Best international business bank accounts in the UK 2025

If you’re an international company, it can be a challenge to keep tabs on employee expenses and customer revenue across several different countries and currencies.

That’s where an international business bank account steps in. They manage multi-currency transactions, meaning that firms can receive and send payments globally without frequent conversions. In holding multi-currency funds, they can then cover company expenses and easily accept payments from their far-flung customers.¹

With a Wise Business Account, companies can hold and exchange 40+ currencies at once. Whether you’re a small business or a growing enterprise, the account won’t be subject to minimum balance requirements or foreign transactions fees. We charge a low, transparent fees.

Get started with Wise Business🚀

What to consider when choosing a business bank account for international payments

Opting for a traditional bank vs fintech.

Depending on your needs, Fintech business accounts such as those offered by Wise and Revolut may be a better bet than traditional business bank accounts due to more capabilities such as generally lower FX and account fees, faster international payments and having numerous benefits tied into one platform.

Online banking

Another feature to look out for when trying to pinpoint the best international business bank account is how good the account’s online banking features are. Does it allow for bulk payments (paying several customers at once), real-time transaction tracking or multi-user access with permissions?

Account accessibility

A further key characteristic to consider is the account’s accessibility: how fast can the account be set up and, once it’s up and running, are there mobile apps or APIs for account management. For traditional banks, ask yourself if you can access the account online or if branch visits are required?

Customer support

Lastly, customer support is an important feature for many businesses. Is support offered around the clock or only during local business hours, and is it easy to speak with an actual human?

Overview of the best business international business bank accounts in the UK

We’ve taken a look at the criteria for finding the best international business bank account in the UK. Across 8 fintech companies and traditional banks, we compared the following criteria:

• International fees: Are there fees for sending and receiving money, and using a card abroad?
• Currency exchange rate: Is there a mid-market rate and are extra fees added?
• Opening requirements: What is the ease of opening an account?
• APIs and other integrations: Can software for batch payments and accounting be integrated?
• Customer service: Is it available 24/7 and is it possible to speak with a person?

Feature / Company	International fees	Currency exchange rate	Opening requirements	APIs and other integrations	Customer service
Starling	Mid-market rate plus a 2% margin for receiving Euros into GBP account4	Mid-market; 0.4% currency conversion fee. 3	Various requirements but must be UK-based company and leadership2	Yes2	24/7 in-app chat support, phone email2
HSBC	Varies. Fee based on country of transfer5	Varies each day, published daily5	UK resident and existing Sterling account or relationship manager5	Yes via developer portal6	Phone support and 24/7 chat available
Barclays	Varies. To Europe, 45-64p added for each payment.8	Margin on top of mid-market rate8	Various requirements, must be 18 and older and a UK resident9	Yes9	24/7 via Barclays app9
Lloyds	Varies, 0.20p after free transfer limit of 100. £8.50 monthly fee after 12 months10, 12	Mark-up added to mid-market rate12	UK residents. Other requirements vary depending on account type such as turnover between £0-25M.10	Yes13	Branch hours and chat bot10
Wise	Small fees for sending but not receiving. Varies by country, from 0.33%.	Mid-market rate from as low as 0.1%	UK-based businesses	Yes	Yes, 24/7 chat support available, email and phone
Revolut	International transfers are free to plan limits, £5 each after that16 17	Mid-market rates apply to plan limits, 0.6% fee after that. 1% on weekends¹⁵	UK residents and a few other countries16	Yes16	Yes, 24/7 through in-app chat16
Payoneer	Varies. Annual charge may apply if not transferring sufficient amounts19	3.5% markup added to mid-market rate19	Registered businesses in 190 countries18	Yes20	24/7 by live chat. Phone support in some countries.18
Airwallex	Varies depending on the transfer type. For example £10-20for SWIFT22	0.5-1% mark-up on top of the mid-market rates 22	Registered businesses from the UK21	Yes21	Offered through phone, email and tickets23

Best business banking accounts for international payments

First we’ll take a closer look at some business banking accounts in the UK and their international payment offering before exploring modern non-bank alternatives.

Starling Bank Business Account

Founded in 2014, Starling Bank operates entirely online, and offers a business account through its mobile app. Customers can manage their money through features such as real-time spending notifications, savings tools and virtual cards.²

Feature	Starling Bank
International fees	Mid-market rate plus a 2% margin for receiving Euros into GBP account.4
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Mid-market; 0.4% currency conversion fee. However some fees may be added depending on the method of transfer (for example, using SWIFT or local partner banks)3
Opening requirements	You must have rights to reside in the UK, and all directors the company must also be UK residents.2
API and other integrations	Yes, APIs and integrations offered through its Business Marketplace and Open Banking API.2
Customer service	24/7 support offered through in-app chat, UK-based support offered through phone and email.2

Best for:

Freelancers and sole traders, as Starling offers a dedicated free sole trader account that’s ideal for managing income, expenses and tax.

HSBC Business Foreign Currency Account

One of the world’s most established banks, the London-based HSBC was founded in 1865 and operates in over 60 countries and territories. Its business account offers multi-currency support in a wide range of currencies and a linked debit card.⁵

Feature	HSBC Business
International fees	Fees vary depending on country of transfer (up to 90 currencies).5
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Published each day on the HSBC website, through online banking, or in a branch.5
Opening requirements	An existing Sterling Business Account or an HSBC Relationship manager to open an international account.5 You’ll need to submit an application which includes information such as turnover.
API and other integrations	HSBC offers a developer portal which provides access to a range of APIs, including those for account management, payments, and other services.6
Customer service	Available by phone in the UK between 8 AM and 8 PM and Saturdays 8 AM to 2 PM. Chatbot assistant available 24/7.7

Best for:

Businesses or individuals with FX risk exposure: they can easily use the account to time currency conversions strategically, rather than converting them immediately upon receipt.

Barclays Business Bank Account

Barclays is a major international financing institution. Its business account is tailored for UK-based businesses, ranging from start ups to sole traders to established small and medium businesses and charities.¹¹

Feature	Barclays Business
International fees	Fees vary depending on type of transaction, country and business account. For example, the Barclays Business Euro Currency account has a 45-64p fee for each payment.8
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Margin applied on top of mid-market rate. Based on FX price plan, which is based on the number of assets you hold with Barclays.8
Opening requirements	Various requirements depending on the type of business account. All customers be over 18 and a UK resident.9
API and other integrations	Integrations available such as Freshbooks accounting software .9
Customer service	24/7 support via Help section on App9

Best for:

UK-based small companies and start-ups. Charities and community groups receive special features, and in some cases don’t pay monthly account fees.

Lloyds Business Bank Account

Lloyds is one of the UK’s most established banks. Its business bank account enables customers to send and receive payments through BACS, CHAPS, and direct debit. Customers can make cash deposits and withdrawals at its 55 UK branches¹⁴ and Post Office counters.

Feature	Lloyds Business
International fees	Fees vary - customers get 100 free transfers, 0.20p each after. There is also a £8.50 monthly fee after 12 months12 .Plus annual fees of £24-60 depending on the international account chosen.10
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Mid-market rate plus mark-up depending on account type.12
Opening requirements	Available to UK residents; subject to approval after application.11 The Foreign Currency Account requires annual turnover between £0-25M10
API and other integrations	Several payment APIs, including those allowing for batch payments13
Customer service	9 AM to 5 PM Monday to Friday in the UK plus virtual assistant10

Best for:

UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises who prefer working with a traditional, well-established bank offering in-person services and support.

💡 Explore: best small business bank accounts

Best non-banking alternative accounts for international payments

Now that we’ve covered banks, it’s worth considering using a fintech alternative as your international business account, and the features and services on offer.

Wise Business

Launched in the UK in 2011, Wise was originally founded as a money transfer service to make it cheaper, faster and easier to send payments abroad. Wise’s services have since expanded to include Wise Business, which is geared towards entrepreneurs, freelancers, sole traders and business owners. Through multi-currency accounts and cards, they can hold and exchange over 40 currencies and send money with low fees.

Feature	Wise Business
International fees	Fees of 0.33% for sending but not receiving money
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Mid-market rate from as low as 0.1%
Opening requirements	UK based freelancers, sole traders and entrepreneurs. Accounts also available in many other countries internationally
API and other integrations	Open API to automate payments, integration with accounting software
Customer service	Wise offers 24/7 customer support for its business channels through a Help Centre. Email and phone support is also offered.

Best for:

Wise business can be a great option for start ups, small and medium sized businesses and small traders.

Opening a Wise Business Account

1. Head to theWise desktop site or download the Wise app
2. Tap to register, and enter your personal contact details
3. Confirm you want to open a business account (rather than a Wise personal account)
4. Follow prompts to enter the required information about your business
5. Upload documents to verify yourself and your business
6. Your account will be opened once verified

Revolut Business

Revolut Business customers can choose from a variety of accounts: Basic, Grow, Scale and Enterprise. The Free plan doesn’t come with monthly charges but limited features, and low levels of free transactions.

Feature	Revolut Business
International fees	International transfers are free to plan limits, £5 each after that.16 17
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Mid-market rates apply to plan limits, 0.6% fee after that. 1% to exchange at weekends15
Opening requirements	Eligible businesses or freelancers from the UK and a selection of other countries
API and other integrations	A business API can be used to build custom integrations16
Customer service	An in-app chat features offers 24/7 customer support16

Best for:

Small, medium and bigger businesses can all find different plans on Revolut Business suited to their interests.

Payoneer

Founded in 2005, the fintech company Payoneer offers account and card services to business owners which can be used to receive online payments from customers, marketplaces and payment platforms.

Feature	Payoneer
International fees	Varies depending on country and account types of recipients. An annual charge may apply for not using card often and if you are transferring to Payoneer account holders19
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	Up to 3.5% markup added to mid-market rate19
Opening requirements	Available for registered businesses in 190 countries 18
API and other integrations	API which can be integrated with various platforms, including e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, and software apps20
Customer service	24/7 by live chat in 22+ languages. Phone support offered in the UK, US and Australia.18

Best for:

Payoneer is a good choice for e-commerce and merchants.

Airwallex

Airwallex digital wallets are well-suited for registered business owners trading online, with ways to get paid easily in 12 currencies, and multi-currency account functionality. You’ll also be able to add your team members to your account, issue global debit cards, and send payments across the globe.

Feature	Airwallex
International fees	Varies depending on the transfer type. For example £10-20 per SWIFT transfer22
Currency exchange rate - mid-market or mark up added?	0.5-1% mark-up on top of the mid-market rates 22
Opening requirements	Eligible registered businesses from the UK and a number of other countries21
API and other integrations	Customisable and pre-built integrations for popular e-commerce platforms and accounting software21
Customer service	Offered through phone, email and tickets23

Best for:

Airwallex is best suited for e-commerce and merchants.

Best international business bank accounts in the UK - final thoughts

Finding the best international business bank account boils down to your needs as a company. UK-based companies who deal largely with domestic clients, make cash transactions and appreciate having local, in-person support might prefer to turn to a traditional bank like Lloyds, which has around 500 branches across the UK.

However, businesses who frequently make international transactions or need to manage their finances in multiple currencies could benefit from an account with a fintech company. This especially holds true for start ups and smaller companies who are less able to pay a monthly fee or add-ons to market rate conversions often applied by traditional banks.

In short, the best business bank account for international payments and other multi-currency features might not be from a bank at all.

Grow your company and go global with Wise Business, a non-banking alternative

A Wise business account can help with reducing the costs of exchanging multi-currencies across countries, setting up APIs and other integrations for batch payments to over 100 parties at once, and making overall business operations smoother.

With a free account, you’ll be able to hold and exchange over 40 currencies, and receive local bank details for 8 currencies. Furthermore, you can send money with a low and transparent mid-market rate to over 160 countries, from as low as0.1%.

Register with Wise Business🚀

Sources used (checked between 2 June 2025)

1. Compare International Bank Accounts, https://www.airwallex.com/uk/blog/compare-international-business-bank-account
2. Starling Bank Business Account, https://www.starlingbank.com/business-account/
3. Starling Bank Euro Accounts - How international payments compare to other banks https://help.starlingbank.com/business/topics/euro-accounts/how-does-starlings-04-conversion-fee-for-international-payments-compare-to-other-banks/
4. Starling costs and sending, https://help.starlingbank.com/business/topics/sending-and-receiving-money/how-much-does-it-cost-to-receive-a-euro-payment-into-your-gbp-current-account/
5. HSBC Business Account, https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/products/foreign-currency-account
6. HSBC Developer Portal: https://develop.hsbc.com/apis?f%5B0%5D=solutions%3A435&page=1
7. HSBC Chat Assistant, https://www.business.hsbc.uk/en-gb/solutions/chat-assistant
8. Barclays Business Fees: https://www.barclays.co.uk/content/dam/documents/business/Accounts/BAR_9912445_UK-0821_Online.pdf
9. Barclays Business Bank Account, https://www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking/
10. Lloyds Business Account, https://www.lloydsbank.com/business/international/commercial-foreign-currency-account.html
11. Lloyds Business, How to Open an Account, https://www.lloydsbank.com/current-accounts/help-and-guidance/opening-a-bank-account.html#openaccount
12. Lloyds Business Account rates and charges, https://www.lloydsbank.com/business/commercial-banking/rates-and-charges.html
13. Lloyds Business Banking Online Services and API Solutions, https://www.lloydsbank.com/business/corporate-banking/payments/online-services-and-api-solutions.html
14. Lloyds Find a Branch, ​​https://branches.lloydsbank.com/search?=&locatorSearch=true&query=&context=%7B%22searchContent%22%3Atrue%7D&facetFilters=%7B%7D&filters=%7B%7D&verticalUrl=locations.html
15. Revolut Currency Exchange, https://www.revolut.com/business/currency-exchange/
16. Revolut Business Account Plans - https://www.revolut.com/business/business-account-plans/
17. Revolut Transfer Fees, https://help.revolut.com/business/help/receiving-payments/sending-money-to-an-external-bank-account/transfer-fee/
18. Payoneer Multicurrency account, https://www.payoneer.com/multi-currency-account/
19. Payoneer Pricing, https://www.payoneer.com/about/pricing/
20. Payoneer Integration Partners, https://www.payoneer.com/integration-partnerships/
21. Airwallex Open a Business Account, https://www.airwallex.com/uk/business-account
22. Airwallex - Pricing https://www.airwallex.com/uk/pricing

Sources checked on 06-June-2025