Provider profileLast checked 8 November 2026
WorldFirst World Account
A free multi-currency e-money account for UK businesses that trade internationally, with receiving accounts in 20+ currencies, per-payment fees and a cashback card. Not a bank.
- Cheapest plan
- £0 a month
- Available in
- UK
- Your money
- E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS
What it is
World First UK Limited (company number 05022388) is authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (FRN 900508). It is part of Ant International and is not a bank.
How your money is protected
Safeguarded, not FSCS: WorldFirst keeps customer funds separate from its own money in dedicated safeguarding accounts with banking partners and doesn't use them for lending or investing.
Our e-money vs bank account guide explains what this means if a provider fails.
Who can open one
Businesses only: the account is a commercial tool and can't be used for personal purposes. The UK onboarding guides cover limited companies registered at Companies House, applied for by a director, and sole traders. Some industries fall outside WorldFirst's scope.
Headline fees
| Fee | Detail |
|---|---|
| Account | Free to open; no subscription or maintenance fee |
| Currency conversion | 0.30% for your first six months, then up to 0.50% for major currencies |
| GBP payments to the UK | £0.31 (Faster Payments or CHAPS) |
| EUR payments | £0.27 via SEPA; £5.38 to other destinations |
| USD payments | £0.77 to the US; £11.55 to mainland China; £7.69 elsewhere |
| Other currencies | £4.62 to £23.00; free to other World Accounts |
| World Card | No setup or annual fee; £5 shipping per physical card |
| ATM withdrawals | 2%, minimum £1 |
Limits worth knowing
- Card spend has no FX fee only in 15 major currencies paid from a balance in that currency; otherwise WorldFirst converts at a rate it sets.
- The UK pricing page lists up to 25 virtual and 5 physical cards; the UK World Card FAQ lists 15 virtual and 10 physical.
- Businesses turning over £100,000 or more a month can ask for custom pricing.
How it compares
- Incard vs WorldFirstFees, cashback, foreign currency, protection and eligibility side by side.
- WorldFirst alternativesAccounts to look at if WorldFirst doesn't cover what you need.
See all the accounts we've researched.
Our pick for card spendIncard: 1% cashback on ads, software and travel, on a £0 plan
Our pick for UK and Swiss businesses whose main costs go on cards, as long as you don't need bank deposit protection.
Read Incard vs WorldFirstWork out your cashbackCheck eligibility
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- a month on the Free plan, with team cards
- £0
- cashback on ads, software and travel; 0.5% on other eligible spend
- 1%
- IBANs in three currencies
- GBP, EUR, USD
Check WorldFirst World Account's current terms
Fees and eligibility can change. Confirm them on the provider's own site before you apply.
Sources
All checked on 8 November 2026. Where a provider's help centre or legal terms differ from its marketing pages, we follow the help centre and terms.