What is a foreign currency account and how does it work?

With a foreign currency account, you hold balances in currencies like USD, GBP or CHF in a single account. You send and receive payments worldwide more easily and avoid unnecessary conversions in your day-to-day.

How much does a foreign currency account cost?

Costs depend on your plan and the features you use. With Vivid, you can use a foreign currency account for free and manage multiple currencies flexibly. Certain transactions or additional features may carry fees depending on usage.

How secure is a foreign currency account?

Modern security standards and secure verification processes protect your account, payments and balances every day. You manage international finances safely and keep all transactions in one central view.

How can I open a foreign currency account?

You open a foreign currency account fully online in just a few minutes. You'll need personal or business details and a digital verification.

Which currencies can I hold?

Depending on the provider, you can hold currencies like USD, EUR, GBP or CHF directly in your account. International balances stay flexible and in one place.

What is the difference between a foreign currency account and a forex account?

The terms are often used interchangeably. A forex account usually describes an account for foreign currency balances and international payments. The differences mostly come down to the features and services of each provider.

Who benefits from a foreign currency account?

An international bank account suits personal and business customers with international payments, foreign income or multiple currencies. You organise your finances worldwide more easily and cut unnecessary exchange costs.

Open a foreign currency account

With the foreign currency account, you manage multiple currencies flexibly in one place. Send international payments, cut unnecessary exchange costs and keep balances in USD, EUR or GBP in view at all times. The account suits personal and business customers who receive payments, manage money or operate internationally.

Open a business account

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Best business account 2025
Detective-banque.fr
№1 online bank for businesses
Lespionnieres.org
Reviews of Vivid: Very good
Lecomparatifdesbanques
.com
"Very good level of service"
Finance-heros.fr

Benefits of a foreign currency account

Manage multiple currencies in one account
Hold balances in currencies like USD, EUR or GBP in one place. With a multi-currency account, you keep all balances in view, avoid unnecessary conversions and manage international payments with more flexibility. That makes handling foreign income, international expenses and shifting exchange rates much easier.
Reduce exchange rate costs
Exchange currencies flexibly when the moment is right and cut unnecessary exchange costs. You stay in control of international payments and spending in foreign currencies.
Handle international payments with ease
Send and receive payments worldwide more easily and efficiently. With an international account, you manage cross-border transactions in one clear place and keep your payment flow in view at all times.
Flexibility for personal and business customers
Use different currencies flexibly for travel, foreign income or international payments. Personal customers manage spending and balances in foreign currencies more easily, while businesses organise international transactions, payments to global partners and income from abroad in one place. Your finances stay in view, worldwide.

Which currencies are available?

Manage currencies like USD, EUR, GBP or CHF flexibly in one account and keep international payments in clear view. If you want to open a dollar account, you hold US dollar balances in one place and cut unnecessary exchange costs in your day-to-day.

Who is a foreign currency account for?

For international business and payments

Manage international payments directly in different currencies and avoid unnecessary conversions. Pay international suppliers, receive payments from abroad and organise global business spending in one place. International business, run more efficiently with less admin.

For travel, investments and foreign income

Use a foreign currency account as a personal customer for travel, international investments or income from abroad. You manage multiple currencies with more flexibility and avoid frequent exchange costs.

Your foreign currency account in 3 steps

Apply online

Open your account fully online and provide personal or business details digitally. Opening a foreign currency account takes just a few minutes — no paperwork, no long waiting times.

Verify your identity

Confirm your identity securely via VideoIdent or digital verification. Your account is reviewed quickly and prepared for international payments.

Start using your account

Once approved, you can manage multiple currencies directly, send payments and keep balances in one place. International finances, organised flexibly.

Open a foreign currency account

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Foreign currency account features

Send and receive payments in foreign currencies

Send and receive international payments directly in different currencies and avoid unnecessary conversions. Organise transactions worldwide more easily, keep incoming international payments in view and manage spending flexibly in one place.

Exchange currencies flexibly

Exchange currencies right in your account and react flexibly to exchange rates. If you want to open a USD account, you manage US dollar balances directly and exchange currencies when the timing works for you. That cuts unnecessary exchange costs in your day-to-day.

All balances in one view

Keep balances in different currencies in one central overview. Manage international finances with more transparency, organise payments more easily and always know how much is available.

Plans for foreign currency accounts

Monthly

Payment period

Annual

Save up to 24%

Optimal for growing companies with high activity and advanced needs — built to keep fast teams in sync

Free Start
Suited for newly registered companies setting up finances and looking to try key banking features for free
0 € / month
Free of charge at all times
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with French IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    0,1%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    0,2%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,1%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    2%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    5 €
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes
Basic
Great fit for small businesses with steady transactions needing reliable everyday banking at a low cost
6,9 € / month
2 months free trial
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with French IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    0,5%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    1%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,2%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    4%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    5 free per month, then 5 €
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes
Pro
Optimal for growing companies with high activity and advanced needs — built to keep fast teams in sync
18,9 € / month
2 months free trial
Get started
- Accounts & Interest
  - Free accounts with French IBANs
    Unlimited
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a.*
    4%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 4 months*
    1,3%
  - Initial fixed interest rate p.a., USD/GBP*
    5%
  - Fixed interest rate p.a. after 5 months, USD/GBP*
    2%
- Cards & Cashback
  - Guaranteed unlimited cashback
    0,5%
  - Cashback on selected categories and brands, up to
    6%
  - Virtual and physical cards
    Free
  - Card spending limits for ads & IT services
    Unlimited
- Transfers
  - SEPA Instant
    Free
  - Incoming SWIFT
    Free
  - Outgoing SWIFT
    10 free per month, then 5 €
- Support
  - 24/7 human support
    Yes

Features you get on every plan

Invoicing
Free
Document uploads for bookkeeping (on every paid plan)
Unlimited
Integrations (sevDesk, Lexware Office, DATEV, ...)
Free
Business travel cashback up to
30%
Crypto Earn rewards up to
8% APY
Fee for receiving card payments from clients (EEA cards), from
0,79% (+0,25 €)
Business Brokerage (stocks, ETFs, crypto)
Free
Digital employees (personal and legal AI assistants)
Free

Compare all features

Here's why customers love us

Excellent! | 26,000+ reviews

5.0

Recommended for freelancers and business owners

So far my experience with Vivid has been great. From the customer service, the account opening, and the digital experience, I haven't had any issues with Vivid. I can only recommend it!

Erick Daniel, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

I chose Vivid.Money

I chose Vivid.Money because it allows me to manage accounts for all my businesses in one place. Compared to other online banking systems I’ve tried, it offers the best value for money. For one of my businesses, I upgraded to the Pro account—it gives me access to real human support and the highest interest rates I’ve seen on the market. While their regular customer service is already solid, having the option to speak directly with someone was essential for me to build trust. Beyond the practical benefits, I genuinely appreciate how Vivid.Money supports my financial awareness. It’s a service I enjoy using and one that makes me more financially conscious day by day.

Lorand Balazs Imre, Germany

Trustpilot

4.0

Super quick Business account creation

I’d give 4.5 stars as my experience with Vivid has been great, but there is always room for improvement. Especially setting up the business account was so easy and fast, this really struck me. The new feature with E-invoicing is also quite useful but needs some more work with additional fields (e.g. my own tax ID). Looking forward trying more the cashback programs.

Eric, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

I really love Vivid Bank

I really love Vivid Bank. Really easy to sign up. I love the fact I can have different space with different account numbers where I can transfer money to. The business account has a great interest rate and most important, the costumer support is excellent, something rare these days. Kudos to you and keep up with the good work!

Shaqueera Grey, Spain

Trustpilot

5.0

Very fast and good

Very fast approval, IBAN with connection to DATEV Unternehmen Online and VISA card within 2 days. Works perferct

Mark, Germany

Trustpilot

5.0

Best business banking platform in Europe

The experience with vivid is super smooth and the terms are great!

Marcel, Germany

Trustpilot

Frequently asked questions about the foreign currency account

What is a foreign currency account and how does it work?
With a foreign currency account, you hold balances in currencies like USD, GBP or CHF in a single account. You send and receive payments worldwide more easily and avoid unnecessary conversions in your day-to-day.
How much does a foreign currency account cost?
Costs depend on your plan and the features you use. With Vivid, you can use a foreign currency account for free and manage multiple currencies flexibly. Certain transactions or additional features may carry fees depending on usage.
How secure is a foreign currency account?
Modern security standards and secure verification processes protect your account, payments and balances every day. You manage international finances safely and keep all transactions in one central view.
How can I open a foreign currency account?
You open a foreign currency account fully online in just a few minutes. You'll need personal or business details and a digital verification.
Which currencies can I hold?
Depending on the provider, you can hold currencies like USD, EUR, GBP or CHF directly in your account. International balances stay flexible and in one place.
What is the difference between a foreign currency account and a forex account?
The terms are often used interchangeably. A forex account usually describes an account for foreign currency balances and international payments. The differences mostly come down to the features and services of each provider.
Who benefits from a foreign currency account?
An international bank account suits personal and business customers with international payments, foreign income or multiple currencies. You organise your finances worldwide more easily and cut unnecessary exchange costs.