NAB to End Overseas Access Fee Waivers for Migrated Citi Plus Products

jlien on 27/08/2025 - 11:57
Last edited 27/08/2025 - 12:01 by 1 other user

welp i just got this email a couple minutes ago.

Overseas access fees

From 5 November 2025, overseas access fees (as outlined below) will no longer be waived for NAB Classic Banking accounts opened as part of the migration from Citi to NAB. This means you'll start paying the following standard overseas access fees where applicable:
ATM cash withdrawal – $5 per withdrawal
Balance enquiry – $1 per enquiry
International transaction fee – 3.5% of the Australian dollar amount charged when an international transaction is posted (completed) to your account

An end of an era.
I used my citi plus account extensively for OS ATM withdrawals over the years, and even recently as a NAB product with the fee waivers for migrated citi customers.

Sad times.

Financial

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Comments

  • TheHappyOne on 27/08/2025 - 12:10
    +21

    Good times come to an end.

    Only reason why I kept my migrated Citi to NAB account around. Guess I'll be closing it then.

    • payless69 on 27/08/2025 - 12:42
      +2

      No loss: Their App tries to beat the Bankwest crap.

    • Dr Phil on 28/08/2025 - 08:54
      +1

      Agreed

      Plenty more visa and mastercard debit cards with No foreign exchange fees

      eg Macquarie Transaction account (pays 2% interest), uBank Spend, HSBC Everyday Global

    • ValueInvesting on 29/08/2025 - 14:37
      +1

      I agree. I've moved to Macquarie Bank instead - much better app, easy to open the account online and no rip-off fees like NAB!!!

  • derpdeder on 27/08/2025 - 12:30
    +28

    "While there will be some changes to your Citibank Plus Transaction Account, the essential features, including interest rates and product fees and charges, will remain the same." -[NAB/Citibank August 2023]

    Classic bank behaviour.

    • SlickMick on 28/08/2025 - 08:34
      +5

      What was NAB's intention with buying Citibank's debit card? Do they think we'll all switch to a NAB product after they do this to us??
      Surely they spent a heap of money, to throw away what they bought, and offend a heap of people that will be wary of ever doing business with them??

      • DogGunn on 29/08/2025 - 07:29

        They really bought it for the credit card side of things.

        • SlickMick on 29/08/2025 - 08:43
          -2

          They didn't take the credit cards

          • jlien on 29/08/2025 - 08:51
            +2

            @SlickMick: they did, they kept the citi branding (for now) but the cc's are issued by NAB. They even show up as NAB products in a credit file search.

            • SlickMick on 29/08/2025 - 08:53

              @jlien: Yeah? Strange that the replaced debit cards and not credit cards. I haven't been required to agree to new conditions.

              • DogGunn on 29/08/2025 - 09:00

                @SlickMick: They're in the process of switching them over.

                Many of Citi's previous white label credit card products have been switched from Citi's system to a new NAB system (see Kogan, Coles on September 8).

                Citi issued credit cards are in the process of transitioning to NAB. I'd expect them to move over early next year.

                Citibank has no more consumer products in Australia. Only corporate products now.

                • SlickMick on 29/08/2025 - 10:09

                  @DogGunn: dang I should start looking for an alternate creditcard too.

              • jlien on 29/08/2025 - 09:23
                +2

                @SlickMick: yeah it's just a matter of time i reckon.

                They have the right to use the brand for some years but that'll run out and they won't want to pay more to renew that. They're probably just moving product group by group.

                The bottom of the citi website says

                National Australia Bank Limited (ABN 12 004 044 937, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686) ("NAB"), is the credit provider and issuer of Citi branded credit products. NAB has acquired the business relating to these products from Citigroup Pty Limited (ABN 88 004 325 080, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 238098) ("Citi") and has appointed Citi to provide transitional services.

                This means that NAB is your product provider and references to 'we', 'us', or 'our' in relation to Citi branded products and services are generally references to NAB unless the context requires otherwise.

                "Citi", "Citibank", "Citigroup", the Arc design and all similar trade marks and derivations thereof are used temporarily under licence by NAB from Citigroup Inc. and related group entities.

                • Mugsy on 29/08/2025 - 10:19
                  +1

                  @jlien: Yeah, I would just expect NAB to ruin the Citi no annual fee for life credit card product eventually and find an alternative credit card arrangement.

                  I'm currently loving Bendigo Ready as a permanent and travel credit card and churning a second card for bonus points. I spend less and get more points this way.

                  • clover on 29/08/2025 - 11:18

                    @Mugsy: They have started. the my cashback feature is taken away from 1st october

              • MELso on 29/08/2025 - 17:08

                @SlickMick: All the offers for Citi credit cards expire on 14 September and I suspect that'll be it for new Citi cards. Then begins the migration. To what? Who knows…

  • payless69 on 27/08/2025 - 12:39
    +9

    Before NAB deserved 6 feet under
    Now RIP NAB and I suggest place them 18 feet under!

    • penting on 28/08/2025 - 09:35
      +4

      also hate what they are doing to 86400.

      • factor on 28/08/2025 - 15:20
        +3

        I'm definitely not buying NAB stock! They buy 86400 and Citibank customers and then chase them away.

        I've moved away from UBank for the second time now with the impending changes to bonus interest. Macquarie pays almost as much with no shenanigans and an amazing app.

  • Stealtho on 27/08/2025 - 12:43
    +6

    Ditched it years ago use Macquarie

  • plmko on 27/08/2025 - 12:49
    -1

    ING FTW

  • capslock on 27/08/2025 - 12:53
    +2

    Plenty of alternatives so not a big issue.

    • punkel on 27/08/2025 - 15:42

      Which alternatives - can you please share? i will migrate to another bank.

        • SlickMick on 28/08/2025 - 08:56
          -1

          This doesn't show which charge a fee through a marked-up exchange rate.

          We used to have this information…. I think we need to update that wiki.
          I recall it was Citibank (which became NAB and ends now), I think ING if you go through hoops with minimum balances or # transactions, and either Up or Revolut??

          Basically I need to know whether I now use Up or Revolut.

          • nategasm on 30/08/2025 - 02:51

            @SlickMick: From my experience Up and Macquarie use the Mastercard rate which is generally good. ubank and ING use the Visa rate which is the same as MC most of the time, sometimes slightly worse. Revolut and Wise use their own rates which is sometimes better, sometimes worse. Can't go wrong with any of these, just be aware of other fees from Revolut/Wise

          • pennypacker42069 on 31/08/2025 - 05:38

            @SlickMick: The only card I’ve seen use their own bad rate is HSBC

            • Mugsy on 31/08/2025 - 06:04

              @pennypacker42069: Some of the other travel debit cards oout there have some marked up rates too from memory.

            • SlickMick on 31/08/2025 - 10:41

              @pennypacker42069: Have you used any cars other than HSBC and those mentioned above?
              If any other uses the base rate and no fees they should be added to the wiki.

              It's certainly not a matter of "they're all the same".

              • Mugsy on 31/08/2025 - 20:03

                @SlickMick: Most of the 'no international transaction fee' cards mentioned here seem to just charge the VISA and Mastercard mid market rates so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

                Apart from HSBC everyday global, it's only stuff like the Commbank and Westpac Travel Cards that seem to be a marketing ploy and aren't really designed to be great travel cards due to poor exchange rates.

                • SlickMick on 31/08/2025 - 22:08

                  @Mugsy: yeah, plus one's that aren't targeted for international e.g. citibank and amex that I know of

  • c64 on 27/08/2025 - 13:13
    +17

    enshittification of all NAB products is going on at the moment

    • theStinge on 28/08/2025 - 15:16

      I am today years old when I learned a new verb!

    • Mugsy on 03/09/2025 - 07:08
      +1

      I renamed my ex-Citi NAB Classic to Citibank Plus when I got it. Now i rename it Shittibank Plus.

  • Banks on 27/08/2025 - 13:19

    Oh wow. That is not good.

    I'd hazard a guess that branch closures are probably next.

    This is the trend.

  • cashless on 27/08/2025 - 13:24
    +6

    NAB have killed off all the advantages of having Citi in the same way that they killed off 86400/old uBank.
    I still have one of the old Citi Premiere "free for life" credit cards.
    When they take that away, my days with NAB are over.

    • Eeples on 27/08/2025 - 14:06
      -4

      Citi still has the Citi Premier 'free for life' credit card (well not for new ppl, of course). It never went to NAB.

      Having said that I'm always wondering when Citi will renege on 'free for life' and start charging and/or remove my 2 airport lounge visits.

      • cashless on 27/08/2025 - 15:33
        +1

        And who do you think owns Citibank in Australia?

      • MahjongKing on 28/08/2025 - 07:33
        +1

        I always thought the Credit card business is already under NAB. They've just kept the Citi branding so it's not to hurt the NAB branded credit cards.

        I'm in same boat as everyone else. Once they remove Priority Lounge and free for life. I'll be leaving too.

  • clover on 27/08/2025 - 13:46
    +1

    hmm. i havent got the email

  • Randxyz123 on 27/08/2025 - 14:08

    What a silly decision made by their upper management. I wonder if this will be overturned. Not even a spend $x per month and you get the fees waived.

    • tenpercent on 27/08/2025 - 14:18
      +7

      Someone in middle management probably got a promotion to upper management for this cost saving initiative.

      • kiitos on 28/08/2025 - 08:06
        +5

        Or maybe an expensive consultancy recommended it after extensive fact finding with stakeholders.

  • Unorthodox on 27/08/2025 - 14:16

    Not surprised but still disappointed

  • bobbinbrisco on 27/08/2025 - 14:32

    NAB killed everything good in the citi products

    • Coops1 on 28/08/2025 - 07:39

      They gave us Reward Saver and Goodies

  • burningrage on 27/08/2025 - 14:38
    +1

    This means we can now close the migrated accounts.

  • Sheila Dealer on 27/08/2025 - 15:47
    +2

    Bummer. Going overseas on 10th November. I’ll have to close the account and find something equivalent.

      • Eeples on 28/08/2025 - 22:26
        +1

        Trouble with Wise is the additional fee after your 2nd ATM transaction in a month

    • YesPleaseThankYou on 28/08/2025 - 19:11
      -3

      Wow, you only have over 2 months. How will you possibly cope?

  • Mad Max on 27/08/2025 - 16:36
    +2

    Every financial business that NAB buys goes from good/decent to sh!t very quickly.
    City Plus, UBank, Coles Mastercard, etc.
    I wonder what the rationale is behind paying good money to buy a successful business and reducing it to a failure by removing all the good parts that made it good and attracted the customers.

    • burningrage on 27/08/2025 - 20:34
      +4

      Scale and reduced competition = profit.

    • SlickMick on 28/08/2025 - 09:04

      I asked the same question. It's not like they're just tweaking the conditions. It's closed to new customers, and changed the primary use case for the card so no one will want it anymore.

      If Citibank Australia is owned by NAB they already had our personal information, so they didn't buy for leads.
      Ahh, I'm guessing this was a tax dodge move. Make a huge loss buying what they turn into a dud product.

    • dirtybigbjelke on 29/08/2025 - 13:58

      The customers are usually high cost (Transaction etc) and low value. No Bank wants to be the one holding all those accounts so each will gradually get rid of those types of deals.

  • T-man on 27/08/2025 - 21:39

    I don’t use it anyway, just close it, shit bank

  • mrtin on 27/08/2025 - 21:52
    +1

    Sigh. Acct will be closed soon. Just ordered up plastic card

    • SlickMick on 28/08/2025 - 09:06

      Does Up use the base MC exchange rate (no profiting from a markup?)

      I'll start using it too.

      • Daybreak3439 on 28/08/2025 - 16:53
        +4

        Up doesn't charge overseas and/or ATM fees (unless the ATM charges one itself) and uses the Mastercard exchange rate. Seems like a suitable replacement for the NAB (Citi migrated) cards.

        https://up.com.au/bank-overseas-without-the-fees/#:~:text=NO….

        • SlickMick on 28/08/2025 - 22:00

          Yeah thanks, I did a bit of research this afternoon. Up seems good.

          Revolut seems a little bit dodgy with fees on weekends/ after hours and after exceeding limits, but probably okay as a backup.

  • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 08:05
    +2

    Just caught up on this change.

    What a way to ruin a good product.

  • Trekky on 28/08/2025 - 08:05
    +3

    Looks like I'll be closing mine too - I only kept it for these features.

    • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 08:26

      NAB does have mobile cheque deposits if that is of use. That's the only reason I will keep mine… and maybe bank@post deposits.

  • bashar20 on 28/08/2025 - 09:10

    Odd. Didn’t get that email.

  • povertytrap on 28/08/2025 - 09:45
    +2

    Citibank “free for life” credit card next.

    • MELso on 28/08/2025 - 10:41
      +2

      They'd better not.

      Unlike the international fee free debit card which never represented it was forever, the FFFL Citi cards were represented as being 'for life', so I for one will be throwing toys out of the pram if they try anything funny…

      • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 10:57
        +2

        I was upset when I had to give up my old Citibank fee free for life card when getting my last home loan but I find my current set up better…

        • keep a Bendigo Ready credit card as my permanent credit card. No annual fee, complimentary insurances incl travel and no international transaction fees.

        • churn through other cards with high sign up bonuses. They usually have international transaction fees which makes them horrible for travel.

        The Citi Rewards credit card has international transaction fees IIRC so horrible as a travel option. Plus it took me about 8yrs to rack up 80k points or something. I can do that in once churn with the right card and promo.

        • burningrage on 28/08/2025 - 11:41

          Bendigo is an extremely difficult card to apply for me and I am not sure why.

          • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 11:46

            @burningrage: That's annoying. Mine was relatively straight forward apart from the long processing wait thanks to all the 28 degrees refugees at the time.

            • burningrage on 28/08/2025 - 13:49

              @Mugsy: That's the one. It took more than 3 months to process only to get rejected in the end. In between, I got BankWest.

          • lainey13 on 09/09/2025 - 13:51

            @burningrage: Same! The website was utter crap, then finally got to the end only to be instantly rejected. No idea why.

        • MELso on 28/08/2025 - 18:21

          Thanks for the tip - shall investigate if NAB screw up the last vestiges of the Citi migration (will apply for a Citi Clear card in the next week or so for the balance transfer - will aim to park as much of my mortgage on it as possible).

      • ValueInvesting on 29/08/2025 - 14:44

        Unlike the international fee free debit card which never represented it was forever, the FFFL Citi cards were represented as being 'for life', so I for one will be throwing toys out of the pram if they try anything funny…

        100%. If NAB try to charge an annual fee when these were sold as having that fee waived "for life", I will be complaining along with everyone else I expect.

        • Dacs on 01/09/2025 - 17:12

          They may keep it but just withdraw all the benefits.

    • burningrage on 28/08/2025 - 11:40

      Don't give them ideas!!!

    • factor on 28/08/2025 - 15:22
      +1

      They have already dropped the interest free period to almost zero. Your paying the monthly bill almost as soon as you receive it.

  • FlyingMiffy on 28/08/2025 - 11:36

    Havent got the email yet. Sad day.

    • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 11:45

      Me neither but we know it's coming following discussions here (and also Whirlpool).

      I was quite happy with the product but now all it's good for is mobile cheque deposits and bank@post cash deposits (the latter I will use ING for once I get myself set up to do the monthly hoops and flip flop so I can get money out whenever I need to).

  • wfh on 28/08/2025 - 12:43

    HSBC or Macquarie? Or if any other recommendations?

    My requirements:

    • No fees on international transactions
    • Withdraw overseas without fees (substantial amounts if required; i.e don’t want to be capped)
    • No monthly fees and/or obligations.
    • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 13:09
      +2

      Get both.

      Macquarie would be what you'd mainly use. It's the only bank I've seen with an authenticator app that can be set up on more than one mobile device concurrently. I have it set up on my main phone, the back up phone I use when overseas and my old phone which is kept at home (it's also got my MyGov code generator app on it in case I lose my phone… I can get in still).

      HSBC doesn't have fees but they get you with the exchange rate if you're transacting in a currency that can be stored on the everyday global card (i.e. mostly popular currencies) as they use their own exchange rate rather than the VISA mid market rate. Still, if you were getting cash out from an overseas HSBC ATM for a currency that would rely on the VISA mid market rate, you may have the ATM operator fees waived. It's a very situational card.

      I would also get ME Bank… always travel with a Mastercard and a VISA option (though, HSBC would still work as the VISA option).

      • burningrage on 28/08/2025 - 13:52

        I don't have experience with Mac but HSBC's main thing for me is the ability to keep Foreign Currency (eg: Been saving Yens) and then take the money out overseas fee-free (At least it is for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Withdrawing cash in Japan would have been free had it was Mastercard but that's another story).

        When HSBC is leaving, we will no longer have alternatives in Australia and no, Wise is not an alternative as you cannot take more than AUD$300 something per month without attracting fees.

        • Mugsy on 28/08/2025 - 14:40
          +1

          In Japan, use VISA debit cards at AEON bank ATMs and you won't get slugged the operator fee. Mastercards at 7bank ATMs between 7am and 7pm I think it is.

          Agree about Wise and Revolut not being alternatives to the everyday global.

          • burningrage on 01/09/2025 - 09:52

            @Mugsy: Thank you! I will try AEON Bank and report back. Already saved up Yens.

        • dunnoz on 09/09/2025 - 14:30

          7bank / Kombi ATMs charge a fee even with MasterCard now.

          But yes Aeon ATM is the only one that doesn't charge a Op fee, but harder to find.

          • Mugsy on 09/09/2025 - 14:39

            @dunnoz: RE 7bank, this is during 7am to 7pm that you're talking about right? Because previously, the fee was only between 7pm and 7am.

            • dunnoz on 09/09/2025 - 15:32

              @Mugsy: Yeap, I thought it was fee free time period but when i tried it, got charged 200 yen anyways… (haneda airport).

              They use to have an Aeon ATM at the arrival exit but its gone.

    • factor on 28/08/2025 - 15:24

      I have both.

      HSBC for 2% off <$100 tap & go payments. That removes my irritation at cafe credit card surcharges.

      Macquarie for handling real amounts of money, good interest, and no issues moving around large chunks of money. Fantastic app.

    • MELso on 28/08/2025 - 18:23

      Just signed up for UBank as it's offering $100 referrals at the moment (plenty of links here). NAB keeps their clutches on me…

      • Hangryuman on 29/08/2025 - 08:45

        'Just signed up for UBank as it's offering $100 referrals at the moment'

        Did you notice that from 1 October UBank will pay you NO INTEREST on your savings (Save account) unless, after interest compared to the end of the previous month, you have increased the total balance by $1 ?

        in other words, you will be essentially paying them to benefit from your money in both the 'bonus interest' Save and the zero interest Spend accounts ?

        so unless you treat UBank like a term deposit that you won't touch or make any withdrawals from, you'd be better off investing lump sums in ETFs to actually grow your money like 10-15-30%pa rather than just giving it to UBank to not even give you the inflation rate back in interest.

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