Comparison
Best international business bank accounts
Holding foreign currency, being paid like a local, and moving money across borders are three different problems. Very few accounts solve all three, and the best ones are not banks.
Our picks
Revolut Business
The strongest day-to-day currency tooling of any UK business account: multiple balances, local details in several markets, interbank conversion within a monthly allowance.
HSBC Business
Genuine international banking rather than an FX feature — foreign currency accounts, trade finance and documentary credits through a global network, with full FSCS protection.
Wise Business
Usually the lowest cost for straightforward cross-border payments, with no monthly fee. But it is an e-money firm, not a bank, and there is no FSCS cover.
Compared
Scores use our seven weighted criteria. Run your own figures on the true cost calculator.
| Account | Currencies held | Local account details | Conversion | Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRevolut Business | Many, held simultaneously | Several markets | Interbank within allowance | From £10/mth | 3.6 |
| WWise Business | Many | Several markets | Transparent margin | £0 + one-off fee | 3.4 |
| AwAirwallex | Many | Several markets | Percentage margin | Tiered by volume | 2.9 |
| HHSBC Business | Foreign currency accounts | Global network | Per transfer plus margin | Tariff | 3.7 |
| SStarling Business | Limited set | No | Flat fee plus margin | £0 | 4.2 |
| Barclays Business | Available | No | Per transfer plus margin | 12 mths free, then £8.50 | 3.6 |
Three different problems
Being paid by overseas clients
If an American client has to make an international wire, they will be charged and you will lose margin on conversion. Local account details solve this — they pay domestically, and the money arrives in your dollar balance. Revolut, Wise and Airwallex all offer this; the UK banks generally do not.
Paying overseas suppliers
Here the question is purely conversion cost, and Wise is usually the cheapest for straightforward transfers. Revolut is competitive within its monthly FX allowance and charges a margin above it. Starling offers flat-fee international transfers, which suits occasional payments and predictable budgeting.
Actual international banking
Letters of credit, documentary collections, foreign currency lending, trade finance. No digital challenger offers these. If you import at scale, HSBC’s global network is a genuinely different product and worth the tariff.
Watch the FX allowance, not the headline
“Interbank rates” almost always means up to a monthly allowance. Above it you pay a margin like everyone else, and Revolut’s allowance scales with a plan costing £10 to £90 a month. Work out your actual monthly conversion volume and check which plan covers it before comparing headline rates.
Weekend conversions typically carry an additional margin at most providers, which catches out anyone settling on a Saturday.
The arrangement most international businesses end up with
A licensed UK bank as the primary account holding the balance that matters, plus Wise or Revolut alongside for the currency work. You get FSCS protection where it counts and competitive conversion where you need it, and neither provider is being asked to do something it is bad at.
Consolidating everything into a single e-money provider is the mistake — it optimises for conversion cost while leaving your entire working capital outside statutory protection.
Common questions
What is the best UK business account for international payments?
Revolut for day-to-day multi-currency operation, Wise for cheapest straightforward transfers, HSBC for genuine international banking including trade finance. Most businesses end up combining a licensed UK bank with one of the specialists.
Is Wise FSCS protected?
No. Wise is an authorised electronic money institution, not a bank. Funds are safeguarded in segregated accounts at partner institutions, which is a contractual protection rather than a statutory guarantee.
Can I hold foreign currency in a UK business account?
Revolut, Wise and Airwallex hold many currencies simultaneously. HSBC offers foreign currency accounts through a licensed bank. Starling supports a limited set. Most UK high-street business accounts hold sterling only.
Do I need a business account in the country I trade with?
Usually not. Local account details from Revolut, Wise or Airwallex let clients pay you domestically in several markets without you opening anything overseas.