The real GBP/USD rate
The interbank rate (mid-market), with no inflated margin hidden in the displayed rate.
Exchange your pounds sterling (GBP) into US dollars (USD) at the real interbank rate, in real time. Ideal for your international transfers, purchases and investments, with a margin from 0.40% and no hidden fees.
The essentials for changing your GBP to USD with no nasty surprises on the rate or the fees.
The interbank rate (mid-market), with no inflated margin hidden in the displayed rate.
Transparent and decreasing, up to 10× cheaper than a bank. No hidden fees.
Fund an IBAN in your name in pounds sterling, converted to dollars automatically.
ibani SA, founded in Geneva in 2018, a financial intermediary affiliated with SO-FIT, recognised by FINMA.
On a transfer of 10,000 GBP, the margin applied to the rate makes all the difference to the amount received.
| Criterion | ibani | Bank | Exchange office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting rate | Real interbank | “In-house” rate | “In-house” rate |
| Exchange margin | From 0.40% | ~1.5 to 2% | Often > 2% |
| Transfer fees | 0 CHF | Variable | — |
| Estimated cost on 10,000 GBP* | ~40 GBP | ~175 GBP | > 200 GBP |
| 100% digital tracking | Yes | Partial | No |
*Indicative orders of magnitude for a transfer of 10,000 GBP converted to USD. See the details on our Pricing page.
Follow the pair's trend to choose the right moment for your exchange.
Indicative amounts, ibani margin included, updated continuously.
100% digital sign-up in 5 minutes, with no account opening or maintenance fees.
Fund it in pounds sterling (GBP) from your bank, at your own pace.
ibani converts your GBP to USD at the market rate and transfers the dollars to the beneficiary account of your choice.
The rate between the pound sterling (GBP) and the US dollar (USD) — nicknamed the « Cable » on the markets — is one of the most traded currency pairs in the world. Its dynamics are driven by the relationship between two central banks: the Bank of England (BoE) and the US Federal Reserve (Fed).
When the Fed raises its rates faster than the BoE, the dollar tends to appreciate against the pound and GBP/USD falls. Conversely, tighter monetary policy in London, or renewed appetite for risk, supports the pound. Inflation, employment and growth releases on both sides of the Atlantic set the pace of daily movements.
Historical reference points: the pound was worth well above 2 dollars before the 2008 crisis, before falling durably after the 2016 Brexit referendum, until touching historic lows close to parity in late 2022. To choose your moment, follow the real rate live and our currency converter.
To go further, see our guides on how to buy currency for your business and optimise your supplier payments.
Written by Brice Delhome.
There is no universal ideal moment. The GBP/USD rate, nicknamed the « Cable », depends on the monetary policy gap between the Bank of England (BoE) and the US Federal Reserve (Fed), as well as the British and American economic context. Monitor the real rate continuously and trigger your exchange at the moment that suits you.
With ibani, you get a personal Swiss IBAN that you fund in pounds sterling (GBP). As soon as the funds are received, ibani converts them to US dollars (USD) at the real market rate and transfers them to the beneficiary account of your choice, with no hidden fees.
The GBP/USD rate reacts mainly to the interest rate decisions of the Bank of England and the Fed, to inflation, employment and growth releases on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as to the British political climate. An interest rate gap favourable to the pound tends to push GBP/USD up, and vice versa.
ibani applies a transparent margin from 0.40% on the real interbank rate, decreasing with the amount. There are no account opening or maintenance fees. Transfers in currencies other than CHF and EUR may be subject to correspondent bank fees.
✓ Real interbank rate · ✓ Margin from 0.40% · ✓ Affiliated with SO-FIT (SRO)
* Transfers in currencies other than EUR and CHF may be subject to correspondent bank fees.
Your money is handled with the utmost regulatory rigour.
ibani SA is a FinTech company established since 2018 in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland. We are a financial intermediary audited for our activity, with thousands of clients and currency exchange operations to our name.
ibani SA is affiliated with SO-FIT as a financial intermediary within the meaning of Article 2 para. 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). SO-FIT is a self-regulatory organisation recognised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).