If you want to transact in euro or simply want to receive euro, opening a euro account in the UK would help you save a lot on exchange fees. A euro account comes with a euro IBAN bank account number and you can get £85,000 protection guarantee of your bank deposits. Euro accounts are part of SEPA network, allowing you to enjoy fast and low-cost money transfers within the SEPA zone. So, which UK banks offer euro accounts?
Open Euro Account in the UK
- You can open euro accounts in the UK with providers such as Wise, Revolut, Starling Bank and Monese.
- When you open a euro account, you get a dedicated euro IBAN.
- It is also possible to open euro business account in the UK. Find out more from our article on opening euro business account in UK.
Contents
- 1 Who Needs to Open a Euro Bank Account?
- 2 Best Banks Offering Euro Accounts in the UK
- 3 Summary of How to Open Euro Account in the UK
- 4 Euro Account in UK FAQs
Who Needs to Open a Euro Bank Account?
You can open a euro account if you:
- Want to hold euros in your bank account
- Get paid in euros and you are based in the UK
- If you want to send or receive payments
- If you are a UK resident and have a property in the UK
- Live in the UK and want to send money to family and friends back at home
Best Banks Offering Euro Accounts in the UK
There are many virtual and brick-and-mortar banks that can help you open a euro account. The following are some of the best euro accounts for UK residents you can consider.
Wise Euro Account UK
Wise, formerly TransferWise, is a virtual bank account that offers personal euro accounts and business euro accounts with a debit card. When you open a euro account with Wise, you get an IBAN number and your own European bank details in the UK. You will get free banking details in the US, UK, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Eurozone and Canada. With Wise, you can also receive multiple currencies in your euro account without paying fees. You can send and receive euros in 56 currencies without any hidden fees. The account’s attractive feature is its 3.62% interest rate on Euros.
How to Open Wise Euro Account in UK
To open a euro account, log in to your Wise account, click on ‘Balances’ and then ‘Get Started’. Provide your personal details by filling in the form and uploading documents for account verification. Then you can fund your euro account using any of the currencies supported by Wise.
When you open a euro account with Wise, you will avoid exchange rate risk while you can hold different currencies in your Wise multicurrency account. It is free to pay with currencies in your account and you also get free ATM withdrawals of up to £200 every month.
Wise Fees
- Opening account: free
- Sending money: 0.35%
- ATM fees for over 200 GBP: 1.75%
- Wise debit card: 5 GBP
- Currency conversion: 0.35% – 2%.
Go to Wise euro account website
N26 used to offer personal euro account and N26 business account in euro. However, the bank left the UK after Brexit.
Revolut Euro Account UK
Revolut also offers euro accounts in the UK. You can get Revolut personal account or Revolut business account. Revolut allows you to hold, convert and send money at interbank exchange rates. When you open a euro account with Revolut, you get an IBAN. You can use the IBAN to get paid from anywhere and make transfers to friends, relatives, suppliers, etc. Revolut supports SEPA instant payments. When you open a Revolut account, you get a virtual card, and you can also order a physical card.
How to Open Revolut Euro Account in UK
Download the Revolut app available on Play Store and App Store and enter your phone number. Then set a password and a 6-digit password will be Sent to your phone for verification. Then provide other details like name, date of birth, and address. You will have to upload a selfie picture for verification, and add other bank account details to fund your Revolut account from a different account.
If you have a Revolut personal account, you can easily activate your euro account. To do so, tap on “Top Up” from the app and then select ‘By Bank transfer’ and then select Euros. Thereafter, you can tap ‘Activate’ to generate a personal IBAN instantly.
Revolut Plans and Revolut Fees
- Standard: Free
- Plus: £2.99 per month or £29.99 a year
- Metal: £12.99 per month or £120 a year
- Premium: £6.99 per month or £72 a year
- Transfers of up to £5,000 a month: Free
- Transfers above £5,000: 0.5%.
- Free £200 ATM withdrawals every month
Go to Revolut UK website
Starling Bank Euro Account
Starling Bank launched a euro account for UK residents in 2019. Starling euro account allows you to send and receive payments in euros. You can also make free transfers between sterling and euro currencies. You can easily switch between pounds and euros since it detects which currency is being used in a transaction. The bank allows you to use a single debit card to manage your euro and GBP accounts.
It is worth noting that Starling Euro Account does not support SEPA instant. As such, transfers can take some time before reflecting in the recipient’s account. Starling Euro account charges a fee of 0.4% to convert between pounds and euros.
How to Open Starling Euro Account in UK
To open Starling euro account, you need to have a smartphone. Then you can use a photo ID, passport, or driving license. It will take you around 10 minutes to create an account online.
Starling Bank Fees
- Monthly fees: Free
- Nonrefundable: £2 per month
- Sending money via Faster Payments and direct debits and standing orders: Free
- Sending money outside UK: 0.4% transfer fee
Monese Euro Account
Monese is an online bank that can also help you open a euro account in the UK. You can open a Monese euro account and start spending, sending and saving money. With a Monese euro account, you can set instant top-ups and real-time spending. Apart from Monese personal account, you are also allowed to open euro business account. Monese Plus plan gives you access to two personal accounts, both a UK account and a Euro IBAN account. You can also make and receive SEPA payments fast and without any fees. Monese euro account comes with budgeting tools and spending overviews. You can easily manage your money online with a prepaid contactless debit card.
How to Open Monese Euro Account in UK
You just need to download the Monese app available on Play Store and App Store. Fill in your personal details, like email address, phone number and ID. With that, you can create and verify a Monese account.
Monese Fees
- Monthly fees: £1.95 / €1.95 (Essential account)
- Physical card: Free
- Card replacement: £4.95 / €4.95
- Free £200 / €200 ATM withdrawal every month
- ATM withdrawals above £200 / €200: 2%
Go to Monese UK website
Santander Euro Account UK
Santander UK is a British bank that offers personal and business euro accounts in the UK online and offline. The euro account can be a euro savings account in UK, which is basically a euro account with interest. The bank offers a number of other services and products including current account, online corporate banking, debit cards, UK personal loans, business loans in the UK for SMEs, etc.
How to Open Santander Euro Account UK
To open a Santander euro account in the UK, you need to apply by phone, mail or online. Santander Bank UK has both a domestic and international phone number. When you call a Santander representative would then walk you through what’s needed to start your application. You can also download an application form to send in via mail or fax, or you can fill out the form online. You must be over 18 and live in the UK permanently to open Santander UK account.
Santander UK Fees
- Monthly fees: £4
- SEPA transfers: Free
- International payments: £25
- Direct debit/standing order: free
- CHAPS (same day payments): £25
Barclays Euro Account
Barclays is a brick-and-mortar bank that offers euro bank accounts in the UK. It is one of the cheapest traditional banks you can open use to open a euro account. In addition, it offers euro savings accounts for UK residents.
you can open euro savings account in UK with Barclays Bank.
International payments and ATM withdrawals are free. You will be charged a £6 fee if you receive payments into your euro account from outside Europe. The downside of this bank is that it does not offer ATM cards, hence it may not be a good option for frequent travelers. However, if you want an account for receiving and spending money, it can be a great choice.
How to Open Barclays Euro Account
You’ll need a Barclays sterling current account to open this account. You can open a Barclays bank account right from your phone using a mobile app available on Play Store and App Store. Fill in your personal details like name and email address. You will also need to upload your ID to prove your identity.
Barclays Current Account Fees
- Transferring funds between your euro and sterling current accounts: Free
- Same-day transfer of money to another bank in the UK: £25
- Banker’s draft: £15
- Replacement or additional PIN card reader: £6
HSBC Global Money
HSBC Global Money is a multi-currency account that allows you to hold up to 18 different currencies in a single account, including the euro. With this account, you can send and spend money in over 200 countries and regions without HSBC fees.
To be eligible for an HSBC Global Money Account, you must be 18 or older and have an active HSBC UK current account (excluding Basic Bank Account, Amanah, Appointee, and MyAccount), a valid email address that is linked to your HSBC account, and the HSBC UK Mobile Banking app.
HSBC does not charge fees for making payments or using your Global Money Account debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash. However, other banks may charge fees for receiving payments.
Summary of How to Open Euro Account in the UK
A euro account is a great account for people who normally transact in euros. With a euro account, you can avoid high exchange rates. Therefore, if you are planning to move to the UK, a UK resident or you have frequent transactions in the Eurozone, consider opening a euro account. You can easily open a UK euro account online with the best euro account in the UK listed above.
Euro Account in UK FAQs
Can I open a euro bank account in the UK?
Yes, you can open a euro bank account in the UK. There are a number of banks in the UK that offer euro accounts, both traditional high street banks and virtual banks, including Wise, Revolut, Santander, Barclays.
How do I open a euro bank account in UK?
To open a euro account in the UK is not difficult. You'll need to begin by researching banks that offer this service. The banks listed in this article provide euro accounts. Find a suitable bank that suits your need and find out about the specific requirements and documentation needed for account opening.
What are best euro accounts in the UK?
There are a number of good euro accounts in the UK. They include Revolut, Wise, Starling Bank, Monese, and Barclays Bank.
What are best euro savings accounts for UK residents?
The best euro savings accounts for UK residents, include Barclays and HSBC.
