Can I keep my US bank account if I move abroad?

Currently living in the US, but planning a move abroad? Perhaps you’re a British expat moving back to the UK, or you’re heading to another country for work, business or study.

Whatever your plans, you’ll need to sort out your financial affairs before you leave the States. This includes paying final bills, cancelling scheduled payments and finally, closing down your bank account.

But do you actually need to close it, or is it possible to keep your US bank account if you move abroad? Find out everything you need to know here in our handy guide.

And if you’re looking for a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders then check out the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s an international alternative to a bank account that lets you manage your money in 40+ currencies including British pounds, United States dollars, and more.

Discover the Wise account

Can I keep my US bank account after leaving the US?

Yes, you should be able to keep your US bank account open when moving abroad - although it does of course depend on which bank you hold an account with.

Banks in the US all have their own policies, so you’ll need to get in touch with yours, tell them that you’re moving and find out what their procedures are - and whether there are any additional charges.

One potential obstacle you may face however is the USA Patriot Act and its rules relating to addresses linked to bank accounts. Under the Act, banks are required to verify the residential addresses of their customers - and mail forwarding or P.O. Box addresses aren’t accepted.¹

So if you aren’t able to provide a standard US-based residential address when asked by the bank, it could potentially freeze or close your account.

If you do decide to close your US account, make sure to arrange a money transfer for any remaining balance to a new account first.

And if you’re worried about not having a way to send and receive US dollars (USD), remember that there are alternatives to banks available.

For example, you can open an international Wise account, which lets you manage your money in 40+ currencies including USD and GBP. This makes it an easy, convenient and truly global alternative to having a local bank account.

How to manage your US bank account from abroad

There are a few bits of admin you’ll need to do if you’ve decided (and are able to) keep your US bank account open. The first is to check whether there are any fees to pay.

Some checking accounts in the US have monthly fees, which may only be waived if you can meet conditions such as paying in a certain sum each month or making a minimum number of transactions each month.

If you’ll no longer be able to meet these conditions (due to not needing to use the account much, for example) you could be subject to these fees. So, you’ll need to make sure there is always enough money in the account to cover these.

Another tip for managing your US bank account from abroad is to register for online and mobile banking - if available and if you haven’t done so already. This will enable you to check in on your accounts wherever you are in the world.

Alternatives to keeping a US bank account

Decided to close your US account? Before you do, it’s probably a good idea to research some alternative options for managing your money when you move abroad.

The first step is to start the process of opening a new local bank account in the country you’ve moving to.

You can also see if your existing US bank offers any international bank accounts in the country, as it may be possible to move over to one of its accounts. If you’re only moving abroad temporarily, you may also want to look into travel bank accounts.

There are also a wide range of digital banks, money apps and money services providers available. For example, money services provider Wise, as well as, Revolut and N26. All are set up to work internationally and let you do everything using just your smartphone.

Wise account – an alternative to a bank account

While you’re considering alternative accounts and providers, make sure to check out the Wise account.

It’s not a bank account, so it doesn’t provide the same protections that customers might expect from conventional banks, such as interest on savings. However, it does offer some similar features. It’s a fantastic alternative to your US bank account, especially if you need to spend overseas or send payments between countries.

With Wise, there are no sign up or monthly fees to pay. You’ll get a powerful account for managing your money in 40+ currencies including USD and GBP. Plus you can send money worldwide for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates.

For a one-time cost of just £7, you can also get a Wise debit card which has no foreign transaction fees for spending abroad. There’s just a small conversion fee to pay for cross-currency transactions.

Sign up with Wise today

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 31-Jul-2025