Living and working abroad

The benefits of an international bank account

If you are living or working outside your home country, a Barclays Wealth International bank account could offer the following benefits:

  • A bank account set up either before or after you have moved country
  • English-speaking help by telephone and 24-hour1 online banking from almost anywhere in the world
  • Match the currency of the account to that in which you receive your income (bank accounts available in sterling, US dollars and euros)
  • Discounted international and multi-currency transactions
  • Ability to send money abroad or home
  • Offshore banking and financial planning2 opportunities
  • Long- and short-term savings in a choice of currencies
  • Loans and mortgages in a variety of structures and currencies
  • Help if you are moving outside your home country to retire.

An international bank account is available to clients with a minimum of £5,000 to deposit, or a gross annual income of £24,000.

Who could benefit from an international bank account?

Our international bank accounts could be ideal if you:

  • Travel extensively
  • Live or work outside your home country
  • Are going to retire outside your home country
  • Are returning to the UK.

Set up a bank account before or after you have moved country
A Barclays Wealth International bank account can cut the hassle of setting up a foreign bank account.

You can avoid having to communicate in a second language and provide accompanying documents. The account could be set up in your home country before you leave, or in your destination country after you have arrived.

To find out if it would be possible to open an account in your country read the application form or contact us using the phone number shown in the blue box on the right of this screen.

English-speaking help by telephone
We have many international banking centres that you can visit around the world, but if there is not one near you then you can call us for help in setting up and managing your account.

24-hour1 internet banking from almost anywhere in the world
You can control your international account from almost any country, and at a time that suits you.

If you have access to the internet then you can use our secure online banking service to make payments, order cards and cheque books and deliver banking instructions.

Match the currency to that in which you receive your income
Our international bank accounts can be set up in sterling, euro or US dollar. So you might be able to get an account that matches the currency in which you are being paid.

Discounted international and multi-currency transactions
You can get discounts if you transfer money or make international payments using the online banking facility, which is designed to be quick, simple and secure.

Send money abroad or home
Sending money abroad or home can be simple and quick with our online and telephone banking services.

Offshore banking and financial planning opportunities2
Depending on your circumstances, you could use your international bank account to place funds or loans offshore to make them work for you as hard as possible.

The offshore jurisdictions we use are widely recognised as being politically and economically stable and highly regulated.

As well as providing a transparent and well-regulated jurisdiction in which to place your money, we can work in conjunction with your independent tax adviser to recommend products and services to help with your tax planning strategy.

We can also work with you and your advisers to help structure your wealth in a way that minimises the impact of changes such as new taxes, new legislation, unstable markets, inflation or changes in your personal life. In doing so we can help you find a balance between protection and flexibility so that you can access your capital when you need to.

Barclays Wealth International does not give tax advice but we are happy to introduce clients to our preferred tax advisers, Ernst and Young.

Long- and short-term savings in a variety of currencies
Depending on which accounts you choose, savings can be held in sterling, euro, US dollar, Australian dollar and Swiss francs.

Our savings accounts include Saver and Bonus Saver, Treasury Deposits and the Liquidity Management Service.

Investments
We also offer a range of investments to suit different requirements of risk and return in a variety of currencies that, depending on your circumstances, could be placed offshore.

The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than your original investment.

Loans and mortgages in a variety of structures and currencies
We offer international mortgages in a choice of currencies and structures.

Our mortgage experts will help you select the right mortgage for you to buy a property in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Gibraltar.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

Remember that where the mortgage is denominated in a currency other than sterling, CHANGES IN THE EXCHANGE RATE MAY INCREASE THE STERLING EQUIVALENT OF THE DEBT.

Open an international bank account

To qualify for an international bank account you will need to deposit a minimum of £5,000 (or currency equivalent) or have an annual income of £24,000 or more. However we offer a range of services so use the 'apply now' button to select the right service for you and then apply online.

Call us on +44 (0)1624 684316†

You have sole responsibility for the management of your tax and legal affairs, including making any applicable filings and payments and complying with any applicable laws and regulations. We have not provided and will not provide you with tax or legal advice and recommend that you obtain your own independent tax and legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

1 For a short period of time every night (UK time), the site may be unavailable whilst we refresh data. Access may also be limited in some countries due to the prohibited transmission of encrypted data over telephone lines. Please contact your local embassy to check your country's legal position.

2 In conjunction with your independent tax advisers.

The products and services described on this page are provided by the following companies, which are part of Barclays Wealth: Barclays Bank PLC in England and Wales and Barclays Private Clients International Limited in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. For further Information on these companies and Barclays Wealth, please read the Important Information.