How to top-up Wise account
Wise is a popular, low cost service allowing customers to send, hold, spend, exchange and receive 40+ currencies with just a smartphone or laptop.
If you’d like to hold a Wise balance ready to spend or send payments at a later date you can do so – and you’ll also be able to get local account details in 10 currencies including USD and 9 other major foreign currencies, so you can get paid conveniently from 30+ countries. Hold your Wise balance in any of the 40+ supported currencies you prefer, convert with the mid-market rate to a different currency, use your balance to send payments to 70+ countries, or spend with a linked Wise card in 170+ countries.
In this article, we’ll cover the ways you can top-up your Wise balance, including the fees and delivery times for different options.
Key points: Wise Account in the US
- Receive payments to a Wise account in USD and 9 other currencies, using local bank details
- Top up a Wise account by ACH, wire, debit or credit card
- Some top up methods are free, others have a small fee, but can mean your money arrives much quicker
- USD funds added to Wise by ACH can take 1 – 3 days to arrive, wire transfers can arrive in a day
Can you add money to Wise in the US?
Yes. You can open a Wise account online or in the Wise app, and add a balance in any of up to 40+ supported currencies. You can also get local bank details for 10 currencies, including USD, AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, RON, and SGD, to receive money to Wise through a bank transfer.
How to add money to your Wise account
Once you have a Wise account you can add money online or in the Wise app easily.
Here’s how to add money to a Wise account:
- Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to
- Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add
- Select how you’d like to pay, and click Continue to payment
- Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app
It’s helpful to know that when adding money to Wise this way, the bank account you use to pay for your top up must be in the same name as your Wise account. If someone else is sending you money to Wise you can give them the Wise account details for the currency you want to receive instead – more on that next.
3 ways to top-up a Wise balance
There are several different ways to add money to Wise, so you can pick depending on what’s most convenient. Firstly we’ll cover ways you can add money to your own Wise account – you can also have someone else send you money by giving them your Wise details for the specific currency they need to send. We’ll look at more on how to receive money to Wise later.
We’ll look at these 3 popular methods to top up a Wise balance:
- How to add money to Wise from your bank account
- How to add money to Wise with a credit card or debit card
- How to add money through the Wise app
Option 1: How to add money to Wise from your Bank Account
If you’re adding money to Wise from a USD bank account held in your name you can choose to top up funds by ACH, wire or bill payment. The process is simple, and you’re guided through every step in the app or over on the Wise desktop site.
Here’s how to add money to Wise from your bank account:
- Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to
- Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add
- Select pay by ACH, bill payment, or wire, according to your preference, and click Continue to payment
- Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app
If you’d rather you can also add money to Wise using your local account details for the currency you’re adding. In this case you’ll simply get your account details from the Wise app (more on how to do that, later), and log into your regular online banking service to set up a transfer to Wise. The process is basically the same as sending money to a friend, but you’ll be able to make transfers into Wise in a selection of foreign currencies as well as USD.
Option 2: How to add money to Wise with a credit card or debit card
If you’d prefer, you can also use a credit card or a debit card to add money to your Wise account. The fees for adding money do vary based on the payment type, and using a card may be slightly more expensive than using a wire or ACH. However, you might find that your money is available faster when using a card.
Here’s how to add money to Wise using a credit card or debit card:
- Go to the currency balance you’d like to add money to
- Click Add and enter the amount and currency to add
- Select pay by credit card or debit card, according to your preference, and click Continue to payment
- Depending on how you’d like to pay, you’ll be guided through the payment steps within the Wise app
How to add money through Wise App
You’ll be able to add money to Wise online by logging into your Wise account on the Wise desktop site, or through the Wise app. Using the app is convenient, and means you can top up using the methods mentioned above, even when you’re out and about.
How much does it cost to add money to Wise?
As we’ve mentioned, you’ve got a couple of options when adding to your Wise balance. You can either top up in the app or online, or you can use your Wise account details to make a bank transfer or have someone else send you a payment in a selection of currencies.
The fees for these services vary depending on the way you pay and the type of transfer.
Here’s what it costs you to add money to Wise through the Wise app or desktop site, in USD, based on the payment method you prefer:
- Debit card – variable fee of 1.56%
- Credit card card – variable fee of 5.01%
- ACH – variable fee of 0.13%
- Bill payment – fixed fee of 2.96 USD + variable fee of 0.01%
- Wire transfer – fixed fee of 3.52 USD
The costs may vary slightly if you’re topping up in a different currency, but you can see all your options, and the fees involved, on the Wise app before you confirm your transaction.
You can also get account details for 10 currencies, including major global currencies like USD and GBP. Give these details to someone who’s sending you a payment, and the funds will be deposited right into your Wise balance automatically. Or, if you’d prefer, you can use the details for the currency you’re looking to top up, and arrange a transfer from your own bank to Wise instead.
Here’s what it costs to receive money to Wise using your local account details:
- Receive AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HUF, NZD, RON, TUR, SGD, USD (non-wire): Free
- Receive USD wire: 4.14 USD fee
How long will it take to add money to Wise?
The length of time it takes to receive money to your Wise account, or for your top up to be ready, can depend on the currency being received, and the preferred payment method.
Here’s how long it takes to add money to Wise with some popular payment methods:
- Receiving money to Wise by wire transfer – 1 working day
- Receiving money to Wise by ACH transfer – 1 to 3 working days
- Receiving money to Wise sent from outside the US – 4 to 5 working days
Some factors that can impact how long it takes for your money to arrive in your Wise account include:
- Where the payment is being sent from
- Public holidays or bank closures in the US or in the country the sender’s account is held in
- Intermediary bank processes
- Required verification checks
How much money can I hold in a Wise account?
There may be a limit to the total amount you can hold with Wise, depending on the currencies involved and where you live.
For US Wise customers with a Wise routing number starting in 026, the maximum amount you can receive into a personal account is 35 million USD a year. Business account holders can receive up to 50 million USD in their account balance over the course of the year. These limits apply whenever you use your US Wise account information to receive a transfer – but they do not apply when you use the add money function to deposit USD funds to your Wise balance.
US Wise customers with a routing number starting with 084 do not have any limit on the amount of USD they can receive to their account.
Can you deposit cash into your Wise account?
No, you can not deposit cash into your Wise account. Instead you’ll be able to choose to add funds in your preferred currency, with payment options including wire and ACH, credit and debit card.
How to open a currency balance in a Wise account
Wise customers can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, with local account details available to receive 9 currencies conveniently by bank transfer. To receive a transfer to your Wise account you’ll need to open a currency balance in the currency you need to receive, and then give your local account details to the person sending you money. You can also use these local details to transfer money from your own bank account to Wise if you’d prefer.
Here’s how to open a currency balance in your Wise account:
- Log into your Wise account and go to Home
- Choose Open – look for the plus symbol
- Select Balance and choose the currency you want to open
- Follow the prompts to complete any required verification step, and to add funds if this is your first currency balance
- Tap to confirm and your currency balance is instantly opened
The first time you open a currency balance with Wise you may be prompted to complete a verification step to keep your account secure. You may also be prompted to add funds to your balance – usually the equivalent of 20 GBP – to activate the account. The money is yours to use as you please once you’ve added it.
How to receive money to your Wise account
You can receive money to your Wise account using your local bank details in up to 9 different supported currencies. Just give the details for the currency you want to receive to the person sending you money, and they can make a bank transfer to Wise just as they would make any other payment.
Here’s how to get your local account details from Wise:
- Log into your Wise account and go to Home
- Tap the currency balance you want details for
- Select Get account details
- You’ll be able to copy and share your account details right from the Wise app
How to top-up Wise card in the US
Once you have a Wise account you can also get a linked Wise card for spending in 170+ countries. There’s no need to specifically top up your card – when you spend on the Wise card, the funds are automatically deducted from your Wise account balance in the currency you’re spending. And if you don’t have the right currency in your account, the card can convert for you with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.41%.
Use the steps laid out in this guide to top up your Wise account and then you can spend freely with your Wise card wherever you happen to be.
Learn more about Wise card here: Wise debit card review
Conclusion
The Wise account and card offer great flexibility with 40+ supported currencies, and easy ways to get paid like a local from 30+ countries. Plus you can add funds yourself to Wise using a wire, ACH or card, to send payments and spend with your Wise card.
Choose to add money to Wise online or in the Wise app, either by receiving money to Wise using your local details, or by topping up directly in your preferred currency – then you can convert to the currency you need, send payments or spend, all with the mid-market exchange rate.
How to top-up your Wise account in the US FAQs
How do I put money into my Wise account in the US?
Top up your Wise US account with your credit card or debit card, by ACH or wire transfer. You can also get USD bank details to have someone else send you a USD transfer to Wise.
What’s the cheapest way to add money to my Wise account?
Receiving money to Wise in USD by ACH using your local account details is free. For other top up payment methods, and to receive a USD wire using your local details, there are low, transparent fees which you’ll see in the Wise app when you arrange your top up.
Can I top up my Wise account with cash?
No, you can not top up Wise with cash. You can add money by wire, ACH or with a card.
What currencies can I use to top up my Wise account?
You can top up your Wise account in up to 20 currencies, or you can get local bank details for 9 currencies to receive a payment deposited to your Wise balance in USD, GBP, EUR, CAD and more.
Is it free to add money to a Wise account?
The costs involved with adding money to your Wise account will depend on the way you want to pay and the transfer or top up details. There are small fees to top up Wise with a card, by wire or ACH, and there’s also a fee to receive a USD wire to Wise if someone sends you one. However, receiving USD by ACH with your Wise local account details is free.
