Debit Cards and Travel Cards With No International Fees
Several institutions offer debit cards with no international fees and products designed for travel and online purchases. They remove the international transaction fee, have low costs, competitive currency conversion rates and offer free ATM withdrawals.
Some of the best cards are the Wise Travel Card, Revolut and Travelex Money Card.
Neo Banks
Neo Banks are a newer breed of bank. They are digital only, which means they have fewer overheads and can pass the savings on to customers.
A great example of a Neo Bank is Up Bank. Up Bank offers no international transaction fees and allows free ATM withdrawals overseas. It is a top pick for Aussies looking to avoid sneaky bank fees when travelling or shopping online abroad.
Customers praise Up Bank’s easy sign-up process, mobile app for tracking spending, and partnership with Wise for international money transfers.
Travel-Friendly Banks and Institutions
Many of my friends, who are avid travellers, often recommend ING as an excellent bank for overseas trips.
ING has the ING Orange Everyday account and cards, which offer rebates on international transaction fees and some ATM withdrawal fees when you meet eligibility criteria.
Although ING recently removed rebates on overseas ATM operator fees, you can still benefit from unlimited rebates on the 3% international transaction fee and five rebated ING ATM withdrawal fees monthly.
Credit Cards
There are certain credit cards with no international fees are available. These can be a great option in some circ*mstances, especially if you intend to accumulate and use rewards points.
We recommend bringing a credit card for emergencies or a backup only. Due to cash advance interest charges, it can get costly if you withdraw cash from an ATM.
