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Load USD on to currency card in UK
sumzero
Posts: 2 Newbie
After reading far too many FAQ's on currency card sites, it feels like I'm searching for the holy grail.
I have a USD currency account with HSBC and wish to use those dollars as spending money on our upcoming holiday to the States. Is there a card available in the UK that allows you to transfer USD from this account and then spend in USD without going through the double exchange of USD>GBP>USD? Or does anyone know of another solution that won't involve me stuffing my underpants with $$$$'s cash?
Thanks in advance
I have a USD currency account with HSBC and wish to use those dollars as spending money on our upcoming holiday to the States. Is there a card available in the UK that allows you to transfer USD from this account and then spend in USD without going through the double exchange of USD>GBP>USD? Or does anyone know of another solution that won't involve me stuffing my underpants with $$$$'s cash?
Thanks in advance
0
Comments
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I cant imagine any of them being too keen on that as the cards are funded by a small profit built into their conversion rates sterling -> currency.
A straight currency load would given no profit.
Don't you get a debit card with your USD account you can just use?0 -
That appears to be possible with Revolut, but I haven't tried it.0
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Most foreign currency accounts with UK Banks, including HSBC, are of very limited use as they provide no card and levy fees and awful exchange rates to access your money.
The only UK card you can load with USD is Revolut, by bank transfer after signing up on the app. HSBC will doubtless charge a fee for the transfer, the Revolut MasterCard costs a fiver.
https://revolut..comEvolution, not revolution0 -
Unfortunately, HSBC provides no card support for their foreign currency accounts. And yes, you will pay a fee to pay in / withdraw / transfer etc but it still works out better when dealing with larger quantities of currency. At least you can choose when to exchange and more importantly, who with. HSBC quoted for an exchange of $4300 and said it would return at £3007. That's nearly a £400 commission over the best exchange I found online that day. Never ever ever get HSBC to exchange currency. Probably the worst I've ever seen.
Thanks for the heads up on Revolut. Will check them out now0 -
Consider Fineco Bank instead of HSBC, still no USD card but less fees and close to interbank rates:
https://finecobank.co.uk/uk/joinus/index.html#fineco-simpleEvolution, not revolution0
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