The best Euro bank accounts for UK residents

The best euro account depends on what you want to do with your money. Receiving payments, spending abroad and earning interest are different jobs, and the same account won’t necessarily be best for all three.

For receiving and converting euros, Wise is worth comparing with Starling and Revolut. If you already bank with HSBC, its Global Money Account can cover both incoming euro payments and spending abroad. For savings, iFAST offers an interest-bearing euro bank deposit, while Wise Interest offers an investment-based alternative.

The important distinction is that not every euro balance is a bank deposit. Some providers safeguard your money as an e-money balance, while others invest it in money-market funds. That affects both the return you can earn and the protection you get.

I’ve used several of the accounts below, so this guide combines their current features with my experience of using them at home and abroad. It focuses on personal accounts for UK residents. Business payments may require a separate business account, and anyone living overseas should also see our guide to bank accounts for expats.

Account information checked on 7 October 2026. Rates, fees and eligibility can change. Investment returns have their own measurement dates, shown below.

Quick recommendations

For receiving euros: Wise

Suitable for: receiving personal euro payments, holding the money in euros and converting it when needed.

Why consider it: you get your own euro receiving details without having to open a linked current account with a high-street bank. Wise also shows the conversion fee separately from the exchange rate.

Main limitation: the ordinary Wise balance is an e-money balance, not an FSCS-protected bank deposit. Conversion charges vary, so compare the actual quote rather than assuming it will always be cheapest.

>> Get a Wise multi-currency account

For spending euros as an HSBC customer: Global Money

Suitable for: existing HSBC customers who want to receive, hold and spend euros within the HSBC app.

Why consider it: the account includes a free multi-currency debit card and can now receive euros directly. HSBC does not charge for receiving supported currencies or spending an existing euro balance in euros.

Main limitation: you need an eligible HSBC UK current account. Currency conversion uses HSBC’s own rate, which includes a conversion charge.

See our HSBC Global Money Account review for a closer look at the account.

For earning bank interest on euros: iFAST

Suitable for: keeping a euro balance in an interest-bearing bank deposit rather than an investment fund.

Why consider it: iFAST’s Multi-Currency Current Account currently pays 1.50% AER variable on euros, with instant access and eligible deposits covered by the FSCS.

Main limitation: compare conversion and transfer costs before moving your money. An interest rate alone doesn’t tell you whether opening the account will leave you better off.

>> See iFAST’s euro interest rate and account terms

Euro accounts compared

This table covers the main practical differences. Exchange charges, eligibility and protection are explained in the provider sections below.

Starling requires a linked sterling current account and euro-account eligibility. HSBC Global Money requires an eligible HSBC UK current account. The other accounts do not require you to become a customer of a separate high-street bank first.

Which type of euro account do you need?

An account for receiving and paying euros

If you’re receiving a pension, personal transfers or other eligible income in euros, start with the receiving details and payment features. Can the sender pay your account directly? Can you leave the money in euros? Can you pay someone else without converting it to pounds first?

A unique IBAN is useful, but also check supported payment types, receiving charges and whether the account allows the recurring payments you need.

An account for spending abroad

If your main aim is paying for hotels, meals and shopping, the debit card and cash withdrawal rules matter more than the IBAN. You may not need a separate euro account at all.

A good travel card can convert pounds when you spend. A euro balance is more useful if you already receive euros or want to convert a holiday budget before travelling. For spending-only options, see our best credit and debit cards for travel.

An account for earning a return

If the money is going to sit untouched, look beyond payment features. A convenient euro wallet that pays nothing may be fine for next month’s bills, but it doesn’t answer the savings question.

Compare bank interest with investment-based returns separately. A money-market fund may offer a higher displayed return, but it isn’t the same as a savings deposit.

Best accounts for receiving euros

For straightforward personal euro receipts, Wise, Starling and HSBC Global Money are useful starting points. Revolut is also worth comparing if you want a wider range of multi-currency features.

• Wise provides your own euro receiving details. Eurozone bank transfers are free to receive, while incoming EUR SWIFT payments carry a fee.
• Starling provides a unique IBAN, free euro receipts and euro transfers, plus Direct Debits. You must be eligible for its euro account.
• HSBC Global Money can receive euros directly into your euro balance without an HSBC receiving fee.
• Revolut provides receiving details in the app. Give the sender the details for the currency and payment route they are using.

If you need scheduled payments rather than a spending card, HSBC’s separate Currency Account is another option. It supports recurring and future-dated payments, but does not come with a debit card.

Avoid unnecessary conversion

Suppose you receive €1,000 and expect to spend €600 on accommodation or bills in Europe. Converting the whole payment to pounds, then buying euros again later, creates an unnecessary round trip.

Keeping the €600 in euros avoids those two conversions. You can compare quotes for converting the remaining €400 to pounds separately.

For larger payments, compare the pounds you actually receive after all charges. A low advertised fee can be offset by a less favourable exchange rate, and a receiving bank or intermediary may charge separately.

Check recurring payments and payment evidence

Don’t assume that every euro balance supports Direct Debits, standing orders or the same transfer-confirmation documents. These features matter if you’re paying regular bills or dealing with an organisation that asks for proof of payment.

In my own use, payment confirmation has been particularly useful when dealing with organisations in Spain. Before relying on an account for a property payment or other important transaction, check the documents it currently provides and make a small test payment.

If the payments relate to freelance work or a business, check the provider’s personal-use rules first. Being able to receive euros doesn’t automatically mean a personal account can be used for business.

Best accounts for spending euros

For existing HSBC customers, Global Money is a convenient way to spend a euro balance. Starling can do the same through your existing debit card if you’re eligible for its euro account. Wise and Revolut are alternatives if you prefer a separate multi-currency account.

When you already hold enough euros, spending those euros should not require another currency conversion. The cost usually arises when you buy the euros in the first place, or when the account converts another balance to cover a purchase.

Should you convert before travelling?

Converting in advance can help you set a holiday budget, and it can avoid a provider’s weekend exchange charge. It doesn’t guarantee a better exchange rate, though. The rate may move in either direction after you convert.

Revolut Standard and Starling both have additional non-working-day exchange charges, explained below. Don’t assume a card purchase avoids them if it triggers an automatic conversion.

Cash withdrawals need a separate check

An account can be good for card spending and less attractive for cash. Wise and Revolut have monthly allowances, while HSBC Global Money has a daily withdrawal limit.

Also distinguish the provider’s fee from the cash machine owner’s fee. A card advertising free withdrawals cannot stop an overseas ATM operator charging you.

When a shop or ATM offers to charge you in pounds, compare that offer carefully. Choosing euros usually allows your card provider to handle the conversion instead of accepting the merchant’s or ATM operator’s rate.

Trading 212 as a spending alternative

I’ve used the Trading 212 card for the past few years, and it has been my go-to for foreign spending. You can use it to spend cash in your Invest account without buying shares.

Its card purchases currently have no FX fee. That’s different from manually converting money in the app, which carries a 0.15% conversion fee.

It isn’t a replacement for a euro current account with personal receiving details and regular banking features. Treat it as a spending and brokerage-cash option, rather than the account you automatically give someone for euro income.

See my Trading 212 debit card review for the practical experience and card details.

Best euro savings options for UK residents

The choice of euro savings products is narrower than the choice of sterling savings accounts. That doesn’t mean you have to settle for a balance that pays nothing, but it does mean checking what sort of product you’re opening.

The clearest distinction is between a bank deposit that pays interest and an investment-based product that generates a variable return. They should not be ranked as though the only difference is the percentage.

Bank deposits: iFAST

iFAST’s Multi-Currency Current Account pays interest on its euro balance. At the time of checking, the rate is 1.50% AER variable, with instant access.

That makes it a relevant option if you want to keep money in euros without moving it into an investment fund. Eligible deposits are covered by the FSCS, with one combined limit across your deposits at iFAST.

The provider’s summary box specifies a minimum opening deposit of one unit of a supported currency, so €1 for euros. Interest and account terms can change, so check the current iFAST summary box before applying.

iFAST also offers euro fixed-term deposits. These may suit money you won’t need for a while, but check the current rate, minimum deposit and withdrawal restrictions for the particular term. I wouldn’t lock away a holiday budget or money needed for regular bills just to chase a higher rate.

Investment-based returns: Wise Interest

Wise Interest invests your euro balance in a money-market fund. Despite the name, this is not a conventional euro savings account.

Its published euro return is 2.25%, based on the fund’s seven-day performance as of 23 September 2026. That figure is annualised and variable, not a guaranteed return for the next year.

The displayed figure already deducts the 0.26% annual fee. Don’t subtract that fee again when comparing the published return.

You can continue sending and spending, but access isn’t unconditional. Large transfers can take longer, and restrictions may apply during market instability. The investment can also lose value.

Wise describes potential FSCS investment protection of up to £85,000. That is different from bank-deposit protection and does not compensate you simply because an investment performs badly.

Check Wise’s current euro return and risk information before enabling it.

Brokerage cash: Trading 212

Trading 212 can pay interest on uninvested euro cash when you enable the feature. However, the cash may be held with banks and in qualifying money-market funds.

That means it needs a more careful explanation than “a savings account with FSCS protection”. Check the breakdown shown in your account and understand which protection applies to each part.

Use the EUR rate shown in the app, not the sterling rate advertised elsewhere. Also factor in any conversion costs if you are starting with pounds.

What about Revolut euro savings?

Revolut’s UK help centre lists savings accounts in euros as well as pounds and US dollars. Check the actual EUR offer available in your app before treating it as another savings option.

The important details are the named deposit bank, rate, plan requirements, withdrawal terms and protection information. A Revolut euro payment balance and a separate euro savings product are not automatically the same thing.

When earning a return isn’t worth the extra work

For a small balance you’ll spend shortly, moving the money may not be worthwhile. Conversion fees, transfer charges and the inconvenience of another account can outweigh the return.

For example, €1,000 held for a full year at an unchanged 1.50% AER would earn €15. That’s useful, but not if moving the money costs more than the interest.

If you already receive and spend euros, keeping savings in euros can make practical sense. Converting pounds purely to chase a euro rate is a different decision because you also take on currency risk.

Provider reviews

Wise: receiving details and clear conversion pricing

Wise is a useful starting point if you want to receive euros without opening a linked high-street current account.

It provides your own euro receiving details, lets you hold the money in euros and offers an optional debit card. Give the sender the details shown in your account rather than assuming every customer has an IBAN from the same country.

What I like about Wise is its pricing. It shows the conversion fee separately and uses the mid-market exchange rate. It might not always be cheapest, but you don’t have to guess how much of the cost is hidden in the rate.

Fees

There is no monthly subscription fee. Conversion charges vary by currency, amount and payment method, so get a live GBP/EUR quote rather than relying on one headline percentage.

Eurozone bank transfers are free to receive. Incoming EUR SWIFT payments cost €2.39, and correspondent banks may charge separately.

A physical card costs £7. For UK-issued cards, ATM withdrawals are free up to £250 per month per account. Above that allowance, Wise charges 2.69% on the excess amount. ATM operators may add their own charge.

What to watch out for

The ordinary Wise balance is safeguarded e-money, not an FSCS-protected bank deposit. Safeguarding separates customer money from the provider’s own funds, but it should not be described as a guarantee that nothing can go wrong.

Wise Interest is a separate investment feature with different risks and protection. Enable it only if you’re comfortable with that distinction.

>> Get a Wise multi-currency account

Starling: everyday euro banking, subject to eligibility

The Starling euro account is worth considering if you want euro receiving details, regular payment features and bank-deposit protection.

It has no monthly account fee, provides a unique IBAN and allows free euro receipts and euro transfers. It also supports Direct Debits.

You use the same debit card as your sterling Starling account. When configured for euro spending, it allows you to spend from your euro balance rather than converting pounds for each purchase.

I’ve found the account useful for keeping euro money separate from my everyday sterling spending. The linked-card setup is convenient too, particularly if you’re already happy with Starling.

Fees

Converting between pounds and euros costs 0.4%. Starling also applies an additional 0.5% exchange-rate margin on weekends and bank holidays.

I covered the introduction of Starling’s 0.4% conversion fee when the account moved away from free GBP/EUR conversions. That is historical context; use the current fees above when comparing accounts today.

Receiving euros and paying out euros doesn’t require a currency conversion. It is converting between the sterling and euro balances that triggers the conversion charge.

Eligibility

You must first hold a Starling personal current account. If you are eligible for a euro account, the application option appears in the app.

This is important: opening a sterling account does not guarantee access to the euro account. Check eligibility before choosing Starling specifically for euro banking.

There is no need to switch your main banking to Starling, but it is an extra account to open if you don’t already use it. The euro balance does not pay interest.

>> Get a Starling account

Revolut: multi-currency features and exchange allowances

Revolut combines currency balances, transfers and card spending in one app. It is worth comparing if you want more than a dedicated euro balance.

The free Standard plan can be useful for modest regular conversions, provided you keep within its allowance and understand the weekend charges.

Fees

Standard has no monthly fee. It allows £1,000 of currency exchange per monthly allowance period without an additional weekday exchange fee. A 1% additional fee applies above that allowance.

There is also a 1% weekend exchange fee on Standard. Revolut defines its weekend window using Eastern Time, so check the app before converting near the start or end of that period.

Automatic exchanges for card spending count towards the allowance too. Holding euros in advance can avoid a conversion at the point of purchase, but buying those euros is still an exchange.

The Standard ATM allowance is £200 or five withdrawals per month, whichever limit you reach first. Charges apply afterwards, and ATM operators can charge separately.

Paid plans have different allowances and charges. Compare the subscription cost with your actual usage rather than assuming an upgrade will save money.

Protection

Revolut launched its UK bank in March 2026 and is moving customers to Revolut Bank UK Ltd. Eligible deposits with that bank have FSCS protection up to £120,000 per person.

Check the legal entity and protection information for your own account. It is no longer accurate to say every UK Revolut account is an unprotected e-money account, but banking protection should not be assumed before your account has moved.

Separate investment products have their own arrangements. The protection on your payment account does not automatically apply to everything available in the app.

>> Get a Revolut account

HSBC Global Money: convenient for existing customers

HSBC Global Money lets eligible HSBC customers receive, hold, convert, send and spend euros through the HSBC UK app.

It can now receive payments directly into supported currency balances, including euros. That makes it more useful than the earlier version, which was primarily a way to move sterling into foreign currencies for spending.

The free debit card uses your euro balance when you have enough euros to cover the purchase. If you don’t, it can convert available pounds.

Fees and limits

There is no monthly account fee and no charge for the card. HSBC does not charge for receiving euros or spending an existing euro balance in euros.

However, the HSBC Global Money Exchange Rate includes a conversion charge. “No additional HSBC fees” does not mean currency conversion is free.

For euro card purchases funded from pounds, HSBC uses its Global Money Exchange Rate. The Visa exchange rate applies to spending in currencies you cannot hold in the account.

The daily cash withdrawal limit is £500, or the currency equivalent. The daily outgoing payment limit is £50,000 equivalent. Other banks and ATM operators may impose charges.

Eligibility and protection

You need an active eligible HSBC UK current account and the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app. HSBC Basic Bank Account, Appointee and MyAccount are excluded. A first direct account alone does not meet that requirement.

Eligible Global Money balances are FSCS-protected. The limit is shared with other deposits under the same banking licence, not a separate allowance for every account.

See our HSBC Global Money Account review for more on using the account.

HSBC Currency Account: payments without a debit card

HSBC’s separate euro Currency Account is another option for existing customers. It is not the same product as Global Money.

It has no monthly fee, can receive euros and supports recurring and future-dated payments. However, there is no debit card and the account does not pay interest.

HSBC does not charge for incoming payments. Outgoing charges depend on the destination and customer type, while currency conversion uses HSBC’s exchange rate, which includes a conversion charge.

You must be at least 18 and hold an active HSBC current account, excluding the Basic Bank Account.

>> See the HSBC euro Currency Account

iFAST: an interest-bearing euro bank balance

iFAST’s Multi-Currency Current Account is particularly relevant to readers looking for euro savings rather than just travel spending.

It currently pays 1.50% AER variable on euros, with instant access and no monthly account fee. You can apply online without first opening a current account with another bank.

Eligible deposits are covered by the FSCS. This distinguishes it from investment-based euro returns, although you still face currency risk if you ultimately need the money in pounds.

Check the receiving instructions, transfer fees and conversion quote before using it for regular payments. I would choose it on the basis of its verified deposit features, rather than assuming it beats the other accounts for every banking task.

>> Check iFAST’s account and current euro rate

Barclays: an option to ask about if you already bank there

Barclays offers a personal euro account alongside its sterling banking. However, it should not be confused with Barclays business currency accounts or its international banking services.

If you’re already a Barclays customer, ask for the current personal Euro Account eligibility rules and tariff before applying. Check how you can receive and send payments, whether any linked-account history is required and what access you will have.

I haven’t included Barclays in the main recommendations because the current personal-account terms need a clearer comparison before calling it a low-cost option. Older fee lists are not a reliable basis for choosing it today.

Check Barclays’ personal euro account information.

Monese: compare the transaction charges carefully

Monese offers euro account functionality, but its charges make it a less obvious first choice than the main options above.

Its Pay As You Go plan has no monthly fee, but the current tariff includes charges for incoming bank transfers, physical-card delivery and currency conversion. Foreign-currency card purchases carry a 3% fee.

It may still be worth investigating if its application requirements suit your circumstances. Just don’t treat a free monthly plan as a free-to-use account.

Monese is an e-money provider. Its balances are safeguarded rather than covered by FSCS deposit protection.

N26: not a UK-resident option

N26 is not available to people living in the UK. It belongs in a discussion of accounts for residents of supported countries, rather than the main UK comparison.

Owning a property abroad does not automatically make you eligible. Apply only if you meet the bank’s actual residency requirements, and provide accurate address and tax-residency information.

If you live overseas, see our bank accounts for expats guide instead.

How to open a euro account

The application process depends on whether you’re opening a standalone account or adding a euro account to existing banking.

1. Choose the features you need: receiving details, a debit card, regular payments or a return on your balance.
2. Check UK residency requirements, personal-use rules and any linked-current-account requirement.
3. Apply through the provider’s app, website or other supported channel.
4. Complete identity checks and provide address, tax-residency or source-of-funds information if requested.
5. Find your euro receiving details and check which payment routes they support.
6. Make a small test transfer before sending a large amount or relying on the account for an important payment.

Starling requires a sterling current account first, followed by euro-account eligibility. HSBC Global Money and HSBC Currency Account require eligible HSBC current accounts.

Approval and card delivery times vary. Don’t assume an account will be ready instantly, particularly if you need it for a property completion or other deadline.

Protection and currency risk

Bank deposits

Eligible deposits with a UK bank covered by the FSCS are protected up to £120,000 per person, per authorised bank. Euro deposits can qualify too, but the limit is a sterling-equivalent total.

The allowance is shared across accounts under the same banking licence. Opening a second account at the same bank does not create another £120,000 of protection.

E-money balances

Providers such as Wise and Monese safeguard ordinary customer balances rather than providing bank-deposit insurance.

Safeguarding is an important protection, but it works differently from the FSCS. Don’t treat the two as interchangeable, and don’t assume access would be immediate if a provider failed.

Investment-based products

Money-market funds can offer a return on euros, but their value can fall. Investment compensation may apply in certain circumstances when an authorised firm fails, but it does not cover ordinary investment losses.

This is why Wise Interest and qualifying money-market funds should sit separately from insured bank deposits in a savings comparison.

The euro can move against the pound

If you receive and spend euros, holding euros can reduce the need to exchange money repeatedly.

If you start with pounds and will eventually need pounds again, the exchange rate becomes part of the outcome. A euro balance could earn a return but still be worth less in sterling when you convert it back.

A euro account is useful for managing euro money. It isn’t automatically a way to earn a better return on money you need for UK spending.

Frequently asked questions

Can a UK resident open a euro bank account?

Yes. Several providers offer euro accounts or multi-currency accounts to UK residents. Eligibility depends on the provider, and some require a linked sterling current account.

Your residency and the account’s rules matter more than simply holding a British passport.

Do I need an account with a European IBAN?

You need receiving details that work for the sender’s payment route, not necessarily an IBAN with a particular country prefix.

Use the details issued to your account and check any payer-specific requirements before depending on it for regular income.

Can HSBC Global Money receive euros?

Yes. It can receive payments directly into its supported currency balances, including euros, without an HSBC receiving fee. Charges from the sending bank or other parties may still apply.

Is Starling accepting euro-account applications?

Starling describes euro-account applications as subject to eligibility. You need a Starling personal current account, and eligible customers can see the application option in the app.

It should not be described as either universally available or universally paused.

Which euro account has the lowest conversion fees?

There isn’t one winner for every amount and situation. Starling charges 0.4% plus an additional non-working-day exchange-rate margin. Revolut Standard has an exchange allowance followed by additional charges. Wise uses a variable fee, while HSBC includes its conversion charge in its exchange rate.

Compare the final amount you will receive for the same transaction, at roughly the same time. Also check transfer charges separately from currency conversion.

Can I earn interest on euros in the UK?

Yes. iFAST offers an interest-bearing euro bank balance. Wise Interest and Trading 212 provide other ways to earn a return, but they should not be treated as identical to conventional savings deposits.

Compare the rate, fees, access conditions and protection in the savings section above.

Are euro balances covered by the FSCS?

Eligible euro deposits at covered UK banks can receive FSCS deposit protection. Ordinary e-money balances do not.

Investment-based euro products have different protection arrangements, which do not guarantee the value of your investment.

Can I send instant euro payments?

That depends on the provider, payment route and receiving bank. Check whether the particular payment qualifies for instant processing rather than assuming every euro transfer will arrive immediately.

For a time-sensitive payment, check the estimated arrival time and leave room for verification or compliance checks.

Can I use a personal euro account for freelance income?

Only if the provider permits that use. Some personal accounts restrict business activity, even where receiving the payment is technically possible.

Check the account terms or use an appropriate business account. The personal-account recommendations here are not business-banking recommendations.

Do I need a euro account for a holiday?

Not necessarily. If you only want to spend abroad, a suitable travel card can be simpler than opening an account specifically to hold euros.

A euro account becomes more useful when you also receive euros, pay euro bills or want to hold a balance between trips. See our travel card comparison for spending-only alternatives.

Which euro account would I choose?

For receiving and converting euros without opening a linked high-street current account, I’d start by comparing Wise with Revolut. If you’re eligible for Starling’s euro account, its bank status and everyday payment features make it a strong alternative.

If you already bank with HSBC, Global Money deserves a look before opening anything else. It now receives euros as well as providing a spending card, although you should still compare the conversion quote.

For money you want to keep in euros and earn bank interest on, iFAST is the clearest deposit option in this comparison. Wise Interest is worth considering separately if you’re comfortable with an investment-based return and its risks.

The account I’d use for savings isn’t necessarily the one I’d use for transfers or a holiday. Choose for the job you need it to do, rather than trying to make one account win every category.