Key Takeaways
- What Wise Launched: On November 10, 2026, Wise gave US customers two ways to invest a spendable USD balance through Wise Interest’s Treasury money market fund or the Stocks S&P 500 index fund. Wise Basic Interest pays 3.4% APY on USD with FDIC pass-through coverage.
- Yield, Fees and Protection: Wise Interest’s estimated yield is roughly 3.7% before tax after the 0.12% Wise fee and 0.17% fund fee. Stocks costs 0.22% plus a 0.10% fund fee annually, and both investments have up to $500,000 in SIPC coverage for missing assets if the broker fails.
- Before You Opt In: Open your USD balance in the Wise app and check the fees before choosing Wise Interest or Stocks. Nevada residents can’t add money, and standard sales pay out when the third trading day ends, so check instant access limits before relying on your balance.
You might use Wise to send money abroad, but what about the dollars you leave in your account? The Wise Interest US launch on November 10, 2026, gives you two ways to invest that balance and still send or spend from it. Wise Interest puts your dollars in a Treasury money market fund, while Stocks puts them in an S&P 500 index fund.
Wise Interest is a brokerage investment with SIPC protection. You pay Wise 0.12% a year, and the fund charges 0.17% a year. BlackRock reported a 3.86% 7-day SEC yield as of October 31, 2026, with the fund fee already reflected and the Wise fee still to come out.
Here’s where the name can trip you up. Wise also uses “Wise Interest” on a US page that describes Basic Interest, its older bank-based option with FDIC pass-through coverage. Start with what happens to your balance under each option.
| Product | What It Invests In | Wise Fee | Fund Fee | Protection | Risk Level | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Interest | Deposits at JPMorgan Chase | No separate fee listed | None | FDIC pass-through up to $250,000 | Lower, within deposit insurance limits | Through your Wise balance |
| Wise Interest | BlackRock Treasury money market fund | 0.12% a year | 0.17% a year | SIPC for eligible brokerage claims | Lower investment risk, with possible losses | Send or spend from the same USD balance, subject to limits |
| Stocks | BlackRock S&P 500 index fund | 0.22% a year | 0.10% a year | SIPC for eligible brokerage claims | Higher investment risk, with stock market swings | Send or spend from the same USD balance, subject to limits |
What the Wise Interest US Launch Adds
If you have a personal or business Wise account, both products start with dollars you already hold. When you opt in, Wise US Assets Inc. handles the brokerage side and holds your fund shares. It’s a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC. The November 10 launch was Wise’s first use of its US brokerage license, which covers all 50 states. Access still varies by state.
With Wise Interest, you buy Institutional shares in BlackRock’s Liquidity Funds Treasury Trust Fund, ticker TTTXX. The fund holds cash and US Treasury obligations. With Stocks, the customer agreement lists the iShares S&P 500 Index Fund, ticker BSPIX. The launch announcement uses a different name for the Stocks fund, and Wise’s published materials leave the reason for that difference unclear.
Vinay Nilakantan, Wise’s head of product for North America, said earning a competitive return in the US often means tying up your cash or managing several accounts.
When you look at Wise’s figures for the prior financial year, customers worldwide held $39 billion with Wise, a 40% rise. With the new products, you can invest from the USD balance you already use for payments. Wise US Inc. provides instant access when you send or spend, while Wise US Assets Inc. handles the shares.
How Basic Interest and Wise Interest Differ
If you see 3.4% APY on a Wise page headed “Meet Wise Interest,” you’re looking at Basic Interest. That’s what Wise calls the bank-based feature in its November 10 announcement. When Wise introduced Basic Interest in April 2023, you could earn a 3.92% APY on your US dollars. The newer 3.4% USD rate on that page was last updated September 18, 2026.
You see, the name tells you less than the account details do. If Wise says your money goes to a program bank, that’s Basic Interest. If it says you’re buying TTTXX shares, that’s the new Wise Interest. You might also find a global help page that excludes US customers from Interest and Stocks. That page describes the versions offered outside the US.
| Product | Who Holds It | How Returns Are Set | Protection | Fees | Currencies | State Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Interest | JPMorgan Chase, Wise’s program bank | The program bank sets variable rates | FDIC pass-through up to $250,000 combined across eligible balances | Wise keeps a portion for operating costs | USD, GBP and EUR | Unavailable in New York and Alaska. Wise’s help pages disagree on Nevada. |
| Wise Interest | Wise US Assets Inc. holds your fund shares | Returns depend on the Treasury fund’s earnings and are calculated daily and paid monthly | SIPC for eligible brokerage claims | 0.12% Wise fee plus 0.17% fund fee annually | USD | Nevada residents can keep existing shares. Additional purchases are restricted. |
What You Could Earn and What You Pay
Both investments have two costs. Wise charges its service fee monthly, and the fund takes its own fee internally. If your investment stayed at $10,000 for a full year, here’s what those annual rates would amount to.
| Product | Annual Wise Fee | Annual Fund Fee | Approximate Annual Cost on $10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Interest | 0.12% or $12 | 0.17% or $17 | $29 |
| Stocks | 0.22% or $22 | 0.10% or $10 | $32 |
What does that leave you with on Wise Interest? Start with BlackRock’s October 31 figure of 3.86%. That 7-day SEC yield already accounts for the fund’s 0.17% fee. Subtract Wise’s 0.12% fee once, and you get roughly 3.7% before tax. That’s an estimate based on BlackRock’s published yield. Wise hasn’t quoted it as a rate.
The 7-day SEC yield reflects a recent stretch of fund earnings. What you receive can change as short-term Treasury yields move, and the yield can fall to 0%. With Stocks, your return depends on how the S&P 500 fund performs. There’s no set interest rate to plug into the same calculation.
What SIPC Covers and Where You Can Lose Money
What happens if the broker fails? What happens if your shares fall in value? SIPC addresses the first question when assets are missing. The second is an investment risk you take when you buy either fund.
- Missing brokerage assets. If Wise US Assets Inc. fails and your shares are missing, SIPC can cover up to $500,000 per customer in each separate capacity. That total includes a $250,000 limit for eligible cash claims. You bear any losses from a fall in market value.
- Treasury fund shares. FDIC deposit insurance applies to eligible Basic Interest deposits. Wise Interest holds fund shares that aim to stay at $1.00 each and can fall below that value.
- Cash in your Wise balance. Money in your regular Wise balance sits outside SIPC coverage, even if Wise has reserved it for a fund purchase you’ve already placed.
- Fees when you sell. A liquidity fee can reduce what you get back from selling Wise Interest shares. Wise’s agreement says the fee is mandatory when daily net redemptions exceed 5% of the fund’s net assets. The fund’s board can impose a fee at its discretion as well.
- Stocks losses. If the S&P 500 fund drops after you buy, your Stocks balance can be worth less than the amount you put in.
How You Can Spend From an Invested Balance
Say you’ve put your USD balance into Wise Interest and now want to pay with your Wise card. If the cash in your account falls short, Wise US Inc. can advance the money based on what your shares are worth. That advance triggers an automatic order to sell enough shares to cover the payment. You can spend before the fund sale settles, and the same process applies if you hold Stocks.
- Trading cutoff. Place a buy or sell order before 9:00 AM ET on a trading day for it to go through that day. Orders placed at or after the cutoff go to the next trading day. Weekends and US public holidays don’t count.
- Sale proceeds. If you use Wise’s regular sale process, Wise credits your account when the third trading day closes. Keep that timing in mind if you need cash from a sale by a particular date.
- Instant access limits. Wise sets a $130,000 threshold for personal accounts and a $670,000 threshold for business accounts. Above the applicable threshold, Wise uses its standard sale process.
- Possible suspension. Wise US Inc. can suspend instant access without advance notice. If it does, you may have to wait for your shares to sell and the proceeds to settle before you can use the money.
Who Can Sign Up and How Taxes Work
Can you turn on Wise Interest or Stocks wherever you live in the US? Your address matters. Wise offers both investments to eligible personal and business customers, and its brokerage agreement lists restrictions for Nevada and several US territories.
- Who qualifies. You must be at least 18, be a US person with a valid Social Security number, legally reside in the US and have a Wise account.
- Federal, state and local taxes. Federal tax applies to Wise Interest earnings. According to Wise, over 90% of what you earn with Wise Interest could qualify for a state and local income tax exemption. The exempt share can change with the Treasury fund’s holdings.
- Tax forms and cost basis. Wise delivers your 1099 forms electronically. It uses first in, first out to calculate cost basis for each fund, so it treats the oldest shares you hold in that fund as the first ones sold.
- Nevada and US territories. If you live in Nevada, you can keep shares you already own, but you can’t add money to either investment. Wise has paused purchases and sales in Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, where dividends are paid in cash.
- Moving abroad. If you move outside the US, Wise says it will sell your shares within five business days and close your investment account.
- Basic Interest eligibility. The bank-based option is unavailable in New York and Alaska. One Wise help page also excludes Nevada, while another lists only New York and Alaska, so Nevada eligibility for Basic Interest is unclear.
How Wise Interest Compares With a High-Yield Savings Account
The numbers look close at first glance. BlackRock’s Treasury fund reported a 3.86% 7-day SEC yield, and some high-yield savings accounts offered rates around 4% APY. The fund yield reflects a recent period of earnings and still has Wise’s fee to account for. The savings rates are quoted as annual percentage yields.
| Option | Rate or Yield | Protection | What to Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Interest | 3.86% 7-day SEC yield as of October 31, 2026, before Wise’s fee | SIPC for eligible brokerage claims | You can spend from your Wise balance, subject to limits. You may owe no state or local income tax on part of your Wise Interest earnings. |
| Top high-yield savings accounts | 3.90% to 4.35% APY as of November 13, 2026 | FDIC insurance up to $250,000 at insured banks | The top listed rate included a temporary promotion and required a $5,000 balance. |
| Wise Basic Interest | 3.4% APY on USD, last updated September 18, 2026 | FDIC pass-through up to $250,000 across eligible balances | You can use the money through your Wise balance. |
| National average savings rate | 0.38% in October 2026 | FDIC coverage for eligible deposits at insured banks | A benchmark for savings rates. |
If you live in a state with higher income taxes, the possible state-tax exemption can make a bigger difference in what you keep. The share that qualifies can vary, so the yield alone tells you only part of the story. If you also use Wise to send money abroad, our guide to a Wise transfer that runs late covers what to check. Comparing other money apps too? Here’s what Cash App can do, and what happens when a Chime account gets closed.
How to Turn On Wise Interest or Stocks
You start from the USD balance you already hold in Wise. Review the investment and its fees before you confirm. Wise accepts investment orders through its platform and excludes orders by phone or email.
- Open your USD balance. Sign in to the Wise app and go to the balance where you hold US dollars.
- Choose an investment. Select Wise Interest for the Treasury money market fund or Stocks for the S&P 500 index fund.
- Read the fees. Look for the annual Wise service fee and the annual fund fee. Wise shows the charges before you opt in.
- Confirm your choice. If you later want to return to holding cash, sell your shares or switch the balance back. You get your money from a standard sale when trading closes on day three.
Give yourself a minute to read the fund name on the confirmation screen. Once you know what you’re buying, check the fees and when you can get your cash back. Then you can decide whether the investment fits how you use your Wise balance.
FAQs
Your Wise Interest fund shares have no FDIC insurance. SIPC can cover eligible claims if the broker fails and your shares are missing. FDIC pass-through coverage applies to eligible deposits in Wise Basic Interest.
Yes, you can keep spending from the same USD balance after you turn on Wise Interest. If you’re short on cash, Wise can advance the amount you need and place a sale order for enough shares to cover it. Instant access is subject to balance thresholds and can be suspended.
You pay Wise 0.12% a year for Wise Interest, and the fund charges 0.17% a year. With Stocks, you pay Wise 0.22% a year, and the fund charges 0.10% a year. Each fund deducts its fee internally.
You may owe state income tax on part of what you earn through Wise Interest. Depending on the fund’s holdings, Wise says you could receive over 90% of your Wise Interest earnings free of state and local income tax. Federal tax still applies.
If you live in Nevada, you can keep your existing Wise Stocks shares, but you can’t add money. You can use Stocks in New York if you meet Wise’s eligibility requirements. New York’s restriction applies to Basic Interest.
Yes, you can lose money with Wise Interest. The Treasury fund aims to keep its share price at $1.00, but the price can fall. A liquidity fee can reduce what you receive when you sell.
