How to buy Bitcoin with bank account in 2024

This introductory guide explains how to buy Bitcoin with your bank account. Follow our simple three step guide to make your first purchase.
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Updated: May 12, 2023
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eToro 10/10

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

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Firstly, the most important question to answer is: can I buy Bitcoin with a bank account?

No, your bank account doesn’t allow you to purchase cryptocurrency directly. However, you can use a bank transfer to fund a trading account and buy Bitcoin that way.

You just need a crypto exchange that accepts bank transfer deposits. And we’re here to help.

How to buy Bitcoin with bank transfer – a step-by-step guide

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It takes about 15 minutes to buy BTC with a bank account. Have a copy of your photo ID to hand and follow this guide to get started.

Step 1. Sign up with eToro

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We recommend eToro as the best platform to use to buy BTC with a bank transfer.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Build a diversified portfolio with crypto, stocks, and ETFs — all in one place.
Trade on the world’s leading social trading and investing platform
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Step 2. Create an account

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You need an account before you can buy anything. Sign up with your contact details and a form of ID for verification.

Step 3. Make a deposit via bank account

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Enter how much you want to deposit and select bank account as your payment method from the list of options.

Step 4. Use the search box to find Bitcoin

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Use the search box on the home page to search for Bitcoin and the currency you want to pay in (such as GBP).

Step 5. Make your purchase

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Enter how much Bitcoin you want to buy, check the details and process the transaction. Once the payment goes through, your new Bitcoin will show up in your exchange account.

Top Bitcoin platforms that accept bank transfers

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1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

1500

No. assets

$10

Minimum deposit

Crypto

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Zero commission stock trading Popular ‘CopyTrader’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided Over 2,000 CFDs available to trade
Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Overview

We love eToro because it makes it simple to trade crypto at home or on the go. If you’ve never bought cryptocurrency before, then eToro makes it simple to buy 75+ of the leading coins, including the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. Every crypto trade comes with a flat 1% fee, which makes it one of the cheapest crypto brokers on the market to boot.

As well as being a broker that offers lots of investor protection, eToro offers a very social trading experience. You can easily see what’s trending on the crypto market every day, browse the latest technical analysis about every one of those tokens, and copy other people’s trade suggestions from your desktop or the eToro app.

The fees: You will be charged a 1% fee every time you buy or sell crypto. The charge is included in the market price that’s displayed on eToro. CFD trades may be charged an overnight or weekend fee if you leave the position open.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. Plus500. Best for international CFD trading*

2800

No. assets

$100

Minimum deposit

Crypto

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Can get a free demo account A great mobile platform Well regulated in multiple jurisdictions Wide variety of CFDs to trade Several good risk management tools
No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you make a trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to over 2800 instruments, including CFDs on stocks, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies among several others.

Plus500 has something for all types of traders, no matter what level of experience. It’s zero commission and tight spreads make it a top choice for day traders and its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: There are no commission fees on any trades with Plus500 and it makes it money through the Bid/Ask spread. Spread starts from 0.01% or 0.9 pips and varies depending on the instrument. Additional fees include overnight funding which is dependant on trade size and guaranteed stop orders, which add a minimum of 10% to the spread. There is an inactivity charge of £10 per month for accounts not logged in for three months. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3. Public. Best for sharing beginner trading ideas

public.com logo

...

No. assets

...

Minimum deposit

Crypto

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Commission free stock and ETF investing Share and compare your portfolio on a social trading platform Trade crypto, fractional shares, and alternative investments
You can't trade on margin or use leverage No forex, options, funds, metals, or bonds

Overview

We love Public because it’s a social platform where you can share trading tips and get ideas from other people. Public offers 9,000+ financial instruments, including cryptocurrencies and stocks from around the world.

Alongside a community of other investors all sharing their ideas, Public offers real time news and information so that you can see the full picture before you invest. And the assets don’t just include your run-of-the-mill assets; you can make alternative investments in things like handbags and comic books as well.

The fees: Cryptocurrency trades are charged a 2.5% fee per transaction. 

Quick answers to key questions

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Can I buy crypto with a bank account?

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Yes, you aren’t limited to buying Bitcoin alone. The only limit is which coins are available on the exchange you’ve chosen. Most crypto exchanges that support bank account as a payment method offer 50+ cryptocurrencies and many offer hundreds more.

Is a bank transfer safe?

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Yes, it’s completely safe to use a bank transfer. The only risk to look out for is to make sure you sign up to a regulated bank account Bitcoin broker when buying Bitcoin. Using an unregulated broker platform can put your money at risk.

How much does it cost to buy Bitcoin via bank account?

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It depends on the broker but the cost can be between nothing and 2-3% of the transaction amount. You may have to pay a deposit fee but for a bank transfer it’s usually between 0-1% per deposit.

For that reason, a bank transfer is normally the least expensive way to buy Bitcoin. The overall fees are less than any other option, including card payments.

Can I store Bitcoin in my bank account?

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Not in any high street bank account, no. However, if you use a crypto bank like Nexo then you can hold your Bitcoin in there, and even earn interest on the crypto you hold.

Why don’t more crypto platforms support bank transfers?

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Virtually every crypto platform accepts bank transfers. The ones that don’t are likely to be crypto only, so you have to make a deposit in cryptocurrency in order to use it. 

Should I buy Bitcoin using my bank account?

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A bank transfer is a simple way to buy Bitcoin and is available on most crypto platforms. It’s an inexpensive option, with only the small risk that you might have to wait for the money to show up in your trading account.

Here is a summary of the pros and cons of using a bank transfer to buy Bitcoin.

Pros

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  • Simple to use a bank transfer with any crypto platform
  • The cheapest option with the lowest transaction fees
  • A bank transfer is an option for most people around the world

Cons

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Is there an alternative to buying cryptocurrency with a bank transfer?

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There are plenty of alternatives, whether you want to pay through an online payment provider or go down a more traditional route. Here are some of the different ways to pay for your Bitcoin purchase.

Sign up & fund account

FAQs

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Can I buy Bitcoin with a bank transfer on Coinbase?
Can I buy Bitcoin with a bank transfer on Cash App?
How do I fund my crypto account with a bank transfer?
Can I buy Bitcoin with a bank transfer instantly?
Can I buy Bitcoin with a bank account anonymously?
Are there low fees when using bank transfer to fund your account?
Can I hold cryptocurrency in my bank account?
Can I get other cryptos using bank transfer?
Are bank transfers instant?
Is bank transfer the easiest method to use?
What’s the biggest pro and con of using a peer-to-peer exchange that accepts bank transfers?
How easy is it to find a peer-to-peer exchange that accepts bank transfers?
Is using a bank transfer recommended for shorter-term Bitcoin traders?
Is using a bank transfer a viable strategy if you plan to hold Bitcoin for the long term?
OK, I’m ready to choose a broker


Sources & references
Risk disclaimer
James Knight
Editor of Education
James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets.... read more.