Wise (formerly TransferWise)
multi currency account
Wise offers local bank account details in 10+ currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, SGD, NZD, RON, HUF, TRY) and mid-market exchange rates with transparent fees. Extremely popular with digital nomads and expats for its ease of opening remotely, low transfer fees, and multi-currency debit card. US persons can open accounts and receive ACH/wire transfers. Business accounts support invoicing and batch payments. No monthly fees on personal accounts; the Wise card charges a small one-time issuance fee.
Details
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Currencies
- 40
- Monthly Fee
- Free
- Non-Residents
- Accepted
- US Persons
- Accepted
- Debit Card
- Available
- Business Account
- Available
Opening Requirements
- •Government-issued photo ID
- •Proof of address (in some countries)
- •Valid email address
- •Phone number
Restricted Nationalities
Not available to nationals of: north-korea, iran, cuba, syria, russia
Nationality Acceptance Matrix
Who this provider will and will not onboard. Refusals are listed first. Sourced from the provider's own published terms and recent public onboarding reports — confirm with the provider before applying.
| Nationality | Accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| russia | NO | Russian nationals restricted post-February 2022 due to OFAC/UK sanctions compliance; existing accounts suspended or closed. |
| iran | NO | Blocked — OFAC SDN list; Iran is a comprehensively sanctioned jurisdiction. |
| cuba | NO | Blocked — OFAC Cuba sanctions. |
| north korea | NO | Blocked — OFAC DPRK sanctions. |
| syria | NO | Blocked — OFAC Syria sanctions. |
| us | YES | US persons accepted; FATCA-compliant; full personal + business account access. |
| uk | YES | Full access; UK is a core market. |
| eu | YES | Full EEA access; local IBANs available in most EU countries. |
| china | YES | Chinese nationals generally accepted; CNY not a held currency but transfers supported. |
| myanmar | YES | Accepted with enhanced due diligence; some activity types restricted due to FATF grey-list status. |
Similar Banking Options
Options matched on type and jurisdiction — not a recommendation.
Related Guides
US expat tax checklist: FBAR, FATCA, PFIC, FEIE, GILTI
A neutral walk-through of the US tax obligations that follow American citizens abroad — what they are, when they bite, and how the mainstream planning around each one actually works.
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.