Best international online banks for UK residents

Prefer banking online or on your phone, but also need a bank with an international reach? Perhaps you need to manage money between different countries and the UK, make international transfers or get paid for freelance work from overseas clients.

Whatever your needs, this guide is for you. Read on for the lowdown on the best international online banks in the UK, including the likes of Chase, Monzo and Revolut.

We’ll also cover high-street banks which offer online solutions and international services, and non-bank alternatives such as electronic money accounts and apps.

One of the non-bank online alternatives is the money services provider Wise. With the Wise account, you can send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.

Learn more about the Wise account

Table of contents
What is an international online bank? What to look for in an online bank 3 of the best international online banks in the UK International banks with digital accounts Best international money apps Wise – A truly international alternative to a bank account

What is an international online bank?

An international online bank is a provider of banking services that operates in multiple countries worldwide, but without any physical branches. Its accounts and services are provided wholly online, often through mobile apps along with online banking.

With these banks, you can usually open and manage accounts digitally, as well as accessing customer support through messaging, live chat or possibly via phone.

Online banks are becoming increasingly popular, as many of us prefer to manage our money using our smartphones and other digital banking apps.

What to look for in an online bank

The right online bank for you will depend on your own needs and circumstances. But there are some key things to look out for when shopping around and comparing providers. Here’s a quick checklist:

• Available account types - and whether accounts come with a linked debit card for spending
• Features and money management tools, especially in the provider’s mobile app
• Perks and extras
• How easy and quick it is to open an account - how long will it take, and will a credit check be required?
• Whether there’s an initial or monthly fee
• Whether your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) - this will usually only be the case if it’s a registered bank in the UK
• Customer support options - can you get in touch by phone as well as online and in-app messaging?
• Reviews of the provider’s customer service and mobile app from previous customers
• Security and data protection measures.

3 of the best international online banks in the UK

Now, let’s take a look at 3 of the best international online banks available in the UK right now. Here’s a quick at-a-glance comparison, and we’ll go into more detail on each below.

Provider	Accounts	Best feature	FSCS protection?	International reach
Chase	- Current accounts - Saver accounts	Cashback on bills and spending	Yes	Global
Monzo	- Current accounts - Joint accounts - Young people’s accounts - Business accounts	Smart spending and saving tools	Yes	UK and US
Revolut	- Current accounts - Joint accounts - Young people’s accounts - Freelancer accounts - Saver accounts	International transfers + currency exchange	No	UK, Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Brazil, Singapore Japan

Chase¹

Owned by US financial services giant JPMorgan Chase, Chase Bank entered the UK retail banking market back in 2021. Despite being a newcomer, it now has millions of customers in the UK.

Chase and its parent company operate on a global scale, with a presence in around 100 countries worldwide.²

In the UK, Chase offers just a current account and a linked saver account, although you can also access investment services via Nutmeg.

Its digital current account is fully app-managed and offers the following features:

• 1% cashback on eligible everyday debit card spending for the first year (max. £15 a month)
• Access to a linked easy-access savings account paying 3% AER variable
• 5% AER boost on ‘round-up’ pot savings.
• A numberless Chase debit card which works with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and which can be stored on the Chase app
• 24/7 phone and secure message support
• No fees for spending or withdrawing money - either in the UK or overseas

The account is free to open and has no monthly or annual fees, or minimum deposit requirements.

As a registered UK bank, Chase is able to offer protection up to £85,000 per person on eligible deposits under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

A possible drawback for those looking for an international account though is that UK customers with Chase can’t make international payments through their account - although this may change in the future.

Also good to know - Chase was named Best Current Account Provider at the British Bank Awards 2023 and 2024.

Monzo⁴

Next up is British bank Monzo, which operates both in the UK and the US. It’s a real favourite here in the UK, with over 11 million personal and business customers signed up so far.⁵

It’s another app-only digital bank, offering a choice of current accounts, joint accounts and two options for young people. These are the Monzo 16-17s account and the Monzo Under 16s account. You can also open a Monzo account for your business.

Additional products include loans, overdrafts, credit cards, investments and pensions.

Its personal current account offers full FSCS protection, and a list of features including:

• 3.35% AER variable interest on balances up to £100,000 in a Personal Instant Access Savings Pot
• Fee-free UK transfers
• Smart money management tools, including Salary Sorter tool and Pots for separating money, instant notifications and spending categories.
• Monzo card
• 24/7 in-app customer support

The account is free to open, with no monthly or annual fees, or minimum deposits. However, you can choose to upgrade to a Monzo plan, paying between £3 and £17 a month in exchange for extra features, perks and increased limits.

The good news though is that you can use your Monzo card worldwide, with no fees on spending either in the UK or overseas. You’ll get unlimited free cash withdrawals in the EEA, and up to £200 a month elsewhere (with a 3% fee after that).

And it even lets you make effortless international transfers within the Monzo app via Wise.

Also useful to note - Monzo was named Best Banking App in the British Bank Awards 2023.

Revolut⁶

Lastly, we have Revolut. It’s a popular provider of accounts in the UK, although it’s not technically a bank - or at least, not yet.

The company is currently in the process of getting its UK banking licence. It already has banking licenses elsewhere, such as in Europe. It operates in many countries worldwide, such as the EEA, US, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Brazil and Switzerland. In the UK, it has over 10 million customers.⁷

At present though, it isn’t able to offer FSCS protection for your money here in the UK. It instead uses something known as safeguarding, which is where customer money is held separately from Revolut’s own funds, with licenced banks and other trusted providers.

Revolut offers a choice of account types, including current accounts, joint accounts, young people’s accounts, freelancer accounts and saver accounts.

It also provides accounts and services for businesses, along with investments and cryptocurrency solutions.

Its app-managed current account is available under a choice of plans, including a free Standard plan. Its features include:

• Fee-free ATM withdrawals up to £200 a month (5 withdrawals max.)
• Up to 4% AER (variable) interest on savings
• Revolut debit card
• International transfers
• Currency exchange up to £1,000 a month with no additional fees (Mon to Fri)
• Earn RevPoints when you spend - these can be redeemed for travel rewards.

If you want increased limits and many more perks, you can upgrade to a paid plan for £3.99 to £45 a month.

International banks with digital accounts

These days, most UK banks have fully embraced digital banking services. You can manage the vast majority of UK current accounts via online banking, and many banks have their own dedicated mobile banking apps too.

So if you’re looking for an international online account, you may want to widen your search to high-street banks. These have the added benefit of also having physical branches, just in case you ever need assistance in person.

A couple of the most popular international banks in the UK are HSBC and Santander. Take a look below for more information on each, including what online accounts they offer.

HSBC

As well as being one of the UK’s ‘Big Four’ banks, HSBC is also one of the largest banks in the world. It has a global network, with a presence in 58 countries and territories.⁸

HSBC offers a choice of current and savings accounts, as well as serving businesses, expats and offering other financial services such as loans, mortgages and credit cards. It’s up to speed with digital banking innovations too, offering both online banking and its own mobile banking app.

And if you ever need help in person, it’s useful to know that HSBC has a network of branches throughout the UK.

Santander

The British bank Santander is owned by the Spanish financial services company Banco Santander, which operates across Europe, South America, North America and Asia.

As you’d expect from a major UK bank, Santander has a wide choice of current accounts, savings accounts and other services for personal customers - from insurance and credit cards to loans and mortgages. It also serves business, corporate and private banking customers.

It’s easy to manage your Santander account via online banking and the Santander mobile banking app. In fact, its app is award-winning - it won an IAUD International Design Award and a Global Retail Awards Banking Innovation honour (for digital financial inclusion) in 2024.⁹

Best international money apps

Banks aren’t the only way to manage your money. There are also a growing number of international money apps, which let you send and receive payments, convert between currencies and spend on linked debit cards.

A popular option with UK customers looking for international money apps is Monese. Operating in the UK and across Europe it offers an instant mobile money account via its app.

You can choose to have your Monese account in GBP, EUR or RON, and can use it to make and receive payments, set up direct debits and do everything you’d use a standard bank account for. You’ll also get a debit card and can make international transfers.

And then of course, there’s Wise - a great solution if you need to manage your money in multiple currencies.

Wise – A truly international alternative to a bank account

Want a powerful international account, which can be managed online or via app?

Open a Wise account online and you can send, spend and convert your money in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

You can also get the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7 (or the Wise virtual card for £0) to spend like a local in 150+ countries. This clever card automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, only adding a tiny, upfront currency conversion fee* – or it’s fee-free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

Here’s an overview of the main benefits of using Wise:

Fast and easy setup with no physical paperwork Low, upfront, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates Dedicated support for large transfers Sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures, with your money safeguarded under regulatory protections Trackable and fast transfers to 140+ countries Low-cost spending in 150+ countries with the Wise card Earn a return on your GBP, USD and EUR balance with Wise Interest**

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.

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Sources used:

1. Chase - Chase account
2. J.P Morgan - About us
3. Chase - International payments
4. Monzo - Personal account
5. Monzo - About
6. Revolut - Our pricing plans
7. Revolut - Home
8. HSBC - Our business areas and teams
9. Santander - About Mobile Banking

Sources last checked on date: 12-Mar-2025