Nationwide USD account: Alternatives

If you regularly send or receive payments in US dollars, you might find it useful to have a USD account. This makes it easy to make US dollar payments without the need for currency conversion, which could save you money.

If you bank with Nationwide, you might want to know if the building society has a USD account available. Unfortunately, it doesn’t - USD and other currency accounts were discontinued with Nationwide’s International division closed in 2017.

But the good news is that there are plenty of other options out there. Read on for a full rundown of Nationwide USD account alternatives, from the likes of HSBC, Barclays, and Revolut.

We’ll also show you another fantastic alternative - the Wise account from the money services provider Wise. It’s not a bank account but an international account that lets you manage your funds in 40+ currencies including USD.

You can send, receive and convert money at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*. Your money is safeguarded and you’ll also get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amount transfers.

➡️ Learn more about the Wise account

Best Nationwide USD account alternatives in the UK

Let’s start with an at-a-glance look at some of the best USD accounts in the UK right now, including fees:

HSBC Currency Account - Best for multi-currency banking

HSBC’s Currency Account lets you open an account in one of 14 major currencies, including USD. This makes it a good option for people needing to bank in multiple currencies, such as global freelancers for example.¹

The account is for personal customers who have an active HSBC current account. It has no monthly fees and it’s free to make transfers to other HSBC accounts as well as payments in EUR within the EEA. For all other currencies, fees will apply for sending money abroad - these start from around £7 per transfer.¹

The HSBC Currency Account offers live exchange rates updated during market hours.¹

There’s no debit card with this account, so you won’t be able to spend in USD.

You can manage payments online, in branch and over the phone, but it doesn’t appear as if you can manage your account via the HSBC online banking app. This could be a drawback for some people.¹

Barclays Foreign Currency Account - Best for existing Barclays customers

The Barclays Foreign Currency Account is a good pick for the budget-conscious, as it has no monthly fees.² And like HSBC’s Currency Account, it lets you open an account in a choice of currencies including USD.

With this account, you can make international transfers all over the world using online or in-branch banking. It’s fee-free if done through online banking, although some overseas delivery charges and correspondent bank fees may apply depending on the destination.²

To be eligible for the account, you’ll need to be a personal customer who’s had a Barclays GBP current account for at least 6 months.²

There’s no debit card with this account.

Cater Allen - Best for USD transfers and card spending

Part of the Santander banking group, specialist private bank Cater Allen has a US Dollar Bank Account with no monthly fee and no minimum deposit or account requirements - which is pretty unusual for a private bank.

You just need to be at least 18 years old and a UK resident to be eligible for an account. Once your account is open, you’ll get a contactless Visa debit card, unlimited free everyday debit transactions and free transfers between any GBP, EUR or USD accounts you hold with the bank.³

The Cater Allen US Dollar Bank Account doesn’t pay any interest on your account, nor does it offer an overdraft.

There are fees for sending and receiving international payments, starting with a $3 USD fee to receive money from outside the UK in any currency. To send money abroad via SWIFT (non-EUR), you’ll pay a $40 USD fee each time.⁴

Revolut USD Account - Best for app-based banking

Last but not least, we have the Revolut USD Account. It’s not a standalone account you can apply for, but an account you can add-on to a standard Revolut online current account as a personal customer.

You’ll need to sign up for a Revolut account and choose a plan, with monthly fees ranging from £0 to £45 a month.⁵

Once you’re up and running, you can simply create a USD account in just a few clicks or taps - for no extra fees. This lets you hold US dollars, send it internationally and spend it using your Revolut card.

Revolut charges international transfer fees, which vary depending on the details of the payment. You’ll get a fair usage limit for currency exchange, above which a fee applies. There’s also an extra currency exchange fee of 0.5% to 1% (depending on plan) which applies to currency conversions carried out at weekends.⁵

Lloyds International Classic Account - Best for spending abroad

The Lloyds International Classic Account comes in a choice of 3 currencies, including USD. It has a monthly fee of £5, although this is waived if you maintain a balance of $5,000 USD.⁶

Designed for personal customers, this account has a particularly attractive feature - it offers fee-free international payments anywhere in the world. However, it’s important to remember that there may be fees not charged by Lloyds Bank, such as correspondent or receiving bank fees when payments are sent via SWIFT.⁶

You’ll get a USD debit card, along with some travel perks - such as hotel and restaurant discounts with Visa Luxury Hotel Collection and car hire discounts with Sixt.⁶

You can apply for and manage this account via online banking or the Lloyds mobile banking app.

Metro Bank Foreign Currency Account - Best for in-store banking

If you’d like the option to do your banking in person - as well as online - one option to look into is Metro Bank.

Metro Bank’s Foreign Currency Account comes in your choice of either USD or EUR, and can be managed via mobile app, phone or in-branch banking. Metro Bank has a network of stores in towns and cities across the UK - you can find your nearest here.

The account lets you send and receive international payments, although it doesn’t have a debit card.

An important thing to know about this account is that it does have some fees. There’s an account fee of $8 or $25 USD (approx. £6 to £18.50 in GBP) a month depending on your account balance - you’ll pay the higher fee for balances below $3,000 USD.⁷

You’ll also pay a fee of $25 USD (approx. £18.50 GBP)on top of that to make SWIFT international payments.⁷

To be eligible for the Metro Bank Foreign Currency Account, you’ll need to be a personal customer who already holds a Metro Bank Current Account or Instant Access Savings Account. The only way to apply is in store.⁷

Wise account – An international alternative to a bank account

If you need to send, receive and convert your money in US dollars and want to save money, consider taking a look at Wise.

Open a Wise account online and you can start managing your money in 40+ currencies (including GBP and USD). It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features.

✅ 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.

After reading this, you should have a better idea of what’s out there in terms of Nationwide USD account alternatives.

The building society may no longer offer foreign currency accounts, but you won’t be short of alternatives - there are lots of ways to manage your money in USD here in the UK.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 18-Aug-2025