Check out the foreign currency account
- Exchange currencies 24/7 at real-time rates
- Transfer up to 1 500 euros in foreign currency free of charge
- Arrange everything with ease in KBC Brussels Mobile or KBC Brussels Touch
What is the foreign currency account?
The foreign currency account isn’t a separate bank account – it’s a free additional feature linked to your KBC Brussels Current Account. All you have to do is open a separate ‘money jar’ in KBC Brussels Mobile or KBC Brussels Touch to keep other currencies (such as dollars, yen or pounds) besides euros.
Studying abroad? Exchange your currency in advance and pay your bills without incurring unnecessary fees.
How does it work?
Choose a foreign currency to add to your current account in KBC Brussels Mobile or KBC Brussels Touch.
Exchange euros for the currency of your choice (instant and 24/7 at the current exchange rate).
Make transfers (up to 1 500 euros per transaction) at no cost or receive deposits in that currency.
Starting in summer 2026
Pay abroad in a foreign currency using your standard debit card. Unrestricted and free of charge.
Having a coffee in New York? Pay like a local with your debit card and the amount concerned gets deducted automatically from your dollar balance.
How does it differ from a payment in euros?
Calculation example: paying 1 000 euros in Czech koruna (CZK)*
Suppose you have to pay a bill of 25 000 CZK (or roughly 1 000 euros).
Using your euro account
On top of the 1 000 EUR, you pay approximately:
- 10.41 EUR in exchange fees (about 1%)
- 9.68 EUR in payment fees
- 60.50 EUR in correspondent’s charges
You pay 1 080.59 EUR in total.
Using your foreign currency account
On top of the 1 000 EUR, you pay approximately:
- 10.41 EUR in exchange fees (about 1%)
- 0 EUR in payment fees
- 0 EUR in correspondent’s charges
You pay 1 010.41 EUR in total.
Using your foreign currency account (starting summer 2026)
On top of the 1 000 EUR, you pay approximately:
- 0 EUR in exchange fees
- 0 EUR in payment fees
- 0 EUR in correspondent’s charges
You pay 1 000 EUR in total and therefore no extra charges.
* This example is compiled based on rates applying at a specific time. The actual charges may vary somewhat.
Exchanging your currency in advance yourself is a simple way to avoid the extra charges for foreign currency transfers.
Overview of applicable terms and conditions
Exchanging currencies
- Until summer 2026: a 1% foreign exchange commission will continue to be charged until then on the full amount converted.
- As from summer 2026: no exchange fees for up to 1 500 euros a month and a 1% foreign exchange commission for anything above this amount in that month.
Making international transfers
- Free of charge for transactions up to the equivalent of 1 500 euros.1
- Transferring more than 1 500 euros attracts a payment fee of 0.121% (with a minimum charge of 9.68 euros and a maximum of 145.20 euros). Important: the correspondent bank abroad may also add charges.2
Paying in a foreign currency with your debit card
- Completely free of charge starting summer 2026.
1 Provided that the payee's account can receive this currency. For example, if you transfer Czech koruna to a US dollar account, additional exchange fees will obviously be charged.
2 If you withdraw cash abroad, however, charges may be levied by the foreign provider operating the ATM in question.
FAQs about the foreign currency account
You can add 30 different currencies at present:
United Arab Emirates dirham (AED)
Australian dollar (AUD)
Canadian dollar (CAD)
Swiss franc (CHF)
Chinese yuan (offshore) (CNH)
Czech koruna (CZK)
Danish krone (DKK)
British pound sterling (GBP)
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Hungarian forint (HUF)
Israeli new shekel (ILS)
Indian rupee (INR (A))
Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Japanese yen (JPY)
Kenyan shilling (KES)
Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
Moroccan dirham (MAD)
Mexican peso (MXN)
Norwegian krone (NOK)
New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Polish zloty (PLN)
Rumanian leu (RON)
Saudi riyal (SAR)
Swedish krona (SEK)
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Thai baht (THB)
Tunisian dinar (TND)
Turkish lira (TRY)
US dollar (USD)
South African rand (ZAR)
No, you can use your existing debit card starting in the summer of 2026. However, it is already possible to carry out international transfers in a foreign currency using KBC Brussels Mobile and KBC Brussels Touch.
Yes, you can use the foreign currency account in both KBC Brussels Mobile and KBC Brussels Touch.
You can go to the settings and select what to do if your balance in the foreign currency account is too low.
- Either pay the remaining amount from your euro account (foreign exchange commission applies).
- Or cancel the payment when such a situation arises.
Before exchanging currencies or making an international transfer, you always get a detailed breakdown of the costs involved. You can therefore clearly see if there are any fees and what exactly will be added.
Certain entities/institutions only accept a credit card. Sometimes you’ll also be asked for an amount to be temporarily blocked on your credit card as a guarantee. So, it’s definitely a good idea to have a credit card to fall back on when you’re abroad.
Remember, borrowing also costs money.
The KBC Brussels Credit Card is a credit card issued by: KBC Bank NV, with registered office at Havenlaan 2, 1080 Brussels, Belgium. VAT BE 0462.920.226, RLP Brussels, FSMA 026 256 A.
The KBC Brussels Flex Budget facility is an open-ended credit facility linked to the KBC Brussels Credit Card and used as an additional means of drawing credit.
Lender and card issuer: KBC Bank NV. Subject to your card or credit application being approved by KBC Bank NV.
Your intermediary is the first point of contact for any complaints you may have. If no agreement can be reached, please contact KBC Brussels Complaints Management, Brusselsesteenweg 100, 3000 Leuven, complaints@kbc.be, tel. 016 43 25 94 or ombudsman@ombudsfin.be, https://www.ombudsfin.be/. This does not affect your legal rights.
Yes, that’s perfectly possible. Find out more.
