What is a mobile money account?

A mobile money account is an innovative financial technology helping people spend, send and save money from an app on their mobile phone. You may see this referred to as an online bank account alternative or a banking app alternative. Opening one allows you to add money to a secure electronic account to use for quick mobile payments and transfers. You can also track your spending and control your savings from the same app. You don’t need to have a bank account to open a mobile money account. This makes it different to mobile banking, which involves using a phone to access traditional banking services. It’s an ideal banking app alternative for people who are excluded from traditional banking services for lacking a perfect credit history. Others simply prefer the convenience this type of account offers when travelling, living and working abroad.

How is an online money account different to a bank account?

Opening a mobile money account allows you to do many of the same things that you would with a traditional bank account or banking app. With a Monese account, for example, you can: - make and receive payments - set up direct debits and recurring payments for bills - make and receive transfers locally and internationally - track and grow your savings - get your own account details to share with others - use a physical contactless card or virtual card online, in-store or at ATMs. The main difference is that a bank account alternative like ours doesn’t actually involve a bank. Officially speaking, we’re an Electronic Money Institution (EMI). We don’t have physical branches like traditional high-street banks do, though we still have a friendly Support team you can get in touch with. We don’t handle cash or cheques either – but you can add cash to your account at more than 84,000 payment point locations across the UK and Europe with [Post Office](https://www.postoffice.co.uk/ "Post Office: Homepage"), [PayPoint](https://paypoint.com/ "PayPoint: Homepage") or [Paysafecash](https://monese.com/gb/en/features/paysafe "Add cash to your Monese account with Paysafecash"). So you’ll still be spending, sending and saving your money – just with a slightly different account type and account provider.

What are the benefits of a digital money account?

There’s a lot to like about having your own mobile money account. __1. Accessible__ Almost anyone with a phone can open and use a mobile money account. You can access your money easily when travelling too. __2. Fast and convenient__ Mobile money accounts are, by definition, mobile. Add money, make fast payments and transfers and manage your finances on the go with a simple mobile app. __3. Flexible features__ A Monese account is more than a mobile wallet or an online payment service. Transfer money abroad, track spending, integrate with [Apple Pay](https://monese.com/features/apple-pay "Apple Pay") and [Google Pay](https://monese.com/features/google-pay "Monese with Google Pay™"), request payments and more. __4. Secure__ Your money, identity and data are protected with a range of robust [security features](https://monese.com/features/security "Security is at the heart of what we do"). __5. Low cost__ [Our pricing ](https://monese.com/gb/en/pricing "Our pricing: For flexible, mobile lives")starts at £0 a month. You can enjoy free transfers between Monese accounts and get great exchange rates on international money transfers too.

Is a mobile money account safe?

Your money is safeguarded under the [EU Electronic Money Directive 2009/110/EC](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0110 "EUR-Lex: Access to European Union law ") and [UK Electronic Money Regulations 2011](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/99/contents/made "Legislation.gov.uk"). We’ve packed in lots of security features too, like single-device access, biometric login, 3D Secure, real-time notifications, multi-factor encryption and authentication protocols, the ability to lock and unlock your card straight from the app, 24-7 monitoring and more, to keep you and your money safe. [Read more about your security with Monese.](https://monese.com/features/security "Security is at the heart of what we do")

How to get a mobile money account

Are you aged 18 or over and living in any one of the 31 countries in the European Economic Area? Then signing up for a Monese account is quick and easy. There’s no need to visit a branch or waste time on a long phone call. Just start by downloading our mobile app from the [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/monese-a-banking-alternative/id1102793407 "Monese on App Store"), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.monese.monese.live "Monese on Google Play") or [AppGallery](https://appgallery.huawei.com/#/app/C103759763 "Huawei"). All you need after that is: - your email address and phone number - an ID document like your passport - a quick video selfie in the app to confirm your identity Then simply choose your [plan](https://monese.com/pricing "Our pricing") and tell us where you want your card sent to. It’s that easy to [open an online money account with Monese](https://monese.com/features/account-opening "Opening an account has never been easier").

We give people the financial freedom to thrive anywhere. We launched in 2015 as the UK’s first mobile app alternative to the banks and have signed up millions of people from 31 countries across Europe since. Our mobile money account is one of the most popular and trusted financial services in Europe today — and this is only the start. [Read more about us](https://monese.com/gb/en/about "About us").

Invite and earn

The peace-of-mind money app

Get your Monese account to start spending, sending and saving in minutes.

View our privacy notice

Our partners

Our customers love us

Here's what they're saying

We’re building your financial future

Build your credit history and savings with the help of our Credit Builder for an improved credit score, better value loans and access to other Monese credit products for a secure, financial future.

Learn more about Credit Builder

We’re fast

Enjoy on-the-spot accounts, instant top-ups and real-time spending notifications. Opening a mobile money account with us is quick and easy. And adding money? Even easier. We’ll get you up and running in no time.

Learn more about our product

We're making global local

Open online money accounts in multiple currencies to spend abroad like a local. Transfer money for free when sending between Monese accounts, no matter the country or currency. Send and receive money through the UK Faster Payments network instantly, with no fees.

We're simple

Manage your money by setting weekly or monthly budgets. Track your money visually and sort your transactions into spending categories. Receive your salary payments right into your digital money account by sharing your account details with your employer.

🎉 Earn up to £150 when you invite your friends!

That's up to £10 for each friend you refer! For a limited time.

Meet George

"What I love about Monese is that it was super easy to open an account. You just download the app, and within a few minutes, you’re all set. It’s brilliant! Also, the app is very simple to use."

Read George's story

Meet George

"What I love about Monese is that it was super easy to open an account. You just download the app, and within a few minutes, you’re all set. It’s brilliant! Also, the app is very simple to use."

Read George's story

We're inclusive

We believe everyone should have access to financial services. That’s why we make opening an instant mobile money account as easy as we can.

Learn more about account opening

We're with you on the go

You’ll quickly find that we make a great travel companion on all your adventures. Use your card to withdraw anywhere in the world, with no fees or bad exchange rates for spending abroad. Spend and enjoy your money internationally with total peace of mind.

We're helping send money abroad

Move money abroad to over 30 countries, with excellent international exchange rates. It's quick and can cost much less than sending with traditional banks. Rest assured that your money is safe with us, as security is at the heart of everything we do.

Learn more about money transfers

We're helping send money abroad GBP Image

We’re integrated

Link your Avios and PayPal accounts to keep track of your money, balance, points and transactions all in one place. Anytime there’s activity on any of your accounts, we’ll notify you. Start enjoying a more convenient and seamless experience today.

We're multilingual

Talk to our multilingual Support team and use your app in 15 languages: English, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Bulgarian, Italian, Spanish, Romanian, Polish, Czech, Turkish, Estonian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian.

We’re contactless

Order a contactless Mastercard debit card to use anywhere in the world — online, in-store or at ATMs — with no hidden fees. Just search for the contactless symbol at any payment terminal to pay with a single tap of your card. Easy, quick and secure.

Learn more about the Monese card

We're contactless - Bigger (Global Image)

Monese account FAQs

We aim to make managing your money as simple and accessible as possible. Find answers to common questions about mobile money accounts below. You can also check our FAQs or contact our friendly Support team.

What is a mobile money account?
How is an online money account different to a bank account?
What are the benefits of a digital money account?
Is a mobile money account safe?
How to get a mobile money account
What is Monese?

Sign up with Monese today

So what are you waiting for? Join over 2 million people who’ve found a better way to manage their money online. Sign up to Monese to open your mobile money account today.

The peace-of-mind money app

Get your Monese account to start spending, sending and saving in minutes.

Our partners

Our customers love us

We’re building your financial future

We’re fast

We're making global local

We're simple

🎉 Earn up to £150 when you invite your friends!

Meet George

Meet George

We're inclusive

We're with you on the go

We're helping send money abroad

We’re integrated

We're multilingual

We’re contactless

Monese account FAQs

What is a mobile money account?

How is an online money account different to a bank account?

What are the benefits of a digital money account?

Is a mobile money account safe?

How to get a mobile money account

What is Monese?

Sign up with Monese today