Can You Add a US Bank Account to Monzo? [Explained]

If you’re using Monzo for your everyday banking in the UK or live in the U.S. and are curious about this trendy digital bank, you might be wondering whether you can link a U.S. bank account to Monzo. With the increasing number of people working remotely, traveling internationally, or relocating for business or personal reasons, cross-border financial functionality is more important than ever.

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Monzo and U.S. bank account compatibility. We’ll cover whether it’s possible, what the alternatives are, and how you can manage your money effectively across countries.

What is Monzo?

Monzo is a UK-based digital bank known for its sleek mobile app, transparent banking services, instant spending notifications, and fee-free spending abroad. Since its launch in 2015, Monzo has steadily grown into one of the UK’s most popular challenger banks.

Though Monzo initially started as a prepaid card service, it has evolved into a full banking solution, offering current accounts, savings pots, overdrafts, and even loan products. Today, it functions fully as a bank in the UK and has an international following.

Monzo’s Availability in the U.S.

In 2019, Monzo announced it was entering the U.S. market, marking its first venture outside the UK. However, Monzo’s U.S. operations remain in beta, and as of 2024, only a limited number of U.S. users can access Monzo U.S. accounts through an invite-only process.

This has led to some confusion: does Monzo in the UK work with American bank accounts, and can U.S. customers use Monzo just like their local banking institutions?

Can You Add a U.S. Bank Account to Monzo?

The short answer is: not directly.

If you have a Monzo UK account, there is currently no built-in functionality to add or link a U.S. bank account the way you might link accounts between domestic banks within a country. This is due to a number of reasons, including differences in banking regulations, currency types (GBP vs. USD), and the lack of integration between U.S. and UK bank routing systems.

However, this doesn’t mean you’re out of options. There are several workarounds and alternative methods to move money between a U.S. bank account and your Monzo account, though none are as direct as a traditional account linking feature.

Workarounds and Alternatives

Here are some viable alternatives and methods you can use to move money between a U.S. bank account and Monzo:

1. Use a Currency Transfer Service

Several reliable money transfer services act as a bridge between U.S. bank accounts and UK-based Monzo accounts. Some of the most popular ones include:

Wise (formerly TransferWise) – Known for its low fees and mid-market exchange rates. It allows you to send money from a U.S. bank account to a UK account easily.
Revolut – If you hold both a U.S. and a UK currency account with Revolut, this can be an efficient middleman to transfer funds to Monzo.
PayPal – Though more expensive, PayPal allows fund transfers and currency conversion between international accounts.

Most of these services allow you to input your U.S. bank details and send money directly to your Monzo account using your Monzo account number and sort code.

2. Open a Multi-Currency Account

Several fintech platforms and banks offer multi-currency accounts that support both USD and GBP. These accounts can serve as intermediaries between your U.S. and UK banking accounts.

Some of the notable options include:

Wise Multi-Currency Account – Provides local U.S. and UK bank details, allowing you to hold, send, and receive money in multiple currencies.
Payoneer – Offers virtual bank accounts in multiple currencies and is useful for freelancers, remote workers, and international businesses.

Using one of these accounts, you could receive money into your U.S. currency balance and then convert and send that money to your Monzo account.

3. Use Monzo U.S. (If Eligible)

If you live in the United States, you might be able to join Monzo U.S., which is offered through a partnership with a U.S. bank (as Monzo doesn’t yet have a U.S. banking license itself).

Monzo U.S. accounts have features tailored for American customers, such as compatibility with local bank transfers (ACH), direct deposit, and potentially easier linkage with other U.S. banks. However, this doesn’t mean that you can merge a U.S. Monzo account with your UK Monzo account — the two are currently treated as separate entities.

Monzo UK and International Transfers

If you’re using Monzo in the UK and want to send or receive money internationally, Monzo has integrated with Wise directly within the app. This means:

You can send money abroad from your Monzo account using Wise’s favorable exchange rates.
The integration saves you from needing to use a separate Wise app for outgoing international payments.

Unfortunately, this integration doesn’t allow for incoming transfers from Wise or other services into Monzo from a U.S. bank — you’ll still need to set up the transfer directly through Wise or another platform.

Are There Any Fees or Limitations?

Linking or transferring money between your U.S. bank account and Monzo via third-party services typically involves some fees. Here’s what you should watch out for:

Exchange rate markups – Some services charge a markup on exchange rates; look for platforms that offer the mid-market rate.
Transfer fees – Depending on the service, fees can range from less than $5 to over $20 per transfer.
Time delays – Transfers can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days depending on the method and provider.

Always review the fees and estimated delivery times before initiating any cross-border transaction.

Can You Receive Salary from a U.S. Employer into Monzo?

If you’re working remotely for a U.S.-based company and using Monzo as your main bank, this setup can be tricky due to compatibility issues. Your U.S. employer may not be able to directly deposit money into your Monzo UK account due to the lack of a U.S. routing and account number combination.

The best workaround is to use a service like Wise or Payoneer that provides U.S. bank details to receive salary and then send it to your Monzo account.

Looking Ahead: Will Monzo Add Support for U.S. Bank Accounts?

Monzo has shown interest in expanding its presence in the U.S., but it’s a complex task. A full-scale integration with U.S. banks would likely require Monzo to obtain a U.S. banking license or strengthen its collaboration with local banking platforms. Until then, users will have to rely on the workarounds mentioned above for cross-border financial needs.

Final Thoughts

While you can’t directly add a U.S. bank account to Monzo today, there are practical and efficient ways to bridge the financial gap using third-party services like Wise, Revolut, and multi-currency platforms. Each has its pros and cons, but they can help you manage your finances smoothly across two continents.

As digital banks like Monzo continue to evolve and international banking becomes increasingly seamless, we can expect more convenient and native options in the future. Until then, the clever use of financial tech tools can help make these cross-border money moves nearly hassle-free.