We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
Anyone experience with Barclays foreign currency accounts?


Is anyone using their accounts and is able to answer a few questions?
- Are you getting normal UK type account details with account number and sort code or is it an international format only e.g. Swift?
- Can you receive e.g. a USD payment under 100 GBP value free or only free in Euro?
- Can you send a USD balance to e.g. Wise without fees by Barclays?
- Would I be able to withdraw a USD balance from Paypal? (Paypal confirmed this is possible to a currency account fee free if Paypal primary currency is the same as the bank account)
I looked at their fee document but find it confusing. Called them and got through after 40 min waiting time just to be told that the guy doesn't know and I need to speak to the international banking team, so more waiting required and gave up.
HSBC also offers currency accounts but is charging $7 for incoming and outgoing transactions so it's a no for me.
Anyone else offering a free service to receive, hold and send USD free? Looked at Fineco but they also seem to charge if I understood it correctly.
Don't hold a Barclays current account and not keen to open one if the currency account isn't suitable.
Thanks!
Comments
-
What's your exact purpose..?
Evolution, not revolution0 -
eDicky said:What's your exact purpose..?1
-
Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
0 -
[Deleted User] said:Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
Anyhow, still not clear on Barclays fee structure. Might go to branch before it closes for good in 2 weeks.0 -
pecunianonolet said:[Deleted User] said:Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
Anyhow, still not clear on Barclays fee structure. Might go to branch before it closes for good in 2 weeks.Suspect strongly that whoever crafted that response doesn't realise that UK current accounts with a value held in anything other than GBP are a thing.PayPal will see UK details and process the transaction as GBP.0 -
pecunianonolet said:[Deleted User] said:Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
Anyhow, still not clear on Barclays fee structure. Might go to branch before it closes for good in 2 weeks.0 -
[Deleted User] said:pecunianonolet said:[Deleted User] said:Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
Anyhow, still not clear on Barclays fee structure. Might go to branch before it closes for good in 2 weeks.Hi, I'm the PayPal Assistant. How can I help? Choose one of these options or add your question below.
4:22 PM
- PayPal Assistant
speak to agent4:23 PM
Would you like to send this conversation to a customer support agent? We typically respond within a few hours.4:23 PM
- PayPal Assistant
Yes4:23 PM
If you haven't already, let us know why you're contacting us. Feel free to step away and we'll notify you by email or push notification when we've responded.4:23 PM
- PayPal Assistant
Hi there,4:23 PM
CAHi there! Thank you for contacting PayPal Messaging! We appreciate your patience while we review your query and we'll reply to you shortly". Please do not end this conversation until you get a response.
4:24 PM
- Christina
CACan you kindly elaborate your concern by sharing transaction id and amount? so I can help.
This is a messaging platform and active for 48 hours, you may post all your queries and not have to wait for an online advisor, when we get connected, we would immediately review/research and notify you with a resolution4:24 PM
- Christina
I have a USD balance and have a USD current account with a UK bank. How can I withdraw a USD balance to a USD account? As it is the same currency, there is no conversion needed.The currency account is currently not linked (yet) to Paypal as I first want to understand if this is possible.4:28 PM
CAI understand your concern regarding withdrawing your funds to bank.
As of now the primary currency value on PayPal is GBP, I can change to USD, so you don't face issues when you withdraw funds to USD bank.
Kindly confirm if you want me to change to USD.4:28 PM
- Christina
CAAlso can you help me with the last 2 digits of bank or card you wish to withdraw?
4:29 PM
- Christina
Can I withdraw USD to a USD nominated account in UK?4:29 PM
CAYou can do that if your PayPal and bank or card has USD as primary balance on their end.
4:29 PM
- Christina
Ok, so the steps would be that I link my USD denominated account with a UK bank. The next step would be to change the primary currency to USD and I can withdraw without currency conversion my USD?4:31 PM
CAYes, I can change the currency to USD on PayPal right away.
Later you can check with your bank or card and set up USD as primary currency so you don't get charged for currency conversion.4:32 PM
- Christina
And that would be fee free, same as I currently can withdraw GBP to a GBP account?4:32 PM
CAYes, you are right.
4:33 PM
- Christina
can i change the currency myself so I would be able to do this at a later time4:33 PM
CAYes.
Here's how to select a currency for your primary balance:- Click Wallet near the top of the page.
- If you only hold one currency, you must first click Add a currency to add the currency you wish to convert to.
- Click the three dots
next to the currency you want to make primary and select Make primary.
- Click Set as Primary.
Your primary balance is your default currency, and is used to send and request payments.
4:34 PM
- Christina
4:35 PM
0 -
pecunianonolet said:[Deleted User] said:pecunianonolet said:[Deleted User] said:Paypal are talking trash - a UK Barclays USD account will not work with Paypal and to transact with Wise you'll likely need to use SWIFT which usually attracts a charge at both ends.
Anyhow, still not clear on Barclays fee structure. Might go to branch before it closes for good in 2 weeks.Hi, I'm the PayPal Assistant. How can I help? Choose one of these options or add your question below.
4:22 PM
- PayPal Assistant
speak to agent4:23 PM
Would you like to send this conversation to a customer support agent? We typically respond within a few hours.4:23 PM
- PayPal Assistant
Yes4:23 PM
If you haven't already, let us know why you're contacting us. Feel free to step away and we'll notify you by email or push notification when we've responded.4:23 PM
- PayPal Assistant
Hi there,4:23 PM
CAHi there! Thank you for contacting PayPal Messaging! We appreciate your patience while we review your query and we'll reply to you shortly". Please do not end this conversation until you get a response.
4:24 PM
- Christina
CACan you kindly elaborate your concern by sharing transaction id and amount? so I can help.
This is a messaging platform and active for 48 hours, you may post all your queries and not have to wait for an online advisor, when we get connected, we would immediately review/research and notify you with a resolution4:24 PM
- Christina
I have a USD balance and have a USD current account with a UK bank. How can I withdraw a USD balance to a USD account? As it is the same currency, there is no conversion needed.The currency account is currently not linked (yet) to Paypal as I first want to understand if this is possible.4:28 PM
CAI understand your concern regarding withdrawing your funds to bank.
As of now the primary currency value on PayPal is GBP, I can change to USD, so you don't face issues when you withdraw funds to USD bank.
Kindly confirm if you want me to change to USD.4:28 PM
- Christina
CAAlso can you help me with the last 2 digits of bank or card you wish to withdraw?
4:29 PM
- Christina
Can I withdraw USD to a USD nominated account in UK?4:29 PM
CAYou can do that if your PayPal and bank or card has USD as primary balance on their end.
4:29 PM
- Christina
Ok, so the steps would be that I link my USD denominated account with a UK bank. The next step would be to change the primary currency to USD and I can withdraw without currency conversion my USD?4:31 PM
CAYes, I can change the currency to USD on PayPal right away.
Later you can check with your bank or card and set up USD as primary currency so you don't get charged for currency conversion.4:32 PM
- Christina
And that would be fee free, same as I currently can withdraw GBP to a GBP account?4:32 PM
CAYes, you are right.
4:33 PM
- Christina
can i change the currency myself so I would be able to do this at a later time4:33 PM
CAYes.
Here's how to select a currency for your primary balance:- Click Wallet near the top of the page.
- If you only hold one currency, you must first click Add a currency to add the currency you wish to convert to.
- Click the three dots
next to the currency you want to make primary and select Make primary.
- Click Set as Primary.
Your primary balance is your default currency, and is used to send and request payments.
4:34 PM
- Christina
4:35 PM
Good luck with your future endeavours.
0 -
I opened one of these Barclays accounts recently thinking it may be a good option for Euro transactions in addition to my existing HSBC Currency, HSBC Global Money, Fineco, Revolut etc, but only seem to have a UK sort code and account number; no IBAN or anything like that visible, and it also seems at the moment I can't pay or transfer from it. Barclays CS say I can have a Euro chequebook BUT can only pay Euros into a UK bank account, so that seems a bit useless.
Ideally, I was hoping for something which allows SEPA standing orders/direct debits for paying European energy bills & council tax for a property. I'm not sure if this Barclays account just takes a while to set up, or if this is it. Have I completely missed the point of this account or does it have some kind of use that escapes me?0 -
PloughmansLunch said:I opened one of these Barclays accounts recently thinking it may be a good option for Euro transactions in addition to my existing HSBC Currency, HSBC Global Money, Fineco, Revolut etc, but only seem to have a UK sort code and account number; no IBAN or anything like that visible, and it also seems at the moment I can't pay or transfer from it. Barclays CS say I can have a Euro chequebook BUT can only pay Euros into a UK bank account, so that seems a bit useless.
Ideally, I was hoping for something which allows SEPA standing orders/direct debits for paying European energy bills & council tax for a property. I'm not sure if this Barclays account just takes a while to set up, or if this is it. Have I completely missed the point of this account or does it have some kind of use that escapes me?
If you make transaction into Barclays, do you have any fees? I think Euro is totally fee free but not sure about USD.
I have a Euro currency account and Global money with HSBC and can easily transfer from my Euro Global money to any Euro account without problem and also receive Euro payments into my Euro currency account. Unfortunately, HSBC is charging a fee for any incoming or outgoing USD payments for a USD currency account so not an option for me.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.2K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards