How to top-up a Wise account in the UK 2024

Wise is a popular, low cost service allowing customers to send, hold, spend, exchange and receive 50+ currencies with just a smartphone or laptop.

If you’d like to hold a Wise balance ready to spend or send payments at a later date you can do so - and you’ll also be able to get local account details for GBP and up to 8 other major foreign currencies, so you can get paid conveniently from 30+ countries. Hold your Wise balance in any of the supported currencies you prefer, convert with the mid-market rate to a different currency, use your balance to send payments to 70+ countries, or spend with a linked Wise card in 170+ countries.

In this article, we’ll cover the ways you can top-up your Wise balance, including the fees and delivery times for different options.

Key points: Wise Account in the UK

• Receive payments to a Wise account in GBP and 8 other currencies, using local bank details

• Top up a Wise account by low cost transfer - usually direct from your bank - or fast transfer using a debit card, credit card or Apple Pay for example

• You may also be able to top up via SWIFT from a GBP account hold outside the UK

• Topping up GBP from GBP using a low cost transfer is free, fast transfers have a small fee, but can mean your money arrives quicker

• GBP funds added to Wise from a GBP bank usually arrive on the same day

  

Can you add money to Wise in the UK?

Yes. You can open a multi-currency Wise account online or in the Wise app, and add a balance in any of up to 20 supported currencies. You can also get local bank details for 9 currencies, including USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, RON, and SGD, to receive money to Wise through a bank transfer.

How to add money to your Wise account

Once you have a Wise account you can add money online or in the Wise app easily.

Here’s how to add money to a Wise account:

1. Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to

2. Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add

3. Select how you’d like to pay, and click Continue to payment

4. Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app

It’s helpful to know that when adding money to Wise this way, the bank account you use to pay for your top up must be in the same name as your Wise account. If someone else is sending you money to Wise you can give them the Wise account details for the currency you want to receive instead - more on that next.

Read a full Wise Review here.

3 ways to top-up a Wise balance

There are several different ways to add money to Wise, so you can pick depending on what’s most convenient. Firstly we’ll cover ways you can add money to your own Wise account - you can also have someone else send you money by giving them your Wise details for the specific currency they need to send. We’ll look at more on how to receive money to Wise later.

We’ll look at these 3 popular methods to top up a Wise balance:

1. How to add money to Wise from your bank account

2. How to add money to Wise with a credit card or debit card

3. How to add money through the Wise app

Option 1: How to add money to Wise from your Bank Account

If you’re adding money to Wise from a GBP bank account held in your name you can choose to top up funds by low cost transfer. The process is simple, and you’re guided through every step in the app or over on the Wise desktop site.

Here’s how to add money to Wise from your bank account:

1. Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to

2. Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add

3. Select pay by low cost transfer, and click Continue to payment

4. You’ll be able to choose a manual bank transfer - customers from some banks can also authorise the payment from their bank account directly

5. Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app

If you’d rather you can also add money to Wise using your local account details for the currency you’re adding. In this case you’ll simply get your account details from the Wise app (more on how to do that, later), and log into your regular online banking service to set up a transfer to Wise. The process is basically the same as sending money to a friend, but you’ll be able to make transfers into Wise in a selection of foreign currencies as well as GBP.

Option 2: How to add money to Wise with a credit card or debit card

If you’d prefer, you can also use a credit card or a debit card to add money to your Wise account. The fees for adding money do vary based on the payment type, and using a card may be slightly more expensive than using a transfer from your bank. However, you might find that your money is available faster when using a card.

Here’s how to add money to Wise using a credit card or debit card:

1. Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to

2. Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add

3. Select pay by credit card or debit card, according to your preference, and click Continue to payment - you may also be able to pay with a mobile wallet like Apple Pay

4. Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app

Option 3: How to add money through Wise App

You’ll be able to add money to Wise online by logging into your Wise account on the Wise desktop site, or through the Wise app. Using the app is convenient, and means you can top up using the methods mentioned above, even when you’re out and about.

How much does it cost to add money to Wise?

As we’ve mentioned, you’ve got a couple of options when adding to your Wise balance. You can either top up in the app or online, or you can use your Wise account details to make a bank transfer or have someone else send you a payment in a selection of currencies.

Here’s what it costs you to add money to Wise through the Wise app or desktop site, in GBP, based on the payment method you prefer:

• Fast transfer (such as a debit card) - variable fee of 0.42%

• Low cost transfer (such as a bank transfer) - free

The costs may vary slightly if you’re topping up in a different currency, but you can see all your options, and the fees involved, on the Wise app before you confirm your transaction.

You can also get account details for 9 currencies, including major global currencies like GBP and USD. Give these details to someone who’s sending you a payment, and the funds will be deposited right into your Wise balance automatically. Or, if you’d prefer, you can use the details for the currency you’re looking to top up, and arrange a transfer from your own bank to Wise instead.

Here’s what it costs to receive money to Wise using your local account details:

• Receive GBP, AUD, CAD, EUR, HUF, NZD, RON, SGD, USD (non-wire): Free

• Receive USD wire: 4.14 USD fee

Read more about Wise fees here.

How long will it take to add money to Wise?

The length of time it takes to receive money to your Wise account, or for your top up to be ready, can depend on the currency being received, and the preferred payment method.

Some factors that can impact how long it takes for your money to arrive in your Wise account include:

• Where the payment is being sent from

• Public holidays or bank closures in the UK or in the country the sender’s account is held in

• Intermediary bank processes

• Required verification checks

How much money can I hold in a Wise account?

For UK Wise customers there are usually no limits to the amount you can hold in Wise.

However, for Wise account holders from other countries, there may be a limit to the total amount you can hold with Wise, depending on the currencies involved and where you live.

Can you deposit cash into your Wise account?

No, you can not deposit cash into your Wise account. Instead you’ll be able to choose to add funds in your preferred currency, with payment options including bank transfers, mobile wallets and cards.

How to open a currency balance in a Wise account

Wise customers can hold and exchange 50+ currencies, with local account details available to receive 9 currencies conveniently by bank transfer. To receive a transfer to your Wise account you’ll need to open a currency balance in the currency you need to receive, and then give your local account details to the person sending you money. You can also use these local details to transfer money from your own bank account to Wise if you’d prefer.

Here’s how to open a currency balance in your Wise account:

1. Log into your Wise account and go to Home

2. Choose Open - look for the plus symbol

3. Select Balance and choose the currency you want to open

4. Follow the prompts to complete any required verification step, and to add funds if this is your first currency balance

5. Tap to confirm and your currency balance is instantly opened

The first time you open a currency balance with Wise you may be prompted to complete a verification step to keep your account secure. You may also be prompted to add funds to your balance - usually the equivalent of 20 GBP - to activate the account. The money is yours to use as you please once you’ve added it.

How to receive money to your Wise account

You can receive money to your Wise account using your local bank details in up to 9 different supported currencies. Just give the details for the currency you want to receive to the person sending you money, and they can make a bank transfer to Wise just as they would make any other payment.

Here’s how to get your local account details from Wise:

1. Log into your Wise account and go to Home

2. Tap the currency balance you want details for

3. Select Get account details

4. You’ll be able to copy and share your account details right from the Wise app

How to top-up Wise card in the UK

Once you have a Wise account you can also order a linked international Wise card for spending in 170+ countries. There’s no need to specifically top up your card - when you spend on the Wise card, the funds are automatically deducted from your Wise account balance in the currency you’re spending. And if you don’t have the right currency in your account, the card can convert for you with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.

Use the steps laid out in this guide to top up your Wise account and then you can spend freely with your Wise card wherever you happen to be.

Conclusion

The Wise account and card offer great flexibility with 50+ supported currencies, and easy ways to get paid like a local from 30+ countries. Plus you can add funds yourself to Wise using a bank transfer or card, to send payments and spend with your Wise card.

Choose to add money to Wise online or in the Wise app, either by receiving money to Wise using your local details, or by topping up directly in your preferred currency - then you can convert to the currency you need, send payments or spend, all with the mid-market exchange rate.