Almost time to pack the bags for our european holiday. I just thought to check on the latest Ozbargain expertise regarding the best credit/debit card to use overseas.
Mostly to pay for most things. No ATM withdrawls required as we will exchange some cash to Euros for small cash payments.
Available cards are:
ING Orange Everyday Visa debit card.
HSBC Global debit card. Visa I believe. (unfortunately no 2% rebate OS)
Coles Platinum Mastercard Credit Card (flybuys points for OS transactions?)
24 Degrees Mastercard Credit Card
Virgin Money Go Account Visa Debit Card
Consensus on Best Credit/Debit Card to Use Overseas
EveryLastCent on 29/08/2023 - 16:45
Last edited 29/08/2023 - 16:46
Last edited 29/08/2023 - 16:46
Comments
Yep - its 4 degrees cooler than your average credit card.
That is the Melbourne version of the card.
Take 2 options (and keep them seperate) in case one doesn’t work/gets locked/you lose the card/it gets stolen
Other good options include the Macquarie transaction account (debit Mastercard), and Up (debit Mastercard) - neither have foreign transaction fees.
I’ve found (totally personal and anecdotal) that Mastercard offer a slightly better exchange rate most days, and so prefer to use MC.
None of the options you have suggested are bad options. In fact, for what you’re saying you want to use it for, they’re all pretty much equal.
Thanks jackary.
I did not think of Macquaire. I actually have an account with a debit card, although I never used it. Any better than the others?
I thought the Coles Platinum Mastercard may be the best option with the flybuys points (1% return in points) but not sure if you get points with os transactions
ING for ATM and ColesMC (with annual fee) for taps is what I will use for my upcoming overseas holiday. Both use the visa/mc exchange rate and no overseas txn fees. Given ING’s recent change to withdraw the ATM fees rebate, Macquarie will do just as well. Yes you will earn flybuys for overseas txns too, as long it’s not for govt spending. Read the t&c
ordered an up card four weeks ago (5 at end of this week) for a trip at end of this week and it's still yet to arrive - not worth cancelling in case it does arrive beforehand, too late to set up something else up. pretty disappointed, they did say allow 7-14 business days but we're past that now.
So only advice is order sooner rather than later.
Will be using ING orange with a credit card backup (from different bank)
ING Orange Everyday Visa debit card, was fine for me.
If I didn't have Citi Plus I'd use U-Bank and 28 Degrees.
Made ATM withdrawls on the 30-31 July with ING, and they charged me ATM fees because they didn't process till August. ING can now lick the crap off my balls, I won't use them anymore.
Just wondering since NAB took over the Citibank® Plus Transaction Debit Card is that card still fee free for ATM use here and overseas as well as for foreign transaction fees ?
Thanks Buddy had a good read, think I will be shifting to Macquaire transaction account before I go overseas as i can't find any time frame for the change over to NAB and what NAB brings to the table as changes.
You probably just received this email like me, but for the benefit of others wondering, point 8 says:
When the Citibank Plus Transaction Account and Citi Debit Mastercard close on 24 February 2024 you will continue to have access to the NAB Classic Banking account and NAB Visa Debit card.
So about 171 days from today.
However, I just discovered in a sep thread that NAB will preserve many (all?) of the international tx-fee free benefits specifically for us coming across from Citi.
@Member 0230: Thanks for the heads up :)
Yes I received the time frame today and was also wondering about the international tx-fee free benefits. I'm glad that NAB will preserve many (all?) of the international tx-fee free benefits.
What's your thoughts on the change Master Card to Visa Card, would have thought the Master Card exchange rate would have been better than Visa ?
Just got my Macquarie transaction account (debit Mastercard) in the mail today, just hedging my bets.@chrisie: According to this post (last update date?) the short answer is: Mastercard wins.
But it also says
In most cases, the card or bank specific rebates and fees matter more than the foreign exchange rate difference…
I guess it depends on the amounts and currencies you're transacting.
So now NAB will have 2 classes of NAB Visa Debit card.
Class 1 NAB Visa Debit card with preserved Citi Bank benefits
Class 2 NAB Visa Debit card with no benefits like class 1
I wonder how long that will last ?
Doesn't Coles have the international 3% fee? Unless it's the $99 card which I can't remember whether international is free.
But if you're not withdrawing cash, 28D is all you need really. Used it in Asia, Europe and South Africa no issues. Maybe tell them you are travelling first and to disable sms OTP if required.
disable sms OTP if required.
The OTP authentication applies only to on line transactions.
Oh yeah. But if you login their portal from another country they might block you. Coles did that when I was in Europe and I tried to log in to pay my account. Couldn't call them so I had to facetime my sister who called them just to unlock my account.
But if you login their portal from another country they might block you.
The whole point of the 28 Degree card is for travel, why would they block you?
Wise, Revolut, Macquarie? I didn't use Wise but the other two worked just fine in Europe in Jun.
For AGES it was the Citibank for ATM, 28 degrees for credit card.
That's the combo I still use - but keeping an eye on whether Citibank goes to hell.
Bankwest Platinum Credit Card https://www.bankwest.com.au/personal/credit-cards/no-annual-…
Bankwest Easy Transaction Account https://www.bankwest.com.au/personal/bank-and-save/bank-acco…
Virgin money go doesn't have free ATM or no Forex fees.
Were they ever free?
Have been using Wise for all international trips and it's been amazing for many many years years (started when it was Transferwise). The app is also great, really easy to split bills overseas if the others are also using the app. Converting from one currency to another is extremely smooth. Rates are good.
I'm surprised by how underrated Wise is in Australia, particularly in ozbargain.
Me and my partner got 1 CBA steppay each and ing for ATM and backup.
Probably get a wise card /up to use next time.ING used to rebate the ATM fee , are there any other cards like that now a days ?
I thought commbank CC were good for travelling overseas as well?
Definitely. Im going to ditch my 28 deg and use my CBA Ultimate Awards because they are both mastercard (same conversion rate), no conversion fee and international transaction fee. UA also has free travel insurance and lounge access! I get points while spending overseas too!
Still keep my Citibank card for cash withdrawals though. Can't beat their rate although it's $5 per transaction.
Thank you! I ended up applying for the smart awards. Has the same benefits of the ultimate for conversion rate, no international fee, etc.
Heading away soon and researching this as well.
I came across the SpendMe product from ME Bank, is there something negative I am missing from this debit card product?
https://www.mebank.com.au/banking/everyday-transaction-accou…
"Heading overseas? We won’t be packing international transaction fees.
Say adios, arrivederci and au revioir to international transaction fees when you travel abroad with SpendME. That means not getting slugged with extra charges for purchases made overseas. Save those dollars, dong and dineros for your holiday!With A SpendME Transaction Account, you'll also get:
$0 account keeping fees
$0 ATM fees at over 10,000 locations, no need to pay money to get money."
24 degrees?