There are different types, depending on your needs.
You might want an account that’s held in another country or region. This would work in a similar way to a regular bank account, allowing you to save, spend or receive money.
If you’re regularly travelling or living outside the UK, this type of account will usually be the most cost-effective way of managing your money across different currencies.
Other types of account simply allow you to make international payments easily in other currencies.
Depending on how and where you need to access your money, there are different types of international bank account to choose from.
You can choose to open a bank account in another country or region. This could be somewhere you travel to regularly for work or to visit friends and family. Having a local bank account can make life simpler when it comes to paying bills, receiving wages or just having access to cash in local currency.
Depending on the country or currency you choose, you may be able to set up an account from your home country before you travel. With HSBC, you can do this for more than 20 locations before you leave the UK.
HSBC also offers tax and relocation services to support with your international banking needs.
Find out how to open an HSBC account outside the UK.
For spending money outside the UK, a travel money card can be a more flexible and convenient alternative to using cash. You use a travel money card just like a normal debit card while you’re outside the UK. It allows you to spend in another currency without having to convert every transaction from your home currency and incur transaction fees.
With a prepaid travel card, you simply top up your travel card account with your chosen currency before you travel. You can then withdraw cash using the prepaid travel card from cash machines when you’re outside the UK, or use the card directly for anything you buy.
An HSBC Global Money Account allows you to spend and send money around the world in multiple currencies with no HSBC or intermediary bank fees. You’ll need to check as there may still be fees charged by other providers, like cash machines outside the UK.
A Global Money Account allows you to store up to 18 currencies, making it easy to transact around the world. The currency conversion is done using a live exchange rate, so you can buy when the rate is right for you and then store your currency until you need to use it.
You get a multi-currency debit card with the account at no extra cost and can spend like a local wherever you are in the world.
Explore: Using your card outside the UK
A currency account allows you to send and receive money in different currencies. It differs from standard bank accounts in that you might not always have a bank card or other account features like overdrafts.
If you regularly need to make international payments, using a currency account can be a cost-effective way to switch between currencies with minimal conversion fees.
Explore: What is a currency account?
If you’re moving to the UK from another country or region, it can help you get settled in if you have a UK bank account. Opening a UK current account will give you easy access to your money and allow you to easily receive and make payments in pounds sterling.
With a UK current account, you will normally get a debit card so you can make transactions and withdraw cash. You can set up a UK current account once you arrive as long as you:
With HSBC, you can apply for a UK bank account from many locations around the world.
