Best foreign currency accounts for e-commerce sellers in South Asia [2026]

Learn more about the best foreign currency accounts in South Asia based on fees, currencies, availability and account features

Key takeaways

• Foreign currency accounts allow businesses to send, receive, hold and convert payments in currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR
• WorldFirst offers a multi-currency business account with 15+ currencies, marketplace collections and international payment features
• Payoneer supports international payments across Pakistan and Bangladesh with multi-currency receiving and global transfers
• Wise provides personal accounts in Pakistan and Bangladesh
• SadaPay focuses on personal banking and remittances in Pakistan rather than foreign currency business accounts
• Elevate Pay provides USD receiving accounts for businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh

If you’re an e-commerce seller in Pakistan or Bangladesh earning USD, GBP or EUR through Amazon, Etsy, Shopify or your own online store, chances are you’ve watched marketplace payouts get converted into PKR or BDT the moment they land, often at whatever exchange rate the bank chose to apply that day, plus a conversion fee on top.

Continuous automatic conversions with no strategic planning or control can quietly eat into margins, especially when you’re also paying international suppliers, ad platforms or software subscriptions in foreign currency and converting back out again.

Foreign currency accounts offer a way around this by letting you receive and hold marketplace payouts in the currency they were sent in, so you can decide when to convert (and how much) rather than having it done for you. This guide compares five foreign currency account options for e-commerce sellers in Pakistan and Bangladesh on supported currencies, fees, payment features and business tools.

What to look for in a foreign currency account

• Supported currencies: Check how many currencies the account can hold and whether it provides local receiving details for each currency
• Receiving fees: Compare charges for receiving international payments, including wire and SWIFT transfers
• Conversion charges: Review the exchange rate markup or fees applied when converting currencies
• Marketplace integrations: Check whether the account supports payouts from platforms such as marketplaces and payment gateways
• Card availability: Consider whether a linked card allows spending directly from foreign currency balances
• Outbound payments: Check the countries, currencies and transfer options (such as local transfers, SWIFT/ACH payments, etc.) available for international payments

Top foreign currency accounts in South Asia

1.    WorldFirst

The World Account from WorldFirst is a multi-currency account for businesses that receive international payments, collect marketplace payouts and pay overseas suppliers.

Businesses can open local receiving account details in 15+ currencies, including USD, GBP, EUR and CNH, and hold balances until they choose to convert them. The account also includes the World Card, a Mastercard-powered business payment card that supports spending in 150+ currencies for supplier payments, software subscriptions and business expenses.

Key features of the World Account

• Get access to local receiving accounts in 15+ currencies
• Collect payouts from 130+ marketplaces and payment gateways, including Amazon, Etsy and Stripe
• Send and receive payments across 200+ countries and regions
• Make instant transfers between World Accounts at no cost
• Xero and NetSuite integrations
• Pay 1688 suppliers directly in CNH through World Pay, the authorised international payment provider for 1688.com

Pricing for the World Account

2.    Payoneer

Payoneer is a cross-border payments provider available in Pakistan and Bangladesh that offers both business and personal accounts.¹ Businesses can receive payments from international clients and marketplaces, send funds to 190+ countries, and transfer money to other Payoneer users within the same country at no additional cost.¹

Payoneer also offers Mastercard-powered business cards.² Each virtual card for business is linked to a single currency balance, so businesses operating in multiple currencies may require separate cards for different balances.²

 *Fees checked in July 2026

 ⇒ Take a look at our in-depth Payoneer review and the top Payoneer alternatives

3.    Wise

Wise supports multi-currency accounts and international transfers for individuals and businesses.⁴

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, Wise supports personal accounts for sending international transfers but does not offer business accounts or receiving capabilities.^5,6

*Fees checked in July 2026

→ Take a look at our detailed Wise review and the top Wise Business alternatives

4.    SadaPay

SadaPay is a Pakistan-based personal banking platform focused on debit cards and international remittances.¹⁰ It offers personal accounts in Pakistan, allowing users to receive international remittances into local PKR accounts and make international online payments using physical and virtual Mastercard debit cards.¹⁰

Pricing for the SadaPay account

*Fees checked in July 2026

5.    Elevate Pay

Elevate Pay offers USD receiving accounts for businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh.¹² Users receive dedicated USD account details for ACH and wire transfers, enabling collecting payments from international clients and withdrawing funds to supported local bank accounts.¹³ It does not currently offer balances in multiple currencies or physical or virtual business cards.

*Fees checked in July 2026

→ Explore Elevate Pay alternatives and go through the in-depth Elevate Pay review

Choose the right foreign currency account for your business

For businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh, choosing a foreign currency account depends on the type of international payments they handle. Providers such as WorldFirst, Wise and Payoneer offer multi-currency payment capabilities, while platforms like Elevate Pay focus on USD collections and SadaPay on personal remittance services. Comparing supported currencies, receiving options, card availability and fees can help businesses select an account suited to their international payment requirements.

FAQs

What is a foreign currency account?

A foreign currency account allows businesses or individuals to receive, hold and sometimes send money in currencies such as USD, GBP or EUR without converting funds immediately into the local currency.

Can businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh open foreign currency accounts?

Yes. Several international payment providers offer foreign currency or USD receiving accounts for businesses in Pakistan and Bangladesh, although the features and supported currencies vary by provider.

Do foreign currency accounts charge fees for receiving international payments?

It depends on the provider. Some offer no-cost incoming payments, while others charge fees for wire transfers or specific payment methods.

What currencies should a foreign currency account support?

Most businesses in South Asia benefit from support for USD, GBP and EUR. Importers sourcing from China may also look for CNH support.

Does WorldFirst offer a foreign currency account for South Asian businesses?

Yes. WorldFirst offers the World Account, which allows eligible businesses to open local receiving accounts in more than 15 currencies, hold multi-currency balances and send international business payments.

Sources

1. https://www.payoneer.com/en-in/
2. https://www.payoneer.com/en-in/resources/general-payments/cards/
3. https://www.payoneer.com/en-in/about/pricing/
4. https://wise.com/in/business
5. https://wise.com/us/send-money/send-money-to-pakistan
6. https://wise.com/gb/send-money/send-money-to-bangladesh
7. https://wise.com/in/card/
8. https://wise.com/in/pricing/business
9. https://wise.com/in/pricing/
10. https://sadapay.pk
11. https://sadapay.pk/soc
12. https://www.elevatepay.co/pakistan
13. https://www.elevatepay.co/business
14. https://help.elevatepay.co/hc/en-us/articles/18040869186833-How-does-Elevate-Pay-s-pricing-work

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or professional advice. This article should not be regarded as constituting an offer or a solicitation to buy or sell any regulated or financial products or services. WorldFirst makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or applicability of the content, and readers are encouraged to consult with legal professionals or other professionals for advice tailored to their specific situation. WorldFirst does not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of this article and expressly disclaims any and all liability to any person in respect of the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done wholly or partly in reliance on this article.