Financial services for expats in the UK
From building your UK credit score from scratch to growing your savings and investments as an international resident, find vetted financial services providers here — reviewed for people moving to or living in the UK.
Browse providers ↓Financial services for expats & new arrivals
Every provider below has been reviewed by our editorial team before listing.
4 providers listed
Leading regulated cryptocurrency exchange available in the UK. Buy, sell and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum and hundreds of other digital assets. FCA-registered and one of the most widely used platforms for expats looking to maintain a crypto portfolio alongside traditional UK investments.
Smart money app that automatically sets aside savings based on your spending habits. Offers cash ISAs, stocks & shares ISAs and investment funds alongside competitive interest rates — designed for people who want to save and grow wealth without thinking about it.
UK savings and investment app covering ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, pensions (SIPPs) and general investment accounts. The Lifetime ISA offers a 25% government bonus on savings used towards a first UK home — particularly useful for expats planning to buy property.
Commission-free investment platform offering stocks, ETFs and a stocks & shares ISA. Fractional shares allow you to invest from as little as £1, making it accessible for new arrivals who want to start investing in the UK market without large minimum deposits.
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Building your financial life as an expat in the UK
Arriving in the UK means starting your financial life from scratch in ways you might not expect. Your overseas credit history does not transfer — UK lenders, landlords and phone providers all rely on UK credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), none of which have access to your records from abroad. For most new arrivals, this means being declined for credit cards, mobile phone contracts and sometimes rental agreements in the first weeks and months.
The fastest way to build a UK credit file is to open a UK bank account, register on the electoral roll as soon as you are eligible, and use a dedicated credit-builder credit card or savings product responsibly. Consistent, on-time payments reported to the credit reference agencies will typically produce a usable credit score within three to six months. Checking your credit file regularly via a free service such as ClearScore or Credit Karma helps you track progress and catch any errors early.
Once your immediate banking and credit needs are covered, most expats turn to building savings and investments in the UK. The UK offers a generous tax-free savings allowance through Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs): each tax year you can save up to £20,000 across cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs or innovative finance ISAs, and all growth and income within the wrapper is free from UK tax. For expats planning to buy a first property in the UK, the Lifetime ISA offers an additional 25% government bonus on up to £4,000 saved per year.
For expats interested in investing beyond ISAs, the UK has a well-developed ecosystem of commission-free platforms and regulated brokers. It is worth noting that cryptocurrency is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so only invest amounts you can afford to lose. Traditional equity investments held in an ISA or general investment account are covered up to £85,000 per institution under FSCS protection.
More services for life in the UK
View all categories →Financial Services — FAQs
Your overseas credit history does not transfer to the UK. The three UK credit reference agencies — Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — have no visibility of your records from abroad, so most new arrivals start with no UK credit file at all. The most effective steps are: open a UK bank account, register on the electoral roll as soon as you are eligible, and use a dedicated credit-builder credit card or savings product. Making regular, on-time payments and keeping balances low will typically produce a usable score within three to six months.
An ISA (Individual Savings Account) is a UK tax-free savings and investment wrapper. You can save up to £20,000 per tax year across cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs and innovative finance ISAs, and all interest, dividends and capital gains within the wrapper are free from UK tax. To open an ISA you must be a UK resident for tax purposes — most expats on a work visa or settled in the UK will qualify. You cannot open an ISA if you are not UK tax resident. Non-residents who held ISAs before leaving the UK can keep them, but cannot make new contributions.
A Lifetime ISA (LISA) allows UK residents aged 18–39 to save up to £4,000 per year towards either a first home purchase or retirement. The government adds a 25% bonus — up to £1,000 per year — making it one of the most generous savings incentives available. For expats planning to buy their first UK property, a LISA held for at least 12 months can be used towards a home worth up to £450,000. Withdrawals for any other purpose before age 60 incur a 25% penalty, which effectively claws back the government bonus plus some of your own savings, so it is only suitable if you are confident about the intended use.
Cryptocurrency exchanges operating in the UK must register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for anti-money laundering purposes. However, crypto assets are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), meaning that if a platform fails, your funds are not protected in the way that cash savings or equity investments would be. Always check that any exchange you use is on the FCA's register of cryptoasset businesses. Capital gains tax applies to profits from selling or exchanging cryptocurrency in the UK — you should report any gains above the annual exempt amount on a Self Assessment tax return.
UK tax residents are generally liable to pay tax on investment income and gains from worldwide sources. Dividends above the annual dividend allowance (£500 for 2024/25) are taxed at dividend tax rates depending on your income band. Capital gains above the annual exempt amount are subject to capital gains tax. Investments held within an ISA are completely sheltered from income tax and CGT. If you have overseas investments or foreign-source dividends, these must be declared on a Self Assessment return. The rules around domicile and the remittance basis can complicate matters for some expats — a tax specialist is recommended if your situation involves significant overseas assets.
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