The best bank for international students in the UK, ranked on what it costs to receive money from home, which banks you can open before you arrive, and the documents you need.
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The 5 best banks in the UK ranked for 2026 on service scores, apps, student, business and expat accounts, and what each one charges to send money abroad. Compare before you switch.
Starling charges 0.4% plus 30p to send money abroad, one of the cheapest in the UK. But it reaches only 34 countries, caps you at £10,000 a day, and takes 2% on money coming in.
TSB charges £10 to £17.50 to send money abroad plus a 3.20% to 3.65% margin that changes with the currency. See the full price list, limits and cheaper options.
Halifax charges £9.50 to send money abroad and adds 3.55% to the exchange rate. See the full cost, the free euro route, limits, timings and cheaper options.
NatWest sends money abroad free on standard payments, but adds up to 2.75% to the rate. See the full cost, why urgent euros are a waste, limits and cheaper options.
Nationwide charges £15 to send money abroad plus 2.2% on the rate, but only 0.5% on money coming in. See the full cost, free accounts, limits and cheaper options.
Barclays charges £0 online to send money abroad and does not publish its exchange rate margin. Here is how to measure it yourself, plus limits, timings and cheaper options.
HSBC charges £5 online plus 2.2% on the exchange rate, so £1,000 costs about £27. See the full fee list, the free routes, limits, timings and cheaper alternatives.
Santander charges £25 plus a 1% to 3% conversion mark-up on international transfers. Full breakdown of fees, limits, timings and cheaper ways to send the same money.
Monzo adds no margin to the exchange rate, so £1,000 costs about £8 against £45 at Lloyds. The full fee structure, limits, timings and the 1% charge on money coming in.
We ranked the big five UK banks on what they really charge. HSBC is best at about £27 on £1,000 and Santander worst at about £55, and two app banks beat all five.
