways to convert in the account between 25+ currencies including USD and GBP.

Account opening fee: No opening fee, no minimum balance

Eligibility criteria: Available to residents of the US and many other countries and regions globally

Supported currencies: GBP, USD and 25+ other currencies 

Monthly fees: Personal customers pay 0 USD – 16.99 USD/month, business customers 10 USD – 140 USD/month

Exchange rates: Weekday currency exchange uses the Revolut rate to plan limits, then fair usage fees of up to 0.5% apply. Weekend exchange may attract an extra fee up to 1%.

HSBC Global Money Account

You can open an HSBC Global Money Account if you already hold a Premier Checking Account with HSBC. This allows you to hold a balance in 8 currencies to send payments overseas more conveniently and with no HSBC fees to pay. 

Your HSBC Global Money Account account doesn’t offer a debit card, so this account is better suited to people paying international bills or investing abroad, rather than for day to day use.

• Hold a balance in 8 currencies including GBP and USD
• Transfer from your account to other HSBC accounts and local or overseas bank accounts
• No transfer fees when you spend money out of your account 

Account opening fee: None 

Eligibility criteria: You must be an HSBC Premier customer, which requires you to meet eligibility criteria including holding a 100,000 USD or more deposit with HSBC.

Supported currencies: 8 currencies including GBP and USD

Monthly fees: None for the Global Money Account – fees may apply to your underlying checking account

Exchange rates: HSBC rates – Global Money Account offers live, competitive rates you can see in the app

East West Bank Foreign Currency Account GBP account 

Open an East West Bank Foreign Currency Account in 14 different currencies including GBP. Accounts are intended for savers, and can include easy access accounts and fixed term account products which often get a higher rate of interest.

You’ll need a USD account with East West Bank to apply for this account, which does not come with a linked debit card.

• GBP, USD and many other popular global currencies offered
• Earn interest on your GBP savings with easy access and term deposit accounts
• Your money is held in the United States and FDIC insured 

Account opening fee: None 

Eligibility criteria: You must have an East West USD account, which usually requires you to have an SSN or ITIN, proof of ID and proof of a US address

Supported currencies: 14 currencies including USD and GBP

Monthly fees: None for your GBP savings account – fees may apply for your underlying USD account 

Exchange rates: East West exchange rates which may include a markup

Airwallex Business GBP Account

If you need a GBP account for business purposes, an Airwallex Business GBP Account could help you take customer payments online, with corporate debit and expense cards for business spending online and in person. 

Airwallex accounts offer great exchange rates with low fees for exchange, making this a solid choice for ecommerce businesses in particular.

• Receive, hold, send and spend 20+ currencies 
• Take customer card payments online easily
• Business features including batch payments, corporate cards, cashback on USD business spending and more

Account opening fee: None

Eligibility criteria: US business owners with eligible proof of address and ID, as well as business verification paperwork

Supported currencies: 20+ including USD and GBP

Monthly fees: 0 USD – 99 USD depending on plan

Exchange rates: Interbank rates with a fee of 0.5% for major currencies and 1% for less commonly traded currencies 

Fees for GBP accounts in the US

The fees for GBP accounts in the US can vary a lot depending on the account type and the provider or bank you select. Read the fee schedule carefully before you transact. Here are some fees to look out for:

• Monthly maintenance fee: A regular fee charged by some banks, usually on a monthly basis. You won’t usually find a monthly fee for a fixed term deposit savings account in GBP and providers like Wise don’t charge a maintenance fee.
• Fall below fee: A fee which applies if you don’t keep a minimum balance in your eligible accounts with the same bank – HSBC has a fall below fee which applies if you don’t hold 100,000 USD in your eligible accounts.
• ATM withdrawal fees: You may find that some ATM withdrawals are available with no fee from providers like Wise and Revolut, but costs can apply if you withdraw frequently. Fees may be a flat charge or a percentage of the withdrawn amount.
• Foreign transaction fees: It’s common to find a foreign transaction fee of around 3% on card spending in foreign currencies – if you have a card from a flexible digital account provider like Wise or Revolut, you won’t pay to spend a currency you hold, and conversion fees can be lower than foreign transaction fees.
• Wire transfer fees: Sending payments to and from GBP may incur fees, including costs added to the exchange rate used for currency conversion. Compare both the rate and the fee applied before you transact.

How to open a GBP account in the US

How to open a GBP account in the US might vary slightly depending on the provider or bank you choose. However, the process is relatively similar across most services.

Before you start to open your account do check you meet the eligibility criteria as banks may ask you to hold a minimum deposit or meet other requirements to sign up. You’ll then need to assemble the information and documents required by the provider – usually your proof of ID and address, as well as your SSN or ITIN, and make your application.

With banks: While you may be able to open a GBP account with a bank in the US online, it is very common to be asked to visit a branch to set up your account. In this case you need to take along your original ID and address documents, and have a team member talk you through the application process.

With online providers: You’ll be able to open a GBP account with online specialist providers in the US with your phone or laptop. Enter the personal and contact information required following the prompts, and upload images of the paperwork needed according to the onscreen instructions. Verification and onboarding is all managed digitally.

How to use your GBP account in the US

If you’re an expat in the US, an international student, or a business owner trading in USD, having a GBP account in the US can help you cut costs and transact with less hassle. 

Having a multi-currency account in particular can make it easier to manage your money between your home currency and GBP, as well as any other currencies you need to receive, hold, send or spend. 

Here are some ways expats commonly use their US based GBP accounts:

• Send international money transfers: If you need to pay bills in the UK from the US, using a GBP account can make the transfer process simple and reduce the costs of payments for things like your UK mortgage or transfers back to family.
• Hold and exchange GBP and USD: As an expat you may need to manage your finances across both GBP and USD, so being able to see your balance in both side by side, and convert between them, can make it easier to keep on top of your money.
• Receive GBP payments: Use a GBP account in the US to receive money from an employer or client in the UK, or to get paid rent from a UK property, for example. Hold your money in GBP until you need it to send to others or spend on your travels.
• Use your debit card for spending and withdrawals: For day to day use, a GBP account with a debit card lets you spend when you’re in the UK or when you’re shopping online with UK retailers,with no additional costs if you hold sufficient GBP balance to cover a payment.

Conclusion

You can open a GBP account in the US with a US bank, or a digital provider like Wise, Revolut or Airwallex. Accounts have different  features and fees which makes them better suited to different customer needs.

If your primary intention is to save, an account from a bank like East West may be a good option, with GBP and other currencies available for demand and fixed term savings accounts. Or if you want an all round account which lets you send, spend, receive and hold GBP with USD and 40+ other currencies, check out Wise. Wise offers great features you might need for everyday transactions.

Useful resources:

• Revolut Personal Pricing Plans – Revolut US personal pricing plans and feature descriptions
• Revolut Business Pricing Plans – Revolut US business pricing plans and feature descriptions
• HSBC Global Money Account – HSBC Global Money Account introduction and application page
• East West Bank International – East West Bank international services including foreign currency account products
• Airwallex Pricing – Airwallex US account descriptions and pricing plans