Can you keep your UK account when you move abroad?
If you have a UK bank account and move overseas you may need to inform the bank, to update your contact information and to comply with the bank's account terms and conditions. In some cases the bank may ask you to close your account, or transfer to their international banking division - particularly if you will be outside of the UK for 6 months or more.
This guide covers all you need to know. Plus, we'll cover international accounts from specialist services like Wise and Revolut which allow you to manage your money in different countries, hold and exchange multiple currencies, and spend, receive and send payments flexibly.
Key points:
💡 Quick summary | |
|---|---|
Bank policy | There’s no legal bar to holding a UK bank account from abroad - but banks set their own policies in this respect and may not allow it |
International services | Some banks have dedicated international and expat services, and may ask you to open a new account with these divisions when you move |
Timescale | If you’re moving overseas for 6 months or more, the bank is likely to view this as a long term relocation and apply their policy based on this |
Destination | Some banks may restrict accounts in some countries, or may be unable to send physical correspondence like new cards to a specific country |
Alternatives | Alternative providers like Wise and Revolut have accounts you can open from many countries and regions, to hold multiple currencies and transact freely |
When you move overseas, what happens to your bank account in the UK will depend on your bank's specific policy. Some banks can not offer account services to customers outside the UK, while others may ask you to set up an international account instead of your standard UK current account.
International and expat accounts can have higher fees and minimum balance requirements compared to other UK bank accounts, so you'll need to weigh up your options when you choose.
As a great alternative, providers like Wise and Revolut can help with digital multi-currency accounts you can open from many countries and regions. More on that later.
What happens to my bank account if I leave the UK?
What happens to your bank account if you leave the UK depends on the bank you use, where you are moving and how long you will be living abroad.
It's pretty common in the UK to find that you need a UK residential address to get a normal current account from a bank. If you don't live in the UK - or if you're moving abroad permanently - you may still be offered an account by the bank, but it may be from the banks' expat or international banking division.
Accounts offered by banks for expat clients may have very different fee structures and minimum balance requirements compared to a GBP account you might open in your local branch. You might find you get some great new services - like ways to build a foreign credit history - but you may also find the costs are higher than you're used to.
Do I need to tell my bank I'm moving abroad?
Banks usually specify that you must have an up to date residential address on their record for your account. This is partly a practical consideration - an address is needed for correspondence for example. But it's also a way of ensuring banks comply with UK and international laws to prevent money laundering and financial crime.
Generally this means you need to update your bank if you're moving overseas. We've got a little more on what happens next with some major UK banks, coming right up.
Can I keep my HSBC account if I move abroad?
HSBC has a large expat and international banking division, and offers customers moving abroad a range of account options. If you're moving you'll need to talk to HSBC customer support to discuss the accounts which may suit you best. While you might find you need to close your UK account, you can then transfer your finances over to an account provided through the international service. Different fees and minimum balance requirements are likely to apply.
Can I keep my Barclays account if I move abroad?
You can not keep your Barclays UK account if you're moving abroad for more than 6 months in most cases. The account holder and any joint account holder named on the account must usually live in the UK.
Barclays will contact you to close your account if you update your residential address to show an overseas location. You may then be eligible to open a Barclays international account, depending on your circumstances.
Can I keep my Lloyds account if I move abroad?
If you move abroad you will need to contact the Lloyds team to close your UK based account, but you can then open an international account with Lloyds instead if you would like to.
International accounts are offered in GBP, EUR and USD to allow you to manage your money when you're overseas.
Can I keep my Natwest account if I move abroad?
Natwest has international banking services which allow you to transfer your account to an international account or international Premier account before you move overseas.
You'll usually need to close the UK based account you hold with Natwest though - talk to the customer service team to understand the process you should follow.
Can I keep my Santander UK account if I move abroad?
You may be able to keep your Santander account if you move abroad. You'll need to update your contact details so you can continue to manage your account properly.
It's helpful to remember that overseas fees may apply if you use your card abroad, and in some cases, cards and other important correspondence can't be sent to an overseas address.
Should I keep using my UK account abroad?
Even if your UK bank allows you to keep your account open when you move away, it may not be the best available option. If you continue to use a UK account when you spend abroad, for example, you may find you need to pay foreign transaction fees when you use your card.
And if someone sends you money in any currency other than GBP, it'll be converted to pounds to be deposited to your account - which might mean you lose out on the costs of currency exchange unnecessarily.
For day to day use while you're abroad, you might find that an international account from a UK bank, or a multi-currency account from a specialist service like Wise or Revolut is more flexible.
Multi-currency accounts have ways to hold, exchange, send and spend many currencies, so you can manage your money both in the UK and in your new home country with ease. You'll often find the fees are low and the exchange rates are pretty good too. More on that later.
📚 Read more: Best multi currency accounts in the UK⭐ |
Best UK banks for expats living abroad
When you relocate overseas, you can continue to use UK banks which support customers living outside of the UK, as well or choose from a range of multi-currency accounts from specialists like Wise where multiple currencies are supported, including GBP.
We'll look at specialist options in a moment - firstly, here's a quick roundup of the way different UK banks treat people who bank with them who are living abroad.
UK banks | 💡 Great for |
|---|---|
HSBC | HSBC has international banking services for customers in many countries, although the options depend on where you're moving to. You can get a credit card and build a credit history in your new home, and open accounts in foreign currencies before you move. |
Barclays | Barclays International serves customers with a balance of 100,000 GBP or more, with personal banking services for people with more than 250,000 GBP in their accounts. You can open accounts in multiple currencies, and get investment and wealth management support. |
Lloyds | Lloyds International has current accounts in GBP, EUR and USD, with English speaking support on hand. You can also qualify for support with tax advice if you're a Premier or Private Banking customer with a high enough balance. |
Natwest | Natwest has international accounts, mortgages and other financial services available for people who do not live in the UK. There's a dedicated support team which you can contact to learn about the products which are available in the country you're moving to. |
Santander | Santander UK may allow you to continue to use your UK account when you move abroad, but does warn that overseas card use will incur a fee. The fees that apply depend on the specific account and card you have but can be up to 2.95% of all spending. |
Alternatives to UK banks for expats living abroad
Banks aren't your only option if you're moving away from the UK and need a way to manage your money. Specialist providers like Wise and Revolut can be handy too. Both offer personal and business account services in many different countries - or if you're looking for a business account only, you might try Payoneer which has global reach too. Here's a side by side summary:
Providers | Supported currencies | Exchange rates | Limits | Account fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
40+ currencies including GBP, USD and EUR | Mid-market rate | Usually around 1 million GBP per transfer Usually no holding limit | No ongoing fees Currency exchange has low, variable fee | |
25+ currencies including GBP, USD and EUR | Revolut rate to plan limit, with out of hours and fair usage fees as applicable | Variable limits based on transaction and currency | Fees depend on account type - from 0 GBP - 54 GBP monthly in the UK | |
Payoneer | 20+ currencies including GBP, USD and EUR | Exchange in your account or when sending a payment for 0.5% | Limits depend on transaction type and your home country | Fees depend on where you live and where your business is registered |
Details correct at time of research - 9th June 2025
Wise
⭐ Hold and exchange 40+ currencies |
Wise offers personal and business accounts in many countries and regions globally. You can open your account in the UK before you leave, or in your new home once you arrive.
In either case you can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and spend or withdraw with a Wise card in 150+ countries.
Wise has a broad range of supported currencies, which makes it convenient to manage your money in GBP and your new home currency all in the same account. All you need is your phone or laptop.
Wise is great for: | Wise may not be for you if: |
|---|---|
✅ Available in many countries and regions globally ✅ Broad range of supported currencies to hold, receive and exchange ✅ Conversion and transfer fees from 0.48% ✅ Spend with a Wise card in 150+ countries | ❌ You prefer to transact in a physical branch ❌ You need credit services or loans |
📚 Learn more on - Wise Account Review or How to open a Wise Account
Revolut
⭐ Choose different account plans depending on how you need to transact |
Revolut is available in many countries and regions globally, and has a huge user base. You can open your account in the UK, or when you arrive at your destination assuming you're heading off to a supported country.
The exact account options do depend on your location, but usually you can choose from several different plans, to hold 25+ currencies, spend with a linked debit card and get some no fee transactions monthly.
Revolut is great for: | Revolut may not be for you if: |
|---|---|
✅ Good range of supported currencies ✅ Different plans depending on the way you transact ✅ Accounts usually offer some no fee transactions and currency conversion monthly ✅ All accounts have a linked debit card | ❌ You want a full feature account with no monthly fee ❌ You need to convert currencies out of hours frequently |
📚 Learn more on - Revolut Account Review
Payoneer
⭐ Global accounts for business customers, to hold 20+ currencies |
If you need an account for your business when you move overseas, Payoneer might be a good pick with multi-currency accounts, card options and ways to take and send payments globally. The exact services you can get from Payoneer will depend a little on where you live and where you register your business, but there are a variety of different plans which can prove a good fit for business owners and freelancers alike.
Payoneer is great for: | Payoneer may not be for you if: |
|---|---|
✅ Business customers receiving foreign currency payments ✅ Taking card payments digitally ✅ Low currency conversion fees for many transactions ✅ Range of additional business tools and perks | ❌ You need a personal account ❌ You need to make cash withdrawals - cards aren't ATM compatible usually |
Can I maintain a UK address while living abroad?
You might want to keep a UK address while living abroad, to make correspondence easier. Some people choose to have their mail redirected to a friend or family member who can hold letters for them until they visit the UK again.
There are also some services which will allow you to use their address for mail for a fee, and which may forward your letters to you overseas, or scan and email them if you request it.
These guides might be helpful:
Do you need to send money to an account in the UK?
If you're planning a move abroad, you'll likely need to send money back to the UK, occasionally or regularly - whether it's just sending money back to your own GBP bank account, paying bills or mortgage or just sending money to family.
Finding a convenient and low cost option to send GBP payments is crucial to avoid excess hassle and costs.
Here are some of the best ways to send money to UK:
Using a multi-currency account: Services like Wise let you hold funds in many currencies and make low cost transfers to the UK and other countries. This can be convenient and cost effective.
Sending money with a money transfer specialist: Money transfer companies offer digital payments which you can arrange online or in an app, for quick or even instant deposit to a bank account in the UK.
Sending money with a bank: Banks around the world offer bank transfers which are secure and reliable, but which can come with a fairly hefty fee including exchange costs and intermediary charges. More information on how to avoid bank transfer fees guide.
Is it illegal to use a UK account while living abroad?
It is not illegal to continue to use a UK account overseas, but it may be against your particular bank's policy. This will mean that the bank has the right to close your account if they believe you are breaking their policy.
Conclusion: Can you keep your UK bank account when you move abroad?
You might be able to keep your normal UK bank account when you leave the UK - but it's pretty common to find you need to close your current account and open an international account instead.
You may be able to open an expat or international account with your bank, or you might prefer a provider like Wise and Revolut for a flexible way to manage your money in pounds and other currencies with low fees and great rates.
Banks set their own policies on accounts for expat customers, and may not allow you to retain your account if you move
Some banks have dedicated international and expat services, and may ask you to open a new account with these divisions when you move
Some banks may restrict accounts in some countries, or may be unable to send physical correspondence like new cards to a specific country
Alternative providers like Wise and Revolut have accounts you can open from many countries and regions, to hold multiple currencies and transact freely
FAQs
Can I keep using my UK credit card if I move abroad?
Banks will often ask you to close your card accounts with them if you move abroad, or they may move you onto an international card and account plan which has its own features and fees. Check the policy of your card issuer before you relocate so there are no surprises.
Do you need to register your new address with your UK bank?
UK banks need to know where their customers live, both for practical and compliance reasons. Update your bank if you move, so you'll know you're complying with the bank's terms and conditions, and so they can get in touch with you when they need to.