Best savings accounts for non-UK residents

If you’re an expat living in the UK, you may be looking for a way to manage your savings.

There are a few options available to expats, including opening a local savings account in the country you’re in. But what about international and offshore accounts from UK banks?

We’ll run through a few of the best savings accounts for non-UK residents here in this helpful guide, including options from the likes of HSBC, Barclays, NatWest and Skipton International. We’ll cover interest rates, account types and any eligibility requirements you need to know about.

We’ll also show you a smart, alternative way to make your money work harder. With Wise Interest**, you can help your money grow by investing in a fund that holds government-guaranteed assets - all within your Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.

Learn more about Wise Interest

Capital at risk. Growth not guaranteed.

4 of the best savings accounts for non-UK residents

Now, let’s dive into our list of the best savings accounts for non-UK residents. Here’s an at-a-glance comparison of offshore and international account providers, with more detail on each below:**

** Rates correct as of 15th December 2025

Skipton International

Skipton International is owned by UK-based Skipton Building Society, and offers offshore accounts and mortgages for UK expats and international customers. It specialises in expat savings, so it’s a good option if you’ve moved abroad.

The Guernsey-based provider has a choice of savings accounts in Sterling, including:

• Fixed rate accounts - rates fixed for 1 or 2 years
• Notice accounts - 40 to 100 days notice for access to your money
• Easy access accounts - withdraw your money anytime, with no notice or penalty.

Interest rates range from 3.40% for the Personal Easy Saver, through to 4.10% for its two year fixed rate saver (called the Fixed Rate Bond Maturing 1 September 2026). Importantly though, you’ll need to have a minimum of £10,000 in the account or the interest rate will be 0%. You can save a maximum of £5 million.¹

You can also open a Skipton International savings account in US dollars if you choose.

All accounts can be managed via 24/7 online banking, and you can also apply for your account online.

Eligibility for accounts is open to international customers from all over the world, although there are some unsupported countries - see the full list here. To apply, you’ll need ID documents and proof of address.

HSBC Expat

The offshore banking division of UK and global banking giant HSBC offers a large range of savings accounts aimed at expats. You can save in up to 19 currencies, in either an instant access or fixed rate account.²

Options include:

• HSBC Premier 6 Month Savings Booster - a limited-time (until Jan 2026) special offer for expats, offering up to 4.00% AER/Gross²
• HSBC Premier or HSBC Advance Fixed Term Deposit accounts - get a fixed rate for 3, 6 or 18 months, or 1 to 3 years
• HSBC Premier or HSBC Advance easy access savers - standard or online only savings accounts paying lower interest rates but offering instant access to your cash.

HSBC even has savings accounts for children.

You’ll need to be at least 18 years old and living in an eligible country to apply for a savings account with HSBC Expat. Check with the bank to find out which countries are supported.

NatWest International

Through UK high street favourite NatWest’s international division, you can access savings accounts without needing to be a UK resident.

NatWest International, which operates in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar, offers a good selection of instant access and fixed term savings accounts. It also has a regular saver which can be linked to your NatWest current account.

Your options include:

• Instant Saver - a flexible, easy access account which you can open with as little as £1, offering interest rates of between 1.06% and 1.11% AER p.a. (variable) depending how much you have in the account.³
• Premium Saver - a similar easy access account to the Instant Saver, but with bonus interest on savings between £25,000 and £1 million (when you make no withdrawals).⁴
• Fixed Term Deposits accounts - available in GBP, EUR or USD, these accounts offer a fixed rate for 3, 6 or 12 months, or up to 2 years (GBP only).⁴ These offer rates of between 3.25% and 4% depending on the term and your balance.⁵

There are a few restrictions you should know about with NatWest International savings accounts, however. Firstly, you’ll need to be 16 or over, have a current account (such as a Cash Management Account) with the bank and live in an eligible country. You can check whether your country is supported here.

Crucially, you’ll also need to maintain a minimum balance of £25,000 with the bank, or the equivalent in another currency.⁴

Barclays International Banking

The offshore banking arm of UK bank Barclays has one standout savings account for non-UK residents - its International Reserve Account.

It’s an instant access account, available in three currencies - GBP, EUR or USD. It pays interest of between 1.10% and 3.60% AER on GBP, depending on how much you keep in the account.⁶

The Barclays International Reserve Account can be opened with just £1, and you can save up to £25 million in GBP, $40 million in USD or €10 million in EUR in it.⁶

However, there is a fairly major condition attached. This account is aimed squarely at high-net-worth individuals, who have a minimum of £100,000 (or currency equivalent) in savings or investments with Barclays, or who have a minimum of £250,000 (or currency equivalent) to invest or manage with a Barclays Relationship Manager. So, it may not be for everyone.⁶

You’ll also need to be resident in a qualifying country - more than 35 countries around the world are supported,⁶ but you’ll need to check with the bank which ones these are.

You can open the account online (or by phone or in a branch) and manage it via online, app, phone or branch banking.

Barclays International Banking also has a Notice Deposit Account, offering higher-yield savings but you’ll need to give notice before a withdrawal. There’s also a Treasury Deposit saver, which has a guaranteed interest rate but you can’t add or withdraw money from the account once it's open.

Do you need to be a UK resident to open a savings account?

If you want to opt for the most standard savings accounts with UK banks, you do need to be a permanent UK resident in order to apply. The same goes for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), as these are only for UK citizens and permanent residents.

But there are still some options available - international and expat savings accounts - where you don’t need to be a resident to open them.

Earn a variable return with Wise Interest

A bank account isn’t the only way to manage – or grow – your money.

The Wise account is a fantastic alternative if you send money abroad, convert between currencies, or need an easy way to spend overseas. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features.

You can also switch on Wise Interest** which lets you earn a variable return of up to 3.49%*** on your GBP balance. Unlike a savings account, your money is put to work by investing in a fund that holds government-guaranteed assets. It’s an effortless way to help your money grow while still enjoying the flexibility of Wise at home or abroad.

Sign up with Wise today

**Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be 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.

***Capital at risk - past performance does not guarantee future growth. Variable rate is based on 7 day performance as of 11/12/2025. This fund has returned a 2.76% annual average over the last 5 years, excluding Wise fees. For the full 5 year past performance of funds, please visit our website.

After reading this, you should have a better idea of what’s out there in terms of savings accounts for non-UK residents.

The options we’ve covered are ideal for UK expats, as they offer a familiar experience with a UK bank you may already know, but it’s also good to know there are truly international alternatives out there like the Wise account.

Sources used:

Sources last checked: 30-Oct-2025