Skip to content
Home / Europe / Investing US Dollar · Updated 11 March 2026

Investing
US Dollar (USD).

Investing in US Dollar (USD)-denominated assets from a EUR base requires two things: a broker that supports USD settlement and a competitive FX route for the EUR-to-USD conversion at trade time. Most EU neobanks now offer integrated brokerage; Trade Republic, Revolut, and Bunq each handle this slightly differently.

3Top picks
3With full DGS
Federal ReserveRegulator
$250,000FDIC ceiling
Top pick · Investing USD
Trade Republic
The lowest-cost investing platform in Europe with a full banking account — €1 flat fee per trade and 2% interest on cash make it the go-to for cost-conscious long-term investors; 8M+ users
Licence Full bank
Protection €100,000 DGS
Pricing Free tier
Open Trade Republic →Ad Trade Republic review →
How it works

The mechanics of investing USD from Europe.

How USD investing actually works

Trade Republic settles USD-denominated ETFs and equities at competitive FX rates (typically 0.15–0.25% spread) — its brokerage is the most institutionally serious among EU neobanks. Revolut's brokerage charges FX at the user's tier rate (free within allowance, 0.5% above) plus a per-trade fee. Bunq integrates with select brokers but operates more as a multi-currency wallet than a settlement layer for USD assets. For larger USD investing, the all-in cost (FX + per-trade fee + settlement spread) matters more than the headline trade commission.

Watchouts and hidden costs

FX cost on USD-asset trades adds up: a 0.5% FX spread on a €10,000 trade is €50 you didn't see in the trade confirmation. Always verify the executed FX rate against mid-market. Tax: dividends from USD-denominated assets may incur withholding tax in the United States, which is partially or fully recoverable via the EU's double-taxation treaties — check the relevant treaty for your residence country.

FAQ

investing USD: common questions.

Which EU neobank is best for investing in USD assets?

Trade Republic is the institutional-grade choice for USD-denominated brokerage at EU neobanks. Revolut offers integrated brokerage with the convenience of multi-currency wallet integration. Bunq partners with brokers but is not itself a settlement layer for USD assets.

What FX cost should I expect on USD trades?

Trade Republic typically applies a 0.15–0.25% FX spread on USD trades. Revolut charges based on the user tier (free within allowance, 0.5% above). For larger trades, the FX cost can exceed the per-trade commission — always check the all-in cost.

Is investing in USD assets via an EU neobank protected?

Brokerage holdings (the USD assets themselves) are typically held in a segregated client-asset account under the EU MiFID II framework, separate from the institution's balance sheet. This is structurally different from deposit insurance — the protection is against bankruptcy of the broker, not against market losses. Always read the client-asset disclosure before investing.

Safety first

Is USD actually protected at an EU neobank?

FDIC covers eligible deposits up to $250,000 per depositor per institution. Not every neobank holding USD qualifies — EMIs (Wise) safeguard funds, which is structurally different from deposit insurance. Read the distinction in Deposit protection guide.