Wise

Wise specializes in international money transfers using actual mid-market rates instead of the inflated rates banks charge. You can hold money in multiple currencies, send to 80+ countries, and receive payments in your local currency. The service is transparent about its small conversion fee (typically 1%) upfront, so there are no surprise deductions like you'd get from a bank wire.

This works for international students sending tuition payments home, students working remotely for overseas companies, or anyone receiving income in a foreign currency. If you've ever sent money internationally through a bank and watched 5-10% disappear in fees and exchange markups, Wise's pricing is a shock. The multi-currency account means you can hold different currencies and spend them via a debit card without converting back to dollars.