We're travelling to Japan next week and were wondering which of these 2 cards that we have will give a better rate, Macquarie Platinum (debit card) or ANZ Travel Rewards (credit card and yes I'm aware that the balance will need to be in credit). Is withdrawing from 7-11 still fee-free? I've read some posts here that suggest it's not free anymore? Any other ATMs where we can withdraw without fees?
Thanks!
ING works wonders overseas
I use citibank.
If I was you, I'd just take cash
ANZ use Visa's exchange rate, Macquarie use MasterCard's, either could be better on the day, hard to predict, but both are good.
If you find a fee-free ATM, and as you have pointed out, if your card is in credit, ANZ Travel Adventures will have no fees.
Macquarie charge a $5 ATM fee overseas unless your card is subject to a promo where this is waived. https://www.macquarie.com/au/personal/important-information/…
Their current advertising for their everyday account very specifically says no ATM fees overseas,
https://www.macquarie.com/au/personal/bank-accounts/transact…
whilst platinum very sneakily only talks about ATMS in Australia, purchases overseas and is silent on ATMs overseas
https://www.macquarie.com/au/personal/bank-accounts/transact…
I would definitely call them to confirm before using the platinum one for an ATM withdrawal overseas, it seems possibly they could charge you a fee based on the way they have their terms and conditions set up. Perhaps you can open an everyday version quickly as you are already a customer.
7-11 is fee free between 7am-7pm i think
I was just over there and the fees at Seven Bank were about $1.49 or $2.50. Using ING I ended up saving about $70 in fees over 2 weeks.
Many times I was forced to go to Lawsons for ATM withdrawals as they were more of them than 7/11. The thing with Lawsons is the minimum withdrawal is a 10,000 yen note, while with 7/11 I could get 10x 1000 yen notes or even just 1000 yen.
Join ING. No international fees. the refund the international fees straight away. None of this crappy international transaction fees then the international conversion fees on top!
I would highly recommend Visa over Mastercard.
For those who don't like leaving things to the last week, check out the OzBargain Guide - Cards with No Overseas Transaction Fees
I just checked my transactions in 7-11 ATMs from August this year, and using my Citibank debit card I was never charged international fees.
INTERNATIONAL ATM WITHDRAWAL SEVEN BANK CHIBA JP AUG 21,2019 ———- JPY 30000.00 INCL INTL TRAN FEE AUD0.00 —————————
They're all like that.
Have been to Japan multiple times and take a 28 Degrees MC as well as a Citibank Plus account for cash - No Issues ever but make sure you call your provider and let them know you will be over there as things get declined otherwise.
Use the 7-11 ATM's as they are the easiest to use, select the english option.
I used the citibank global currency account which seemed to be the best rate & no fee's.
You will always be withdrawing cash as shops/restaurants etc dont use eftpos
Thank you all, it was a last minute decision as we didn't think we could go. I guess we'll just bring cash. I'll look into getting an ING card after we get back.
Ok, just opened an Orange Everyday and asked them to express post the card. Fingers crossed the card will arrive by Friday! Thanks again everyone, really appreciate it!
The ING card won't give you fee free in September, but you can get fee free for october if you transfer a minimum of $1000 onto the card, and make 5 tap and go transactions in Sept.
It does seem the tap and go wording has been replaced with just 5 purchases, so any completed purchase is fine.
I think these requirements are waived for new customers? The rebates part on the app said Yes to everything.
When I got the card years ago, the first month was not covered. But if the app says your good to go then thats a bonus. Take a screenshot just in case.
Just went through my transaction history to give a better idea on fees.
Lawson Bank:
Under ¥10,000 had ¥108 fee, over ¥10,000 had ¥216 fee. In Nara and Hiroshima the ¥108 fee was actually ¥110, so it seems to vary by a few yen where you are.
Seven Bank:
Under ¥10,000 had a ¥108 fee.
Japan Post Bank (Family Mart):
Under ¥10,000 had a ¥216 fee.
ING gave me a $1.51 and $2.50 AU rebate separately for each withdrawal.
Thank you! I guess no more fee-free ATMs now so seems like ING is the best one to use.
Yeah they stopped that years ago. Looking at the transaction history it seems ING were paying me more than I was getting charged so win-win!
CUA rebates as well. ING has lower requirements though.
Macquarie don't charge an international ATM fee but unlike in Australia they won't refund a fee charged by an international ATM operator (ING do if you jump through their hoops). The 711's in Japan don't charge an ATM fee so withdraw in bulk from 711s fee free with Macquarie.
Thank you, I'll keep this in mind if my ING card doesn't arrive before we leave.
I've used the MacQuarie everyday account debit card in Japan in March this year, no fee from Seven Bank ATM or Aeon bank ATM..
Going back this Christmas, can someone confirm Seven Bank ATMs still fee free?
Just found this link from Seven Bank, i believe if you withdraw from 7am-7pm local time, no fee
https://www.sevenbank.co.jp/english/personal/netbank/know/fe…
I guess it depends which company you are with. I used a Ubank card and was charged 108 yen per 10,000 yen. Someone above with ING said the same (but ING refunds it)
It's really strange, before I went to Japan in March this year, people suggested having to pay ATM fee, but when I went and did it with Macquarie, no fee was charged.
But I did used the ATM within the time frame suggested.
It's probably too late now, but I would have gone with ING and used whichever ATM was closest to me at the time.