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Up Bank Review: Is It The Best International Travel Card?

Are you tired of being hit with unexpected bank fees every time you travel or make an online purchase from abroad? You’re not alone. These seemingly minor fees can quickly add up, putting a strain on your budget and leaving you feeling frustrated. Enter Up Bank – a shining example of the innovative new wave of financial institutions known as neobanks.

Neobanks are digital-only platforms that leverage cutting-edge technology to provide enhanced convenience and savings for their customers. Let’s take a closer look at how Up Bank has disrupted the traditional banking model, particularly when it comes to international fees.

Up Bank: Your Key to Fee-Free Travel

Up Bank is revolutionizing the way people manage their finances while traveling the globe. When it comes to international fees and overseas ATM charges, Up Bank stands out as the smart choice for savvy travelers.

Up Bank’s International Fee Structure

Traditional banks often impose a myriad of fees when you use your card abroad or make online purchases in foreign currencies, siphoning off a percentage of your money with each transaction. This means every swipe or ATM withdrawal overseas can come with an unpleasant surprise fee.

While conventional banks may slap on fees up to 3% of the transaction value for international card usage, you might also encounter hefty $5 charges for each overseas ATM withdrawal, coupled with the 3% transaction fee. Additionally, overseas ATM operators may tack on their own fees. So, a $100 cash withdrawal could end up costing you over $10 in fees alone.

But with Up Bank, it’s a different story – zero international fees . Yes, you read that right – zero fees with Up Bank. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s not. Up Bank makes it easy to save money on your next trip or online shopping spree.

Up Bank’s Approach to International Transactions

Unlike traditional banks that typically add around 3% to the transaction value, Up Bank has abolished overseas transaction fees altogether. No hidden fees, no unexpected markups on exchange rates. With Up Bank, you receive the Mastercard® exchange rate without any additional charges. So, you’re always getting a fair deal on your purchases.

Overseas ATM Withdrawals with Up Bank

When it comes to accessing cash abroad, Up Bank continues to shine. They won’t charge you any ATM fees, regardless of how many times you withdraw money. However, please note that overseas ATM operators may impose their own fees, which are beyond Up Bank’s control.

Opening an Account with Up Bank

Getting started with Up Bank is quick and simple. Just visit their website and click “Join Up!” Their services are not only user-friendly but their website design is sleek and intuitive as well. Sign up using the link below and receive a $9 bonus.

Impressive Features for Discerning Travelers

Up Bank offers a suite of features to help you stay on top of your spending. Their convenient app puts you in control, regardless of the currency you’re using. Up displays your transactions in both Australian dollars and the foreign currency, making it easier to track your expenses while traveling abroad.

Streamlined International Money Transfers

If you need to transfer money abroad, Up Bank has you covered. They are the first Australian bank to partner with Wise, making international money transfers a breeze.

Tips to Avoid Overseas Fees

In addition to choosing Up Bank for your travel needs, here are a few extra tips to help you avoid those pesky overseas fees:

Convert Currency Before Traveling : The simplest way to avoid fees on every transaction is to bring cash in the local currency of your destination. You can convert your Australian dollars to the foreign currency easily online or in-store. Online money exchange services like S Money are often cost-effective and don’t have hidden fees.

Consider Travel Cards: Several travel-specific cards waive international transaction fees, offer competitive currency conversion rates, and provide free ATM withdrawals. Examples include the Wise Travel Card, Revolut, and Travelex Money Card.

With Up Bank, you have an excellent option for spending abroad and online, all while benefiting from their user-friendly app and, most importantly, zero international fees. Now that you’re aware of Up Bank’s fee-free travel perks, it’s time to start planning your next adventure!

When it comes to making the best financial choices for your travel plans, Up Bank might just be your ticket to significant savings.

Wise vs Revolut vs Up: Which Is Best For Travel?

Updated: Jan 27

Finding the best international travel card can make a huge difference to your travel budget. It's important to ensure you aren't getting stung with transaction fees and ATM withdrawal fees. Luckily, the rise of neobanks has transformed the way Australians manage their money when travelling overseas. In this article, we'll compare three leading options – Up Bank, Revolut, and Wise – to help you make an informed decision for your next international adventure.

Up Bank: Ultimate Fee-Free

Up Bank has quickly become a favourite among Australian travelers, thanks to its commitment to fee-free transactions and zero ATM withdrawal charges. Bid farewell to unpleasant surprises on your bank statement as Up Bank's user-friendly app and intuitive interface make managing your finances a seamless experience. What sets Up apart is its transparent banking approach, allowing you to view transactions in both Australian dollars and the local currency, simplifying budgeting while abroad. For those seeking a fee-free journey, Up Bank proves to be an invaluable companion.

One of the notable advantages of Up Bank is its dedication to providing a transparent and user-friendly platform. The absence of transaction fees and ATM withdrawal charges means that you can truly enjoy fee-free international spending. The user-friendly app and intuitive interface enhance your overall travel experience, making it easier to manage your money on the go. Moreover, the ability to view transactions in both Australian dollars and the local currency provides a level of transparency that is often lacking in traditional banking.

Up Bank stands out as a reliable companion for budget-conscious travelers, offering not only a fee-free experience but also a range of features that make international spending hassle-free. The convenience of managing your money with Up Bank extends to seamless integration with Google/Apple Pay, ensuring you can make secure and convenient transactions wherever you are in the world.

International Transaction Fees: 0%

ATM Withdrawal Fees: Free at most major Bank ATMs

Account Monthly Fee: $0

Physical Card Fee: $0

Google/Apple Pay: Yes

Exchange Rate: Mid-Market

Revolut: The All-in-One Solution

Revolut offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored for global travelers. Beyond fee-free international spending, Revolut provides competitive currency conversion rates, allowing you to hold multiple currencies in a single account. The ability to switch between currencies at real exchange rates translates to substantial savings on conversions. Moreover, Revolut's app features spending analytics and budgeting tools, granting you enhanced control over your financial activities. If you desire a one-stop solution with advanced financial tools, Revolut might be the perfect fit for your international adventures.

Revolut stands out as an all-encompassing solution for the modern traveler. The neobank's commitment to fee-free international spending is complemented by its advantageous currency conversion rates. Holding multiple currencies in a single account provides flexibility, especially for those traveling to destinations with varying currencies.

One of the key features that set Revolut apart is its real exchange rates, ensuring that you get the most value out of your money during currency conversions. The app's spending analytics and budgeting tools further empower you to take control of your finances while on the move. Whether you're a frequent traveler or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, Revolut's comprehensive features make it a worthy companion.

International Transaction Fees: Free up to $9,000, then 2%

ATM Withdrawal Fees: Free up to $350 per month, then 2% of the transaction amount

Wise (formerly TransferWise): The Pioneer in International Transfers

Renowned for its international money transfer services, Wise facilitates seamless cross-border transactions with minimal fees. While Wise does not offer a conventional bank account, its borderless account feature empowers you to hold multiple currencies and spend abroad using a Wise debit card. The real magic lies in Wise's mid-market exchange rates, ensuring you receive the true currency value without hidden markups. This makes Wise an excellent choice for Australians requiring regular overseas fund transfers.

Wise, formerly known as TransferWise, has earned its reputation as a pioneer in international money transfers. While it doesn't provide a traditional bank account, its borderless account feature opens up a world of possibilities for those needing to manage finances across borders. The ability to hold multiple currencies in one account simplifies transactions during international travels, and the accompanying Wise debit card enhances your spending flexibility.

One of Wise's standout features is its commitment to mid-market exchange rates. Unlike traditional banks that often apply hidden markups, Wise ensures that you get the real value of the currency during transfers. This transparency is particularly beneficial for individuals and businesses involved in frequent international transactions.

International Transaction Fees: From 0.43%

ATM Withdrawal Fees: Free up to $350 per month, then 1.75% of the transaction amount

Physical Card Fee: $10

Comparison at a Glance

Conclusion: choosing the right companion for your journey.

Selecting the ideal neobank for your overseas travels hinges on your specific needs. If fee-free spending and transparent transactions are paramount, Up Bank emerges as the clear winner. For those seeking a comprehensive solution with multiple currencies and advanced financial tools, Revolut stands out. Meanwhile, Wise remains the pioneer in affordable and seamless international transfers.

Whichever neobank you choose, bid farewell to unexpected fees and embrace a world of fee-free, hassle-free banking. Safe travels and happy spending!

Best Travel card for Europe? - UBank/ Up / Revolout / Wise - Australia Forum

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Best Travel card for Europe? - UBank/ Up / Revolout / Wise

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Travelling Europe (pound/euro) for two months in a few months and wondering what travel card is best to use for transactions/atms ect? haven't travelled internationally since 2018 and noticed theres quite a few new companies to the market. (I bank with ANZ and I dont believe they have any travel card options)

are the travel cards from UBank/ Up / Revolout / Wise the best to go with regarding reliability/fees and app features? or are there any other companies I should look into?

4 replies to this topic

Look at the CitiBank plus debit master card and the Latitude 28 visa. I used both on our last trip to Europe in 2018 I have found them very good, plus the ING card seems to get favorable comments on the forum for overseas travel.

If you got your list from S money website, it looks to me like they get a kickback for recommending the cards that they do.

Even Canstar looks a bit dodgy in their recommendations, giving recommendations of Bank cards that charge yearly fees for credit cards.

Do your own comparisons, but include HSBC, Citibank, Latitude 28 and ING in your research.

One caveat with the ING card is that they need to know that you are OS and travelling otherwise you may be blocked when using it.

Here’s the link to your previous post asking the same question

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g255055-i120-k14254519-Best_travel_card_to_use_in_Europe-Australia.html#116339875

Did you not like any of the previous answers given??

Asking the same question again doesn't appear to have dredged up anyone who agrees with your options, or anything new.

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The Best Travel Debit Cards for Australians In 2024

Tom Goward | 27/03/2024

TLDR ; our experts rated Up ($15 free bonus), Ubank ($10 free on with code C7N1TAZ ) & Revolut (Free $15 exclusive Flight Hacks bonus) as the best travel debit cards for 2024.

No matter where you’re going or for how long, making use of a good travel debit card is one of the easiest ways to save money overseas. The problem is that amidst the excitement, the importance of selecting the best travel debit card often slips the minds of many Australians until the eleventh hour. Most novice travellers fail to realise their mistake until arriving home with an overstuffed suitcase and card fees that could’ve been easily avoided.

The harsh reality is that banks and airport currency exchange services will often rip you off, despite their claims of ‘zero fees’ or ‘0% commission’. Think about it, how can an exchange booth afford the insane airport rent if they don’t make a cent from running their business?!

The good news is that Australians have a few brilliant options when it comes time to select a travel money card. While the array of choices can be overwhelming, with a little research and planning, you can save a considerable sum just by using the right card!

WATCH: our video comparing 11 of the most popular travel cards in Australia!

In this post:

What About Prepaid Travel-Branded Cards?

Foreign exchange rates: visa vs mastercard, making a €500 card purchase, withdrawing €500 from an atm, up debit card, ubank debit card, revolut australia, macquarie transaction account, hsbc everyday global account, wise multi-currency account, honourable mentions – best travel debit card, qantas travel money, commbank travel money, travelex money card, nab visa debit, anz plus transaction account, westpac travel money, ing orange everyday, summing up: our expert tips, travel debit cards faqs, global spending: travel debit card 101.

Many amateur travellers will use their day-to-day debit card overseas, simply because it’s easy to use a card that already has your money loaded and ready to go. But before tapping away, it’s important to understand the fees you’ll be in for.

When making international purchases, there are three main fees you should understand;

International Transaction Rate: Charged when you make a purchase with an overseas merchant, often as a percentage of the total transaction. In Australia, many banks charge a foreign transaction fee of 3% or higher.
Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee: Charged for the privilege of withdrawing your own money at an overseas ATM, typically a fixed dollar amount per withdrawal. Sometimes the ATM operator will charge an additional fee for using their ATM. How fun!
Foreign Exchange Markup: This is where banks are especially sneaky. While you might think you’re getting the real exchange rate, like you’d see searching Google or XE, banks will make up their own rate which includes a hidden fee on top. Of course, you will only be shown the ‘final price’ to hide the fee applied to the real rate.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect card to use overseas, you would have seen big banks and loyalty schemes offering travel money cards. But just because your day-to-day bank offers a dedicated travel card, it doesn’t mean you should get one. In fact, if a card has the word “travel” as part of its name, RUN AWAY while you still can. That is, unless you like being shafted by some of the richest companies in Australia.

Prepaid options like the Commbank Travel Money Card and Qantas Travel Money Card typically offer a portal where you can preload a foreign currency, before arriving at your destination. While it might sound logical to have your money in the correct currency before payment, the fees involved can be astronomical. Despite the promise of “fee-free load options”, there’s almost always a huge foreign exchange markup when you send Australian Dollars to a prepaid card.

The other downside is that you’re forced to lock-in the exchange rate when loading Australian Dollars. While this is marketed as a perk, it’s also a potential disaster if the exchange rate moves against you, after you’ve transferred your entire spending money across. So, unless you have a crystal ball that predicts when the exchange rate is best, I wouldn’t see it as a benefit myself.

Although Visa and Mastercard don’t offer cards themselves, they do have a say in determining the foreign exchange rate you’ll get. While prepaid cards devise their own inflated rates, the best cards, which we will share below, utilise the Visa or Mastercard exchange rate without applying a markup. The difference between the two is almost non-existent, so there is no point in selecting your card based on the payment network.

The table below shows how much Visa and Mastercard offered for 1 AUD as of 27th March 2024. As you can see, the rates are identical, except for JPY where the difference is minuscule anyway.

How Much Can I Save By Using A Good Card?

How much you can save will depend on the fees associated with your day-to-day card, how much you spend and where you spend it. Let’s compare transactions if you were to use the Commbank Travel Money, Qantas Travel Money or Up Debit cards.

The Commbank Travel Money card charges a flat 3% fee for currency conversion on purchases and withdrawals. Qantas Travel Money claims to have “no fee” for purchases in their marketing material, but their foreign exchange rate adds an insane markup.

As an example, say you paid your 500 Euro hotel bill using one of these cards. Based on our testing (on 27th March 2024), Commbank would charge a $24.92 fee, while Qantas slaps a disgusting $47.13 or 5.67% markup on top of the real exchange rate. Remember – the Qantas card has access to Mastercard’s foreign exchange rates, and if they so pleased, could offer the same true fee-free rate as Up’s Mastercard option.

The Commbank Travel Money card charges $3.5 for ATM withdrawals, charged in the currency from which you’re making the withdrawal. Qantas charges a different rate depending on which currency you’re withdrawing, but for Euros, it’s €1.5. Of course, Up doesn’t charge a fee.

As an example, say you need to withdraw 500 Euros from an ATM. The conversion fees are the same as above, but you’d need to pay an additional fee for using the ATM. Keep in mind that the ATM you use could charge its own fee, but this will apply to most cards so it’s the same across the board.

Our Picks: Best Travel Debit Cards In 2024

Now that you understand how critical it is to utilise a good debit card overseas, it’s time to explore the best options for Australian travellers. Not all banks provide the same features, so be sure to shop around and find a good fit for you. We’d also recommend packing at least one backup card in the event your main card becomes lost or stolen.

Payment Network: Mastercard
International Transaction Rate: 0%
Overseas ATM Fee: $0
Account Fee: $0

Sign-Up Bonus: $15 – For a limited time, you can receive a $10 welcome bonus for becoming an Upsider! Join using our Up Bank invite code to score $15 after joining.

Up is a digital bank (owned by Bendigo & Adelaide Bank) that proves it’s possible to love your bank. Setup is a breeze, and of course, Up charges absolutely nothing when you use an Up Debit card overseas. As a neobank, Up doesn’t have any physical branches, with everything easily handled from within the best banking app I’ve ever used. It’s super clean by design and packed full of useful features like payment splitting, the ability to detect recurring charges, easy payments to friends by name and detailed spending insights.

Want the full story? Check out our detailed Up Debit Card Review !

Payment Network: Visa

Sign-Up Bonus: $10 – For a limited time, you can use our Ubank referral code C7N1TAZ to score $10 in your new Ubank account after making 5 purchases within 30 days of signup.

Ubank is another digital bank with zero fees for using your connected debit card overseas. While the app isn’t quite as fantastic as Up’s offering, Ubank is still a great option. The upside is that Ubank also offers savings accounts that have consistently given some of the highest interest rates in Australia. Not to mention joining takes just a few minutes and they offer a joint account option.

After more info? Read out our complete Ubank Debit Card Review !

Overseas ATM Fee: $0 ($350-$1400/m fee-free limit based on plan)
Account Fee: $0-$24.99/month (based on plan)

Sign-Up Bonus: We’ve partnered with Revolut to offer Flight Hacks readers an exclusive $15 in their new account. Join via this link to score $15 after making 1 transaction within 14 days.

Everything money is accessible with Revolut, from spending on your debit card to investing in stocks and EFTs, crypto, gold and silver. From a travel perspective, Revolut offers minimal fees and the ability to preload your card with one of several currencies or spend using AUD at the current exchange rate. SmartDelay also offers complimentary airport lounge passes for you and up to 3 friends when your flight is delayed by more than an hour.

Revolut is also great for those travelling with anyone aged 6 to 17, thanks to the option for parents and legal guardians to create a linked account for their children. The main account holder gains access to a bunch of insights and controls, while under 18’s can spend their own funds with the same money-saving perks as the main account holder.

In Australia, Revolut offers users a free Standard plan, in addition to increased perks on a Premium ($9.99/month) or Metal ($24.99/month) membership. While also including a solid reinforced steel card, the Metal option offers monthly benefits like three fee-free international payments, unlimited fee-free weekday currency exchange and fee-free ATM withdrawals up to $1,400. Not willing to pay for a full year? You can always upgrade for your trip and cancel the plan once you return home.

Ready to learn more? View our Revolut Australia guide !

I nternational Transaction Rate: 0%

If you’re after a debit card for travel from a big bank, but not quite big enough to rip you off, Macquarie has you covered. Although the app and online banking portal are in desperate need of an update, the product itself is hard to fault.

Macquarie also offers a few perks like a luggage return service that will pester the airline on your behalf, if they mishandle your checked baggage. There is a small service fee for this, but if your bag is not returned within 96 hours, you’ll receive a $100 payout per lost bag. In addition, cardholders have access to a concierge service, card purchase cover and wallet guard cover. Considering this is just a debit card, those are some nice benefits to have up your sleeve.

Deposits made on a Macquarie Transaction Account can also earn interest, up to 4.75% p.a (as of March 2024).

HSBC’s worldwide reach makes its Everyday Global Account an attractive offering. If you need to make an ATM withdrawal, you can visit a HSBC ATM to guarantee zero withdrawal fees around the world! The exception is in Argentina, France, Greece, Mexico, Malta and Turkey where there is a small fee.

There’s an option to buy and transfer between ten currencies (AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD, CNY), although HSBC does hide a foreign markup here by using their own HSBC Daily Exchange Rate. For the best rate, simply load AUD onto the debit card before spending overseas, where the Visa exchange rate will apply with zero markup.

Plus, if you deposit at least $2,000 into your Everyday Global Account before the last business day of each calendar month, you can earn 2% cashback up to $50 per month. You’ll earn cashback on eligible purchases with Australian merchants under $100, when you spend via payWave, Apple Pay or Google Pay. There are a few transactions that won’t be eligible, including public transport, car parking and vending machines.

Overseas ATM Fee up to 350 AUD/month: $0
Overseas ATM Fee over 350 AUD/month: $1.50 ($1.50+1.75% for 3+ withdrawals)
Card Load Fee: 0% to 2% depending on currency
Physical Card Fee: $10

Wise (previously Transferwise) used to offer one of the best cards out there, until moving to an overly complex fee structure that feels very ‘banky’. That includes a $10 fee if you’d like a physical debit card, and high fees for withdrawing money overseas, once you go over the small monthly allowance. We do appreciate that those fees aren’t hidden, and you’ll see the exact exchange rate and the Wise fee applied before completing a transfer.

Because they still offer a real mid-market rate and are one of the best options for transferring foreign currency between friends, Wise still makes our list. They also offer a cool virtual card feature, that can be useful for pesky subscriptions or transactions where you want to cancel your card afterwards, without the consequences.

All up, Wise is a solid option if you need to make a bunch of transfers, but one to avoid if you plan on using overseas ATMs.

Keen on Wise? Why not read our Wise Australia review !

We’d be here all day if we reviewed every Aussie debit card with zero foreign transaction fees and fee-free overseas ATM withdrawals. Our guide above covers the best options for most travellers, but there are a few cards that deserve an honourable mention.

Bankwest Easy Transaction Account
ME Bank SpendME Transaction Account
Suncorp Everyday Options Account

Australia’s Worst Travel Debit Cards Revealed

Many big banks and frequent flyer schemes market travel money cards, but often, these come packed with hidden fees that make them completely useless. Unless you enjoy giving away your money (in which case you should send it directly to us), here are some popular options to avoid;

International Transaction Rate: “free” with hidden markup
Overseas ATM Fee : approx. $1.95 – $3.00 (varies with currency)
Card Load Fee: 0.5%

Qantas Travel Money is possibly the worst travel card out there. While advertising zero exchange fees, the ridiculously expensive “Qantas Travel Money Daily Rate” is used when you transfer funds between currencies or make a purchase. For example, in our €500 spend test above, using the Qantas Travel Money would cost a whopping $47.13 more than using a fee-free Up debit card. That’s a hidden markup of 5.67% – and Qantas will still charge an ATM fee!

For international purchases, you can earn 1.5 Qantas Points for every $1 equivalent spent in foreign currency. Even though we love Qantas Points, the insane nearly 6% markup is a complete ripoff and not worth paying to earn points.

Foreign Exchange Rate: 3%
Overseas ATM Fee: A$3.50
Card Load Fee: “free” with hidden markup

Despite its widespread usage, the Commbank Travel Money Card is another terrible option for overseas spending. That popularity comes from Commbank’s extensive customer base within Australia, with many travellers sticking with the one bank, instead of exploring better alternatives. But the thing is, each of the no-fee options listed above can be funded instantly from your existing Commbank account, so there is no upside to using Commbank Travel Money.

While the card itself is free to hold, there’s a 3% conversion fee applied with each transaction made in a different currency. Additionally, you’ll pay $3.50 for every overseas ATM withdrawal. Commbamk becomes an even worse option once you realise how misleading their advertising of “no reload fees” is. While technically true, Commbank makes up its own exchange rate for card loads, which is approximately 4.4% worse than the Visa rate (at the time of writing). Essentially, this translates to a 4.4% fee when loading foreign currency onto the Commbank Travel Money Card.

Overseas ATM Fee: $5
In-Store Load Fee: 1.1% or $15 (whichever is higher)
Online Load Fee: $0
Inactivity Fee: $4 monthly (once your card is inactive for 12 months)
Closure Fee: $10

You only have to read the endless list of fees to realise the Travelex Money Card is about as deceptive as it gets. Travelex does offer unlimited fee-free overseas ATM withdrawals, which is nice, but once you realise the other fees that are adding up and decide to close your account – oh wait, there’s a fee for that! You’ll also need to pay Travelex a monthly fee for the privilege of NOT using your card, once it becomes inactive for 12 months.

Travelex’s PDS says their foreign exchange rate is “set and determined by Mastercard”. What they don’t openly admit is that there is a hidden markup, which is easily spotted when you compare the Travelex exchange rate to that offered by Mastercard.

NAB Platinum Visa Debit card – 0% foreign currency transaction fees

International Transaction Rate: 3%

When NAB acquired Citibank in Australia, they removed one of the best big-bank travel cards available (the Citibank Saver Plus) and directed new customers to the NAB Visa Debit Card. As far as international spending, this new option is an absolute waste of plastic.

Instead of guaranteed free transitions at Citibank’s enormous overseas ATM network, you’ll get charged $5 at every single overseas ATM – yay! There’s also a juicy 3% international transaction rate, so you’ll pay a fee regardless of how you spend your money overseas.

ANZ Plus is ANZ’s new digital banking service that comes with a transaction account and a linked savings account. ANZ and ANZ Plus are like two peas in a pod, except one pea decided to get a snazzy makeover and call itself ‘Plus’. It’s as if ANZ woke up one day and thought, ‘You know what this bank needs? Another version of itself that’s slightly better but nearly identical’.

In all honesty, ANZ Plus is a solid product to use within Australia, with a cool banking app, competitive interest rate and useful insights to help you save money. But the good news stops there, with ANZ’s better version of itself keeping the fees for international use. You’ll pay $5 for overseas ATM withdrawals and a 3% fee on foreign transactions.

Foreign Exchange Rate: 0%
Overseas ATM Fee: approx. $1.50-$3.50 (varies with currency)

As far as big-bank travel cards go, Westpac’s Travel Money Card (also known as the Westpac Worldwide Wallett) isn’t quite as terrible as the rest. Although there are still hidden fees when you load your card, as well as when you withdraw money from an overseas ATM. The only reason we say Westpac’s travel card isn’t as awful is that they use the Mastercard rate when spending in currencies you don’t have loaded, without a markup. But overall, this is still one to avoid.

We used to love ING’s Orange Everyday card for overseas spending. But as the card became more and more popular, ING decided to capitalise by introducing international transaction fees, and then raise them even higher.

You can get all international transaction fees rebated, but you’ll need to make at least 5 eligible purchases and deposit at least $1,000 to one of your personal ING accounts every month. The same can be said for overseas ATM withdrawals, of which the first five fees can be rebated provided you make at least 5 eligible purchases and deposit at least $2,000 to one of your personal ING accounts every month.

Because of this unnecessary step to qualify for zero fees, we no longer recommend the ING Orange Everyday for travel.

With so many fee-free travel debit cards available, there’s no reason why you should pay banks every time you need to spend money overseas. With a little research into a travel debit card that suits you, it’s pretty easy to save thousands in bank fees.

Alongside a fee-free card, be sure to employ these tips when spending overseas;

Never pay in Australian Dollars: It’s one of the biggest travel card scams out there as merchants will make up their own terrible foreign exchange rate, and then charge a fee on top, to convert the local price to Australian dollars. You’ve probably paid with an EFTPOS machine or used an ATM that asks if you want to pay in AUD instead of the local currency. While it might sound like you’re getting a better deal with Australian dollars, this is almost never the case. Be sure to pay in the local currency, using a fee-free card above.
Check for fees applied by the ATM: While any good debit card will offer zero ATM fees, that doesn’t stop ATM operators from charging their own fees. The machine should tell you before charging a fee.
Be prepared with multiple card options: In case your card stops working, is stolen or becomes lost it’s a good idea to have a backup card.
Use your travel debit card for online purchases: Avoid foreign transaction fees when shopping online with overseas merchants by using your card for travel.

I am going to visit [insert destination] – which card should I use?

The cards we recommend above are great for spending overseas. Be sure to consider the features important to you (eg. no ATM fees) when selecting a card for travel.

Which card uses the best currency conversion rates?

We have compared Visa and Mastercard’s spot rates above – there is little difference. Be sure to use a card that uses these spot rates, without applying a markup.

Can I use any Australian debit card overseas?

Nearly all Australian debit cards with a Visa or Mastercard symbol will work around the globe. There are a few exceptions, for example, many cards are currently blocked within Russia and other regions of conflict.

Should I tell my bank where I’m going?

It’s not something we regularly do, but it doesn’t hurt to notify your bank that you’ll be travelling overseas to avoid international purchases being mistaken for suspicious activity.

Why shouldn’t I transfer a bunch of AUD to the currency I will be spending?

It’s a bad idea to convert money ahead of your trip unless you have a crystal ball and know which way the exchange rate will move. If the exchange rate changes in your favour, you could lose out big time. The most accurate rate is achieved with a fee-free card loaded with AUD, using the payment provider’s spot rate

Can I use any frequent flyer credit card overseas?

While your Australian credit card will work overseas, most will charge a 3% fee when spending in a foreign currency. If your card earns a high number of points per dollar, that fee could be worth paying. It just depends how many points you’re going to get, and what fee you’ll be charged.

Which travel debit card is best for international travel?

The best travel debit card is going to have low or no international transaction fees, as well as the features that best suit you. Be sure to check out the best cards listed in this guide.

Chief Operating Officer & Aviation Nerd at Flight Hacks

Off to Singapore and KL in October, got the BankSA Worldide Wallet card. Unsure whether I’d be better off using a card like the Up debit card instead.

Seems like an “ok” product but they charge for ATM withdrawal, in Europe 2 euros per transaction, 2USD in the US and 1.5GBP in the UK unless you use one of their partner ATMs. I’d say use UP if you’re unsure about whether the ATM you’re about to use is affiliated with Bank SA to save on the fee.

Hi Emmanuel, with the up debit card an u bank card , can you load the money from central america on there to take out? and or can you use the card over there anyway?

No, you can’t. If you want to load a foreign currency, I’d use Revolut or Wise.

Re: unbanked & up – both are digital banks so when I go overseas to Europe how do I notify these digital ‘banking institutions’ of my overseas travel dates so they don’t block my cards?

Hi Jefr, digital bank only means they don’t have a physical branch you can walk into. Personally, I can’t recall the last time I went into a physical bank. As for letting them know you’re travelling, I’ve never done this with either Ubank and Up and have had zero problems. When it comes to fraud, 99% of happens online so they do have a function where you can turn on or off international payments within the app. When you’re traveling and shopping, most of the banks now are smart enough to detect genuine transactions and don’t block you.

I have the Citibank one, it’s fantastic I find. Good rate which I locked in before travel so I know exactly how much I have to spend, I am even in Hawaii at the moment and even though the ATM operator says it charges $4.35USD per withdrawal, my card has not charged it.

I think it’s a mistake to lock in rates before you travel unless you have a crystal ball and know which way the FX market is going to move. Personally, I prefer to convert on the spot which gets you the best rate each time.

Not sure why Wise (previously known as Transferwise) makes on the list but HSBC Everyday Global Account didn’t make the cut. They also offer $0 ATM fees (no cap on withdrawal per month) and 0% overseas transaction fee.

Hi JW, it’s definitely not a complete list and HSBC is a pretty good product as well. I’ve got an HSBC Everyday Global Account but don’t use it because the app is a pain.

how about Bankwest https://www.bankwest.com.au/personal/bank-and-save/bank-accounts/easy

Also not a bad product, does pretty much the same as Up/Ubank etc.

what do you think is the best travel card for Moldova? I know not many people go there, but being a non EU country whose currency isn’t in much demand, I think we get stung when withdrawing from an atm. I’m using the QANTAS travel card. It was many currency wallets, but no Moldovan Leu. In Chisinau, Moldova seems to default to taking US dollars. I get the feeling we are double converting. AUD to USD and then to Leu. Ouch!

Do you know any other alternative?

Hi Ben, one of the debit cards listed here will work just as well. You should never convert money beforehand unless you have a crystal ball and know which way the FX markets will move 😀 The Qantas travel debit card isn’t a great product as they take a much too large percentage on every transaction or conversion you make. I would just use a debit card (or credit card) that doesn’t charge FX and let your bank do the conversion on the spot, much easier.

Thanks for a very interesting article about these attractive products. However, a doubt remains – how do these cards make money out of you? That is, what they do not take with one hand, must be taken by the other.

Hi Tom, most products listed above are not advertised as a “travel card”; why is that you may ask? It’s because the features they offer don’t make them much money, sure they might get a cut from the Mastercard or Visa spot rate but that’s not their main breadwinner. These products offer these specific features in the hope that you will move away from your traditional bank (think Westpac, Commbank, ANZ) and do all your everyday banking with them.

What do you think is better the citibank card, ubank or travelwise? 🙂 Tossing between those 3.

I’d go with Ubank since they are an actual Australian bank and the limits of Transferwise are somewhat limiting (no pun intended). Citi is also good but the app and website are not user friendly IMO. Bonus of Ubank is that they give you $20!

Could you please elaborate more on what the limits are for the Transferwise?

No limits for card payments but there is a very restrictive limit for ATM withdrawals which is $350 a month with max 2 cash out transactions. After that, they charge a fee.

JEN, Citi have withdrawn from the multi currency markets since they where purchased BY NAB. SAD, they were a great card

I have been researching some of the reviews on the cards, some adamantly say don’t use ING because of poor customer support when something goes wrong. Do you know of any that standout as having a good track record for customer support?

I’ve used ING in the past, and didn’t have a bad experience. That said, I’ve never been in a situation where I would need real customer support. For what it’s worth, Up bank has a chat feature within the app so that’s handy when you need a replacement card or something.

Can confirm support is not great, had several issues lately. Call centre times 20-30+ minute wait minimum, which especially sucks while overseas. Need to use Skype, etc or request a call back which can take days. Trying to resolve via messages is useless, appears they are unable to authorise anything this way.

On the plus side only ones that refund ATM fees so unfortunately still recommend them, have saved me a significant amount. Make sure you have several backups, to be honest have all the cards recommended – no fees and no stress if issues occur.

Hey Immanuel, Which is the better of Ubank and Up and why, especially considering you say Mastercard gives better rates than Visa? Thanks in advance!

Also between those and Travelex which I keep reading about?

Maybe times have changed but Travelex offers the worst travel cards/services IMO. As a general rule it’s safe to avoid anything that has the word travel in its name.

I found out that Travelex have competitive rates on their card – and the fees are $0 from our point of view. We can’t protect ourselves from the other side, but at least we can protect ourselves from the Australian point of view.

Plus, you can talk to a physical person in store about it. You can’t do that with the others – I’ve tried wise – and you do a chat – which i hate. I prefer the customer in person approach – especially if things go wrong – you can talk to a person in person and over the phone – and they have toll free numbers around the world for help.

Rates and fees are one thing – BUT HELP AND SUPPORT is a big factor for me when using a Travel card overseas.

Hi Miguel, I would argue the opposite. Travelex makes some of the worst products on the market, that said they do offer convenience (exchange money at the airport). For this, you’re paying a conversion fee of 3.65% (based on the Visa spot rate AUD-USD calculated today), this might not sound like a lot but it’s a rip-off in my book. Up, Ubank, Revolut, Citi Bank, ING etc. offer far superior products with full support (they have a banking license) and best of all they don’t charge fees, on top of that they’re just everyday bank accounts which is an added bonus. The physical people you talk to at Travelex are just salespeople, I’m not sure what sort of support you would need/expect from them? Personally, I carry multiple (free) cards with me so if one gets blocked for whatever reason (which has never happened) I just switch to the other one. Cheers, Immanuel.

Both are pretty much the same, bonus is that you get $20 with Ubank. For rate difference between Visa and MasterCard to matter much you would need to spend a lot of $$, instead, I would prioritise ease of use.

Going to US in 2 weeks. Just wanted to check your advice please. You mentioned “You should never convert money beforehand unless you have a crystal ball and know which way the FX markets will move”. Does this mean I should load up a Ubank Card with AUD and use this for both direct purchases and ATM withdrawals & rely on spot rates? It seems from the discussions above that foreign exchange occur at the UBank end. Is this a correct understanding?

Hi Geoff, your understanding is spot on. Converting currency in advance, hoping you will get a good deal is the equivalent of gambling, nothing wrong with it but the chances you get it right are just as good as the chance of getting it wrong. Ubank is just like any other Australian bank account, free to have money in your account and once you pay with your card it will be converted on the spot by Ubank.

Is there a conversion fee when you buy on the spot with a Ubank or Up card? Also can i book accommodation here in Australia and then just pay at the hotel using the Ubank card and it will just convert with no transaction or conversion fees?

Ubank is an Australian bank, they issue a free debit card (just like any other bank in Australia). You can’t have any currency other than AU$ on it so yes, your account will always have AU$ and it will be converted on the spot to pay for any transaction in any currency that’s supported by Visa, as per our article there’s 0% conversion fee imposed by Ubank (that’s why we like it). The card and bank account have no fees so of course you wouldn’t be charged a fee for booking accommodation using this card either.

Thanks for the article. Do the recommended cards offer travel insurance?

Hi Raymond, for cards with travel insurance you can check out our frequent flyer credit cards here , I can’t think of any debit cards that would offer free travel insurance. Since insurance is very personal, I can’t give you a recommendation as I don’t know your circumstances. However, I can tell you which one I personally use. For me I rely on Amex Business Platinum travel insurance as it’s activated even if I don’t use the card to purchase my flights, it also covers additional card holders so anyone I have listed on my account is automatically covered.

Amex non business credit card don’t give you travel insurance unless u buy your ticket with their card. The issue is if you buy a points flight, which is only technically paying tax, not actual flight, they won’t cover you with travel insurance when u claim as haven’t actually bought a fight. Hard lesson to learn.

ANZ Black or Platinum give you 6 months travel insurance per trip ( including family traveling with you) plus 6 months income protection of $1700/month(may be more $ now, they paid that much in 2017). As long as you spend $250 of your trip eg accommodation on your ANZ card and have a return ticket which can be a points bought one before leaving Australia. Also any auxiliary card holders are entitled to this insurance cover if travelling independently from you. Both my adult children used this to cover them on international trips at great savings. Also earn the most points / $ spend with ANZ black of any credit card except maybe business AMEX card. I never paid for travel insurance and have saved heaps over the years with this. Non cover you for extreme sports though or riding motor bikes if don’t have a bike licence in Australia or illegal to in the country you are riding eg Vietnam. Also can get a certificate prior to leaving saying they are covering you in certain countries of travel if needed.

Hi Immanuel I have a 15 year old daughter going on a 3 month student exchange to Italy at the end of this month. A number of travel websites recommend paying in cash in Italy so regular ATM use will be expected. She will be staying in a smalll village in Tuscany so may not have access to some of the “international/fee-free” ATMs. She will likely be spending around $600 per month (which exceeds some of the monthly fee-free ATM limits). A lot of the recommended debit cards have restrictions for under 18s. What do you recommend for her? Thanks

Hi Stephen, I believe all of these products have an age limit of 16 or older, not sure why but no doubt has something to do with government legislation. What I would do is open an account in your name and just give her the card to use and app login to manage her money. Paying by card is much more popular in Europe now than it ever was and it’s especially usefull when adding the card to a mobile wallet such as iPhone/Samsung etc. Ubank and Up are both very much geared towards young people so I think those would be good options to try out.

Great discussions. Thanks all. How about these cards Westpac – http://www.westpac.com.au/international-travel/travel-money-card/ Commbank Travle money card – https://www.commbank.com.au/travel/travel-money-card.html?ei=prod_TMC

Please advise. Thanks once again.

Westpac is alright but they charge ATM fees so I’d pass for that reason alone. Commbank, avoid unless you want to pay 3% on your transactions. The problem with these cards is that they want you to load it up with foreign currency, however, unless you’re a successful FX trader by profession, the chance of you timing the markets is slim. So essentially you’re gambling on the idea of currency either going up or down, if you were to just let your card convert it on the spot, you would always pay the market price which would then average out over time.

Thanks Immanuel, great discussions. How about wise card and what’s your opinion about it.

Also good but the limits are somewhat prohibitting.

Do you know if you need to convert currency with the Westpac worldwide wallet? I’m travelling to Vietnam and it’s not a listed currency. I would like to withdraw cash.

Hey Mae. Yes, Westpac Worldwide Wallet would require you to convert AUD before using the card, essentially gambling on the exchange rate. While that could work in your favour if the exchange rate worsens, you could also lose out big time. Westpac Worldwide Wallet does not currently support VND. Because of this and the extra fees Westpac charges, you might prefer the UBank or Up cards as mentioned above. Happy travels, Tom.

What is the best travel card for ATM withdrawals. We intend to pay for most things such as meals, taxifares and public transport by cash in the UK and Ireland. Is this the most cost effective method or are we better off just presenting our card when paying for goods and services. TIA

Hi David, Ubank and Up both don’t charge ATM fees so that would be my pick. When paying, it might be easier by card as then you don’t have to convert any leftover currency back but it depends where you go. Small towns in Europe for example sometimes don’t have card facilities so it’s just easier to pay in cash.

Hi Immanuel.

Just confirming, is the link below the ‘travel’ card for UBank, as it is coming up as a ‘transaction’ account rather than ‘travel’ card, so I want to make sure it is the right one?

https://www.ubank.com.au/banking/transaction-account

Any other advice regarding using this card (if the correct one) or UBank’s travel card (please send link) would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Hi Joe, they only have 1 type of account as far as I’m aware. The product isn’t advertised as a “travel card” because they don’t really make money from it. That said, it makes an excellent travel card because it doesn’t charge fees, it’s easy to manage, free and they give you $20 for joining. As previously mentioned, by warry when a product brands itself as “travel” related; there are usually fees associated.

Hi, I was just wondering with up bank do I have to create another account with wise. Just a bit confused. Thanks

Hi, no you don’t unless you plan to send money to family/friends via international transfer. If you just want to use the debit card to pay for stuff and take money out of the ATM, you don’t need to do anything.

Hi Immanuel, Do you know which card would be best to take to Bali? My son will be taking AUD cash as well to change over there for a more favourable rate but lots of cash is a risk.I’ve also heard that ATM’s charge their own fee (randomly) and when making purchases using a credit or debit card a 3% fee is charged. Can you confirm or deny? 🙂 Thanks

Hi Jenny, I wouldn’t take cash, the rate you would get from a vendor will most certainly be worse than what you can get at an ATM. The debit cards listed above such as Up, Ubank etc don’t charge any fees. If an ATM charges you fees, it will always disclose this before you proceed with the transaction, most often it’s a fixed amount. Always use reputable bank ATMs and you will be fine 🙂

Hi Immanuel, thanks for the advice above.

Which is the best card for us?

My partner is heading of the the USA, Canada. Then we are flying across to meet her in Netherlands, then Scotland followed by a trip to Italy for a holiday.

She likes the Wise Travel, I like the Macquarie. I think the limit on withdrawals from atms is a pain in the wise one. She thinks the Wise one has a better currency conversion rate since Macquarie uses Mastercard rate.

What are your thoughts? It’s hard to find detail on ubank and what their currency conversion rate is.

If you plan to use the ATM a lot, I’d stay clear from Wise as they are very limited on withdrawals. If the cards are free, get both that way you always have a backup. Personally, I take an Up debit card and Ubank debit card, if one gets blocked or I lose it somehow I have a backup and it takes seconds to transfer funds from one account to another.

Hi. Just trying to understand how you transfer money if one card has been lost/ stolen, wouldn’t every transaction be blocked ??

You can just lock the card it self. This means you can still use the account.

I just wanted to come here to say thank you Immanuel, so much information – exactly what I wanted to know and have been agonising over! The fact you are still answering the questions a few months after the article was written!

Hey Chantelle, thanks for the kind words! We’re actually planning to add more products to this article soon to expand the comparison for people.

Ditto from me – your info has been really helpful to me to choose the right card for travelling o/s. Just got word from Citibank that they will be closing down their travel card that I have used for last 10 years, so I am in the market for a new one. This article and the follow up discussions have been invaluable. I’m tossing up between UBank & Up Bank. Thanks again for a very informative article and more importantly, the follow up discussions.

Thanks Lisa! Both Ubank and Up are pretty much identical when it comes to real world use. It will come down to which app you find easiest to use. Try them both, it’s free after all 🙂

Totally agree!! How often do we find a site with an article and ability to comment…only to never hear from the author…way too often!

I travel internationally on occasion (Australia bound next month) and I think this discussion is incredibly valuable!! I’ll be getting both Up and Ubank as there is really only an upside to both.

Thanks for the feedback Bryan! When readers take time to comment, we take time to respond. It’s also very useful for others reading this article as it adds information that might not have been clear or mentioned in the main content.

Hi After reading all this I’m still not too sure. I’m traveling to UK and USA in December 22 and have applied for a Revolut card, what do you think? Regards Elly

Hey Elly, Revolut is also really good. You might even want to consider switching to their premium product for the duration of your travel as it might be worth it 🙂

Hi, Interesting article on paying for things overseas! One question/comment. I think it is necessary to advise the bank that your card will being used overseas? Otherwise the bank may put a stop on the account in case it is being used illegally.

Hi Neil, I personally don’t advise them and haven’t experienced any issues (with debit cards that is)

Hi Immanuel, we are travelling to Thailand next year. My sister uses Latitude 28 Degrees Global Platinum Mastercard. Is this any good? Otherwise, I’ll go with the Ubank card. Thanks for some great advice. Regards, Melissa

Yes, it’s good, no FX fees but it’s a credit card so not good if you want to take cash out. Ubank is a debit card/bank account so it’s perfect for taking cash out of ATMs etc.

Hi Just want to which debit card is best for Switzerland? I am traveling from Australia

Hi Ali. Any of the six cards we have listed above will suit your travel to Switzerland.

Im going to europe this year, ill be using card a lot, dont think i need to use atm much. Im considering either UP, wise or NAB platnium. I have considered the NAB platnium because they offer free travel insurance. Do you have any more advice, which would be best for me. Thank you.

Hi Karla, if you plan to use the card a lot it should work out ok since they charge $10 a month account-keeping fee which can be offset by the cashback rebate of up to $10 per month. Just make sure you read the T&C of the insurance to make sure it’d adequate for you.

Hi Immanuel going to Bali and if I get the UBank card do I just put aud in it, and when I pay at restaurants does it just convert to IDR then or do I have to change my Aud to idr.

Hi Chrissie. Good choice! Just load your UBank card with AUD and when you pay it will convert to IDR automatically. Blue skies, Tom.

Hi, thanks for providing such great information it’s really helped narrow down the search for the best debit card to use for our honeymoon. We are travelling to Cancun Mexico and considering either Citibank Plus or HSBC Global account. Do you think we will be fine with these cards?

Hey Adele. HSBC is a good product, although the app needs some serious work. Citi will serve you well along with the other cards listed here. Happy travels, Tom.

Am going on a six month trip – 3 months total in Morocco and Tanzania, and then 3 months in Europe. Am agonising over how to do the money thing – don’t want to carry wads of cash and don’t want to pay loads of fees if I pay by card or make frequent atm withdrawals. Would the Ucard be a good option for me if I just load it up with AUD before I go?

Ubank, Up, Revolut… all good options and will do exactly what you need.

Choosing a card is really hard as the reviews are not that great with any of them. Want to get a card which offers security for my money and easy access to it. I am planning to go to Europe and am worried I wont be able to use my card because its blocked or funds have disappeared (comments in a few google threads). Are all these cards covered by the government guarantee? Are these cards supported by large banks with good customer support should something go wrong?

Many thanks

Hi Diane. We have listed the best cards for travel above, you may wish to consider these for your trip to Europe. Under the Financial Claims Scheme (FCS), deposits of up to $250,000 are protected at licenced banks in Australia. As for the neobanks cards above, Up is backed by Bendigo Bank and UBank by NAB. In my experience, their customer support is fantastic. Cheers, Tom.

Hi Diane. We have compared Visa and Mastercard currency conversion rates above – there is little difference here. As long as you are using a card with zero foreign transaction fees, these are the rates that will apply. Cheers, Tom.

Thank you for the article. My concern is how long will it take for money to be transferred from another bank account onto these Travel Cards so that funds are available? Are you better off getting a travel card from your current bank to get the instant transfer?

Hey Poppy. If your current bank and the the card you will use for travel both support Osko, deposits will be instant. You can check what banks support Osko by clicking here . Cheers, Tom.

Surely ING is worth a mention? As far as I know they’re the only one that offers ATM fee rebates. Unfortunately they’ve recently limited this to 5 per month (whether domestic or international), but depending on the country this could still be worth ~$50. If you only withdraw cash once a week or so while travelling this really isn’t an issue. It’s saved me 100s of dollars in the past while travelling so I’m happy to deal with some sub par support!

Hey Jordan. We did have the ING Orange Everyday card listed when putting this guide together a few years ago. ING was since removed after the benefits became slightly more restrictive, although it’s still a worthy contender for travel. Blue skies, Tom.

We’re going to Argentina in January, which is a money minefield! – with the official dollar rate via banks vs the blue dollar that is worth nearly twice as much when exchanged for USD cash. Apparently the govt is in the process of introducing blue dollar (or better) rates for tourists using foreign cards, so that makes taking a debit card instead of wads of USD cash much more feasible. Are you aware of this? Do you have any advice at all? If not, we’ll take a chance on one of your recommended cards and hope that it works over there. Thank you!

Hi Diane, yes Argentina isn’t your typical country haha the “blue dollar” is the black market exchange rate for USD to the native peso and indeed, you will be much better off bringing USD (make sure you get the newer bills) as everyone in the country wants them. You will still be able to use a debit card at ATMs but when doing so you will convert at the official rate which as you stated is far from favorable. Are you transiting via the USA before getting to Argentina? In this case, I would get USD cash from US ATMs using an Australian debit card, this way you will get the best exchange rate, then take the cash to Argentina and exchange it to Peso on the black market.

Thanks so much for your reply and advice Immanuel. We are flying direct from Sydney to Santiago and from there to Buenos Aires, so no opportunity to use a US ATM I’m afraid. We’ll continue to watch the situation (with a sceptical eye) and assume that USD cash is still the way to go. Sigh.

Hi Diane, if you use Western Union they give you the Blue $ exchange rate. Initially I thought this was only with US $ but according to a discussion on Travel Advisor, it works for other currencies as well. By setting up an account and have Argentina as your home, you can apparently transfer au $ to Pesos while you are in Argentina. Although sometimes hard to find a WU office that hasn’t run out of $, and not always an instant transfer. Apparently you can play around on the WU site to check your exchange rate before doing this. If you already have USD in $100 bills, all very new and clean, you can go to an Arbollito on Florida St and exchange. Remembering the Blue rate does fluctuate.

Cheers Annmarie

link to recent TA conversation if you want to read info https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g294266-i977-k13815837-o30-How_to_get_dollar_blue_exchange_rates_through_Western_Union-Argentina.html

Hi there, I am travelling to the UK and Europe for 4 weeks and tossing up between two options which I can’t choose from. Is it better to use a fee free card overseas (Up in particular) and convert on the spot and cop the varying exchange rate, or preload a travel card so I have converted funds, but risk the fees from ATMs and conversion fees when I need to do so? Cheers

Hi Michael. Check out our section on travel-branded cards above. It is just as likely to lock in a bad exchange rate as it is to lock in a good one. It’s up to you, but seeing I don’t hold a crystal ball I avoid gambling on the exchange rate. Once you pay in foreign currency using Up it will be converted to AUD at the current rate with no fees or markup. Cheers, Tom.

Thanks mate, I’ve made the decision to use Up and even going to change my regular banking there cause I love it! Thanks again

Signed up for the U Bank card, used the code – it appears that actually the referrer gets the $20 credit, not the new signed up customer. I used the code C7N1TAZ as mentioned above.

Hey Dinny. To score the $20 you will need to be a brand-new UBank member and make three card purchases. Cheers, Tom.

Hi! Im travelling to the UK and Europe for a month is December and would prefer to use a travel card as opposed to cash. I’ve looked at all of these options but the reviews are a little worrying. Have you used any personally? What would you suggest? Im ideally trying to not spend a whole heap on fees and things and I dont plan on taking much out at an ATM if at all. Also looking for a card that wont cost be a fortune to put the left over money back into my bank account once ive returned. I was originally going to get a qantas card but once again reviews arent very good. Thanks

Hi Hunta. We have tested and would recommend any of the above. Up or UBank might be your easiest option. Cheers, Tom.

Hi there! How about the Macquarie debit card? seems as good as Ubank!

Yes just as good but you don’t get free money for signing up haha! Also, I’m not sure if their application process is as straightforward. Both Up and Ubank instantly activate your digital wallet while you wait for a physical card.

Thanks for the detailed articles team, I’ve always used cash when I travelled in the past but after reading this article I’ll use debit card instead.

Quick question though, would you recommend using Australian credit card overseas? I understand there’re fees (1-5%) but it earn points in return. Still tossing if points are worth the additional fees.

Hi Daniela, most Australian credit cards will charge you a 3% fee on each converted amount. It’s pretty high but if you earn points it can somewhat offset the cost. There are some credit cards that have no fees and earn points but the earn rate is generally pretty bad + they also have annual fees which might outweigh the benefit of saving 3% Macquarie Platinum Qantas, ANZ Travel Adventures, and Bankwest are a few you can look into.

Hi Immanuel, My 15 year old daughter is going to Japan on exchange for a year. I am a bit worried about sending her with a card in my name in case she is questioned (why she has a card in another person’s name). Other kids are going with CommBank as kids 14 and over can use it but I don’t like the sound of their fees. Any suggestions? Thanks

hey Elizabeth, to play it safe you can always have a Commbank account as a backup. Transferring money from Australian banks is instant via Osko so in theory you could give your daughter a card in your name (to take advantage of the low fees) and have a Commbank card as back up if it should be required. That said, you can also use mobile wallets to store Up, Ubank etc for contactless payments, this way the name on the card isn’t shared or displayed.

If I already have a Ubank account (for savings), will this suffice for using on overseas trip? Don’t have a card attached to it, but daresay I could apply for one. Travelling in the new year to UK and France. Thanks

Hi Denise, yes the Up savings account you got now is what you can use overseas. If you don’t have a physical card, you can order it via the app. It usually takes a week or so.

Which is the best card for recieving overseas payments like the japanese yen, etc. ?

Hi Zara. Any of the above cards can receive overseas payments, but Wise was designed especially with regular international payments in mind. Cheers, Tom.

Hi Zara – this is an excellent site and your advice much appreciated. My 19 year old son is going to Japan for working ski holiday next week for 7 weeks. He will need to use cash Yen in most places and hence, a number of ATM withdrawals. From what I read above, he would probably be best off just using his existing Bendigo Bank debit Mastercard – as he can use for payments as well as ATM withdrawals. Do you agree? Thanks in advance – Ian

Hi Ian, Bendigo bank charges 3% on each converted transaction overseas (that’s very high). Since your son is 19, he would be much better off switching to a bank that doesn’t charge those fees. Up bank, Ubank, Revolut, ING etc all offer better banking features and no fees.

Hi Immanuel, I plan to use Macquarie debit card for my upcoming overseas travel. How does Macquarie debit card compare to Citibank? And would Aud convert to other currencies automatically when I pay with my debit card?

Hey Linh. Your Australian Dollars will convert automatically for all cards listed above. Both Macquarie and Citibank offer good products with zero fees, although I’m not a fan of their mobile apps. At least Citi has a worldwide presence. Cheers, Tom.

Hi, I’m travelling to Vietnam, I have the 28 degree MasterCard but need a debit card to withdraw cash. What are your thoughts on Westpac worldwide wallet? I don’t want to lock in a currency.

Hey Mae. I wouldn’t recommend the Westpac Worldwide Wallet as you will pay extra fees compared to any of the cards we have listed above, for no reason. You would also need to lock in the currency, plus the card does not support VND. The 28-degree MasterCard is also one I would avoid, as you can’t make fee-free withdrawals and they apply a markup to overseas transactions. You might prefer the UBank or Up cards as mentioned above. Happy travels, Tom.

Just fyi – ubank is no allowing joint accounts at the moment. Very annoying as all their marketing says they do, but you get to the “new account” section and get a weird error message. Only after 50mins on hold to the call centre did it all become clear.

The argument is that they are being used for phishing which seems odd/unlikely – each of the joint owners need to give over ID but after Optus etc who knows.

I’ll be checking out some of the others – thanks for the tips!

Interesting, I didn’t know! Any benefit to having a joint account?

I’m hoping to take advantage of the exchange rate for japAn before it drops, I have a trip booked in April.

Can you please advise which travel card would be best. I want to transfer $2000 across as a piggy bank. And then continue to use my up account for purchases once this $2000 is gone.

Would it be better to do this or go to a cash exchange in Australia and change money before I leave as a lot of purchases will be in cash?

How do you know the Aussie will drop against the JPY? If you know for sure, why only bet $2,000? Jokes aside, Revolut would be my #1 choice for converting currency.

I feel that when you recommend these cards you take customer service into account. UBank has been in the news of late for poor service and I wouldn’t have believed it unless I experienced this myself. My daughter is in Rome with a UBank card, that we got for her because we read this review. They did an upgrade last night during the early hours of the morning AEDT but that was peak time in Europe. She was not able to use her card and then when they came back online, she still can’t use the card. I was in a queue for over two hours, which is minimum for them, no chat option, which is terrible for a bank. I spoke to someone and they assured me they would fix it and they still haven’t. Luckily her friends are with her and they are paying for her items, but this is a terrible bank it really is. Please factor this into your reviews and don’t worry about the referral fees, think about the people this affects.

Hi Bill. Sorry to hear about your daughter’s poor experience. I have never had an issue using my UBank card overseas, including getting through on the phone. In my experience their customer service is fantastic, but perhaps following the NAB takeover this is no longer the case. Of course, we would always recommend having a few good travel debit cards at hand, in the event that one card is stolen or stops working. Limiting yourself to a single card is undoubtedly risky, hence why we have listed several above. All the best, Tom.

Hi, I’ll be traveling to Germany and Denmark at the start of next year, all of these cards look viable. Is there a specific one that you would recommend…maybe location-wise? Thanks

Hi David. I am a fan of Up Bank for their outstanding customer support and ideal app layout. But yes, all of the above could work for your travels. Cheers, Tom.

Hey Tom, just opened both an Up Bank and Wise account for my Europe trip , thanks for your help there. If I understood correctly, if I tap and buy something with the Up Bank card, it converts the Australian dollar I have in my account at the Mastercard rate and if I tap and buy something using the Wise card, it converts using the Wise Transfer rate? (assuming I haven’t preloaded the Wise card with Euros already)

Hi Tom So is this correct? I miss my choice if card(atm between Up, UBank & Wise) with AUD and use it to pay for things OS (Canada). Therefore I won’t be charged any fees and the money is converted to CAD at the time of transaction? If I choose to withdraw actual cash OS then I may incur a fee of over $350 is withdrawn for the month?

Hi Jo, each card is different: Up, Ubank don’t have withdrawal limits, Wise & Revolut do have limits on free withdrawal, go over and you will incur a fee. Hope that helps?

Hi Immanuel Yes thanks so if I’m mainly using the card as a debit card and not to withdraw cash, then any of those 4 would be ok? If I want to withdraw cash – more than $350 a month- (I’m assuming it’s withdrawn as CAD) then Up & Ubank are best? Is this correct?

Hi, Im going to Europe for 2 months next year which would be the best travel card with the lowest fees? as i will only be using euros and pounds for the trip. My last pre- covid trip I used an ANZ travel card but they dont offer them anymore.

I would go for either Ubank or Up if you want unlimited ATM use with no fees. If you won’t take out much cash but prefer to pay via card, go with Revolut .

Hi Immanual, I’m travelling to Mexico and Hawaii in feb for the whole month and I’m stuck on which card to get. I’m unsure if I should get a prepaid or a debit card. Do you have any tips? I assume in Hawaii I’ll be using eftpos (transaction) more, whereas Mexico I think cash. But I’m really not sure, I’m just going off what people have said in travel blogs. Thanks!

Hi Ava, the answer to your question is in the article, but in short: pre-paid travel cards suck. Get a debit card or if you want to convert currency before your trip, get Revolut. Pro tip: get 2 accounts, that way you have a backup in case you lose a card or it gets blocked.

Can you sign up to revolut as an Australian? I was looking into Up too. What would be better?

I’ve got HSBC, Revolut, Wise and Qantas. Don’t know why people criticise the HSBC website and app, I’ve never had any issues. Exchange rates are pretty good and there’s 2% cashback on paywave purchases under AUD$100 (not sure if this applies OS). Revolut and Wise have the best exchange rates. Revolut Metal plan offers more ATM withdrawals. Lounge access is nothing special (slightly below normal fee unless there’s a +1 hour delay). Wise has no subscription fee. Qantas exchange rates are terrible, points bonus kicks in for overseas spending. I think Wise is the best all-round option if you don’t need many ATM withdrawals.

Hey John. I find the HSBC app outdated and clunky, but if it works for you that’s great. The HSBC 2% cashback will only apply to purchases made in AUD. Personally, I feel Wise and Revolut are far superior as above. Cheers, Tom.

Hi Emmanuel Travelling overseas first time to Europe for five and half weeks. Spain, France, Italy and Greece. I’m looking at both of these, Up Mastercard Debit card and UBank Visa Debit card, as you said have a back up. 1- I have a westpac bank account, how do I transfer money onto these cards from westpac, will I be charged any fees for transferring? 2- For security is it best to have a seperate westpac account with x amount $ in it that is for transferring onto these two debit cards while over seas? 3- Reason I ask about seperate westpac account, if scammed or the debit card is hacked can the scammers get into my main westpac accounts? 4- Do I transfer onto both cards or just one at a time? 5- Would I only have one as back up with no funds on it, and if needed can I transfer while in Europe? 6- As you mentioned, if the card I’m using eg: Up Mastercard Debit card is stolen, lost or blocked can I automatically transfer the funds on that card to my back up card eg: UBank Visa Debit card? Or because it’s compromised I wont be able to transfer those funds to my back up Debit card? 7- If that happens are my funds gone/ lost. Or will the banks that back these cards reinburst me for funds lost? 8- Is Up Mastercard Debit card backed by Bendigo Bank and UBank Visa Debit card backed by NAB bank? 9- With any funds left on these two cards once back in Australia can all the funds be transferred back into my westpac accounts, is there fees to do this? Thanking you in advance for your reply to all my questions.

1 – You can make a bank transfer the same way as any other bank account/debit card. 2 – Personally I don’t worry about this. 3 – No they are separate banks in the same way Westpac and Commbank are separate. 4 – Up to you, but it can be nice to have a backup. 5 – It is good to have a backup loaded with enough cash to get you out of trouble, but it is very easy to transfer in a pinch. 6 – Yes you can transfer funds and lock the card. 7 – It depends but you might be protected under the FCS. 8 – Yes. 9 – Yes you can transfer AUD back with no fees.

Cheers, Tom.

Hi my grand daughter is travelling to the U.S.A, For sport competition, what would be the best travelcard for her as she is a minor.

Hi, the Revolut card will be the best option as you can set up a free sub-account for a minor. See our full review for more details on this feature: https://flighthacks.com.au/revolut-australia-review/

Hi Immanuel I’m travelling for the fist time overseas to the Pacific Islands of Fiji for a 2 week holiday with family and kids. What card would best suit me? I do have accounts with Commonwealth and ANZ if it matters? Regards Mick

Hi Mick. Any of the cards we have covered in this article could work well for your trip. Enjoy Fiji! Blue skies, Tom.

I’m off to Nepal and Bhutan shortly. What is your opinion on the NAB Platinum Visa Debit Card? I believe it’s targeted at o/s travel but I wonder why it hasn’t made your recommendation list. Cheers

Hi Simone. We haven’t included the NAB Platinum Visa Debit as there are better cards out there (eg. Up Bank, UBank and Revolut). NAB charges a $10 monthly card fee, $5 per overseas ATM withdrawal and $1 per overseas ATM balance enquiry (in addition to what the ATM itself charges). You might be better off with one of the cards mentioned in this article, as many won’t charge these fees. Cheers, Tom.

Hi Tom, We are going to the Maldives in Feb and Europe in June/July, it looks like UP or Revolut are our best options. We are with HSBC which doesnt have OSKO. Would we be best to open an account with these other banks for easy transfer. Do you know if you can get multiple cards for the one account with UP & Revolut?

Hi Heidi, I find that transfers from HSBC usually take 1 business day so while it’s not instant like it is with Australian-based banks, it’s also not that slow. You can only get 1 card for your Up/Revolut account but both options also allow you to generate digital cards which you can generate as often as you want.

Hi – I am curious about the markup fees on these cards. Upbank clearly states they don’t do forex markup fees, but I cannot find information on the others. HSBC Everyday Global Rewards does have a forex mark up fee for the currencies you can load into the card for example. What about Ubank?

Hi Alee, HSBC charges a markup if you exchange money within your account; there’s no fee if you exchange it using the spot rate by paying or using your card in a foreign country. As I’ve said many times in these comments: there’s no benefit in exchanging money beforehand UNLESS you have a crystal ball and know what a currency will be worth at the time that you need it. So I never exchange money, all the cards we listed here do that automatically when you pay or use an ATM and do so without any fees.Ubank doesn’t have any exchange fees for the fact that it doesn’t have the option to convert currencies ahead of time, it simply converts based on the best spot rate as stated above.

Hey! Firstly this is the greatest thread regarding travel cards! Thanks for the replies!

I am travelling to Europe in June with my partner, we are heading to Denmark, UK, Greece, Croatia, Albania, UAE, Italy, France, Macedonia and Lebanon (just over 3 months).

I was originally considering Wise, however I see your point on withdrawal caps without fee.

Tossing between the Citibank plus, Wise, HSBC global and now the UP and UBank (open to others)

What would be your best recommendation for no fees and best exchange rate for these countries?

Could I get 4 best card recommendations for;

1/ Exchange rate and fees? 2/ Exchange rate, fees and atm withdrawal 3/ Atm withdrawal 4/ A extra card to carry to withdraw USD dollars to take to Lebanon (don’t want to be carrying a large amount of cash that I need for my last destination)

Thank you in advance! 🙂

Hi Faydi, personally, I use Revolut, Up and Ubank. Mostly because I like the apps they have; my issue with Citi and HSBC is that the mobile applications are somewhat clunky and not as user-friendly. When it comes to rates, all the cards we’ve listed here either use Visa or Mastercard spot rates (these are the best you can access as a consumer), all the cards listed above have no fees. In any case, I would made sure to have at least 2 debit cards (they are free anyway) so you can transfer money between if one stops working for whatever reason or if you lose a card. With Lebanon, from what I hear, it’s best to avoid ATMs because they will exchange your money at the official rate, since the people there want USD, there is a “black market” rate which is much more favourable but this would mean you have to carry some USD with you.

Hi Emmanuel,

Regarding withdrawing USD to use in Lebanon, my plan was to withdraw the USD in a different country (possibly from Macedonia) so I’m not carrying the cash for 2 months around Europe.

Any cards that are best for withdrawing money from ATM’S?

There’s also ING Orange everyday card? Similar product/benifets?

Thank you for taking the time to hear me out. What would be your best recommendation as I am trying to do a lot of research on what would be the best debit card to use for overseas this year. Travelling through to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, London and Dubai. Would probably mainly try to use the debit card mostly for purchases if that’s what would be best recommended and do minimal cash withdrawals from the ATM. What would be best for saving money on 0 fees and also what would offer the best exchange rate? Secondly would you recommend to load whichever card with AUD and then spend overseas and then apparently when I go through the eftpos machine select the purchase in euro option or exchange the AUD to euro before travelling? And lastly with taking out cash in euro or gbp would you recommend to take out at an exchange rate or public ATM when overseas or exchange it in AUS before travelling ?

Hi Nicholas, in the article, we have listed all our favourite cards. These are the best you can get (in our opinion). While features and fees might vary slightly, it’s negligible. If you plan to mostly pay using the card, I’d go for Revolut as the app is my favourite. As a backup, take Up or Ubank. You can’t go wrong. As for loading money: ALWAYS load AUD. Unless you like to be ripped off. Your card will do the conversion for you at the ATM or eftpos machines. And yes, always chose to pay in local currency overseas, never let the machine offer you a converted AUD rate. As for ATM, again, always take out cash at your destination if you can. This way, you will avoid the fees.

Hi. In regard to using an ATM with an Australian account, do I press the debit or credit option using a debit card??

Debit card because that’s what it is 🙂

Hi there. You mention… many of our top picks use either Visa or Mastercard’s exchange rates, without applying any markup. which ones are these?

All the cards we mention in this article 😀

Between Wise and Revolut which one do you think is better? and why?

Revolut, as they have no fees and the app is better/more functionality.

Hi Immanuel, What a great article! Thank you so much. Can I ask how you think the Mastercard rate compares to the mid-market rate offered by Wise? Thank you.

Wise has a variable fee of 0.44, so the Mastercard spot rate is still better. I’m planning a real-life comparison between all the cards so that should interesting 😀

Hi there. I’m slightly confused with all these options. I have been flying to EU in past and using INg.. would UBank compare? What do I go for? Thank you.

Hi Irena, nothing wrong with ING; it’s actually a really good travel card. The only reason we haven’t listed it is because in order to get the benefits out of ING it takes a lot of requirements to maintain. In our opinion, it’s too annoying to keep track of. Ie: in order to get the fees waived you need to make 5 purchases a month and deposit $1000. This is ok if you use it all the time but it’s too much work if you casually use it as a travel card.

How would you compare the Qantas Frequent Flyer Card thet can be loaded with dollars and used overseas

We have a whole section in the article dedicated to this product and even compared it with the spot rates, did you read it?

hello , we are travelling from AUS to US and staying in multiple hotels and conscious of the Hotel pre-auth holds whilst using Debit cards – could you recommend the best travel credit card for first time users

Hi Ren, there are a few credit cards that don’t charge 3% on top of each converted transaction but the downside is that they have poor points earn rates, and usually they also have high annual fees. Personally, I have Amex Platinum but also use Macquarie Qantas Platinum Visa (only because I get this product fee free). Key ones to look at are Bankwest Platinum & World Mastercard, ANZ Adventures Visa, and Commbank Ultimate Mastercard. There are probably some others I’ve missed but these are the main ones that earn points. I avoid credit cards that don’t offer rewards as they have no purpose other than to create debt. One exception might be 28 Degrees as they have a fee-free card with no annual fee.

Thank you for your reply , totally on your same page about not wanting to get a credit card either but unsure on other options when hotels will take large holds which can take some time to be released , have you used debit cards previously ?

Regarding withdrawing USD to use in Lebanon, my plan is to withdraw the USD in a different country (possibly from Macedonia) so I’m not carrying the cash for 2 months around Europe. Any cards that are best for withdrawing money from ATM’S? Thanks! 🙂

Hey Great article! I am travelling to Japan and Mexico in a month and was wondering what cards I should use while travelling and why. I have the following transaction accounts/cards already Up, Ubank, ING and Commbank debit. I also have a Westpac altitude black credit card. Thanks

Hi Wade. Glad you enjoyed the article. Check out our six cards listed above as we have outlined what you should use while travelling. Cheers, Tom.

Hi thank you this article was very useful for me as I was planning on using a travel money card with preloaded converted currency. I will be travelling to Europe soon, I currently have a Bankwest Easy Transaction account. They do not charge international transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees. However I don’t know whether they charge any hidden foreign exchange markup fees. Would you recommend this card for travelling.

Hi Fiona, the Bankwest debit card is actually another good one! They also use Mastercard spot rates, so it will be comparable to the likes of Ubank/Up. They have no hidden fees from what I can see. One thing I didn’t like about BW in the past is their somewhat clunky mobile app, but maybe this has been updated since? In any case, make sure you have a backup card of some sort; transferring money from a Bankwest to another OSKO-supported account such as Up, Ubank etc, would be instant.

Thanks for this article, it is really helpful as we try and narrow down our best option. Do you happen to know if the UBank one lets you have a joint account for the times my partner and I are not together ? I will control the app (not his forte) but I would prefer we both have a card we can load to Apple Pay so we can go our own ways at times.

Hey Karen! Yes, they do offer a shared account, you can choose this option during the sign-up process. It will also give you 2 debit cards (one purple and one aqua) to keep it simple to manage. Both of you will need to download the app to verify your identity etc.

Great article – I got the Ubank card without fuss and it has worked without hassle – at a good exchange rate too (way better than i could get cash pre departure).

Only concert is in Apple Wallet you have to choose between Visa, eftpos Savings, eftpos Cheque. Neither of the first 2 worked, i didn’t try Cheque, but the physical card worked. Don’t know why this would be

Hey Alex, thanks for the kind words! As for Apple pay, sounds odd? Which country did you experience the issue? I’ve got Ubank added to apple pay but never had an issue.

Hi Great advice. I am travelling to America, England and Switzerland this year. I will mainly use a card for tap and go purchases what would you suggest. With the CHF is it costing me twice as it appears most options is Euro and not CHF. Thank you

Hi Sarah, both CHF and EUR are very much on par at the moment. Nor sure why it would cost you double? If you don’t take out much cash, I would go with Revolut.

Hello. What would be the best card to use in New Zealand (I am in Australia).

Thanks in advance.

Hi Chris, all the cards we mention here are our favourites. You can’t go wrong with any of them. Personally I use Ubank, Up and Revolut.

Hi! Great article! Have planned a trip to Japan and Korea for March and this is exactly what I needed do THANKS. I’m thinking of getting the Citibank and the UBank cards — thoughts on these for Japan and Korea? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on the Citibank card since they have been acquired by NAB. Or do you have any other recommendations on top of the previous ones in the article?

Additionally, along with my current NAB debit card (for emergency, if the previous two cards fail), would you recommend bringing a credit card as well? Thanks again!!

Hi! Yes, Citi is now part of NAB, but NAB also owns Ubank. The key difference would be in the user-friendly side of the apps. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the clunky Citi mobile app. Also, Ubank gives new members $30 with zero strings attached… might as well have a free beer in Japan at their expense 😉

Hi, I’m travelling to Hawaii in a few months and need a new travel card. I’ve always used the Virgin one which was great, but it’s now closed. I’ve been looking at the Westpac Worldwide Wallet, just keen to here your thoughts? They seem to have no fees and the best conversion rate at the moment. The downside it seems is I have to be a Westpac customer. I’ve had poor customer service with uBank before so I want to steer clear of them.

Hi Sam, it’s an “OK” product; however, they do charge ATM fees which we’re not a huge fan of. In Hawaii, you’d be stung US$2 each time you take out cash. As for the exchange rate, it’s a MasterCard, so the spot rate will be identical to Up & Ubank (owned by NAB) and all other debit cards that use Mastercard for their product.

Hi, is it true that Wise has one distinct benefit for travel….it allows purchase verification codes via the app….not SMS? This would be a game changer for me when using o/s sim in phone.

Hi Gary, yes both Wise and Revolut use the app for the verification of payments (usually happens when you make a purchase online)

Hi Immanuel,

I’m travelling to Europe and with NAB – and they don’t seem to have a free option! I’ve clicked the link to Up included in your article. I just followed the prompts and now have a digital card – am I now free to use the digital card on my phone in Europe and incur no fees? Thanks so much for this article by the way!

Hi Micaela, yes that’s correct! You can use the digital card with your phone to tap and pay without fees. Make sure to always pay in the currency of the country you’re in. Sometimes (actually most of the time) the machine will prompt you to choose between Euro or Australian dollar. Always chose Euro as otherwise, you’ll pay 5% for no reason. Up should get you a free physical card within a few days as well though.

Is the westpac worlwide wallet able to be used in unsupported countries such as Denmark? Will it just convert the aud in the account at the time of a purchase?

It will just convert at time of purchase using Mastercard spot rate with no markup. The card is ok but we don’t rate it highly since they charge ATM fees for taking out cash overseas.

Thank you for the article and recommendations. I have been leaning towards the Citi Debit Card to use alongside the Latitude 28 degrees credit card for my 6 weeks overseas trip to Italy in May. This was because the Citi Debit Card has essentially no fees and a worldwide presence (although I am concerned about the constant reference to non user-friendly app). I have just read that NAB will cease sign up to new Citi accounts from May 20th 2023 but will still support active Citi accounts which were opened prior to that date (I’m guessing they are trying to move customers to their UBank product???). Sounds to me that there would be extra risk going abroad with a Citi debit card and it seems from posts by your readers, that there is some question surrounding recent customer service with UBank. I plan to use the Latitude card for most of my purchases and the Debit card for incidentals and ATM withdrawals where necessary. This will be my first foray into the world of internet banking and as such I’m still uncomfortable with the idea of a ‘digital bank’. I will therefore hold my savings in my regular bank account and transfer money from there to my ‘travel debit card’ and my Latitude 28Degrees account. I am thinking to get another debit card as a backup for my Citi card and to cover bases am thinking to go with a Visa network card. I have read your article in Flighthacks re: Revolut Premium. I note that the Standard card does not have 24/7 customer support and I am not keen on paying the monthly account keeping fees when I return to Australia. Could you suggest a pair of Debit cards that can team with my Latitude card to see me comfortably through my travel?

Hi G, digital bank just means they don’t have a physical branch, apart from that they have to comply with all the regulations like any other bank. For example Ubank is just a brand from NAB but geared to a younger audience which means everything can be done via their mobile app. I can’t recall the last time I visited a bank branch. As for support, I have all of these cards and travel frequently. Not once have I had to get support, so for me, it’s not a priority. As always, when it comes to feedback regarding banking support, you will be able to find negative comments on every bank… it’s simply because people don’t complain when everything works as it should. For me the priority for a travel debit card is that it A) has no fees and B) user user friendly app where I can check balances, make transfers and do things efficiently on to go. As for Citi, nothing wrong with it but it’s pretty much the same as all the other products we mentioned with the key difference being an outdated app that will probably lose updates and supports going forward as NAB attempts to integrate these into their own ecosystem. In any case, it’s always smart to have 2 debit cards (since they are free) incase something happens with one you can transfer money to the other one.

I have read most of the comments and will go with one of your suggestions for sure. Only question I have is that I have a few grands of EURO in cash from my last trip and I don’t want to carry it on with myself to spend it. Is there anyway that I load that money to one of the above cards so that I can use it in Europe?

Hi Sam, no you can’t. There’s no way to load Euro to an Australian account without converting it twice. If you were to deposit it, it’s always going to get converted to AUD first. I’d just keep it in cash, alternatively lose a few % and convert it back to AUD at a currency exchange.

Hi there, we have Citi and 28 degrees and have always found them to have the best exchange rates when paying local currencies overseas. Has this changed at all in the last 3 years since we’ve travelled? I did notice on Citi with the new feature to add a global wallet, the exchange rate to lock in a transfer now seems quite a bit lower than the wholesale rate. Is this the new rate that Citi uses even for on the spot transactions overseas?

Citi just uses the Mastercard spot rates so it’s the same as all the other ones that use Mastercard. Exchanging currency within a wallet is always a bad idea, the spot rate will give the best rate on the date as no one can predict FX movements.

Hi Can you tell me if there is a daily withdrawal limit for both Up & Ubank cards.

It’s $1000 for Up and $2000 for Ubank

UBank and Up Bank have appalling review on ‘Product Review’ website, mostly related to customer support and account accessibility. I had personally experienced that with UBank when trying to open a term deposit account and ended up giving up. If one has difficulty, stress, time pressure and frustration getting customer support at home in your comfort zone, imagine what you will experience if you need customer support while overseas. I am sure it will spoil your holidays or might end your holidays with a fatal heart attack. Very afraid and concern about given UBank anothergo and Up Bank ago. I believe online and/or neobanks have less than satisfactory and acceptable customer support. One may also say that customer support by most business are substandard and not meeting consumer expectations and neeeds.

From what I read and understand, Up Bank is not actually a ‘bank’ and not listed as an ADI by APRA but a brand of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited covered by it.

Relating to the above mentioned, do you have any comments or advice regarding other products mentioned in your article or any others not mentioned such as Bankwest, HSBC or Suncorp? Are you aware of any credible and sizable database review by real people using these or any cards while travellig overseas particularly in Europe and ASIA?

Finally, I complement Flighhacks for a well presented article on the topic and so glad that I came across it. Your ongoing discussions and support to readers via this forum is highly commmendable. The fact that I joined the discussion group speaks for itself because I rarely do so. It has been tremendous help and I thank you. I am sure my appreciation is shared by all your readers. Keep up the good work. If banks and businesses are as good and committed as you guys, the world would be different.

Hi Bill, I do my business banking with Commbank. Normally I can do everything online but the other day I got locked out after entering a wrong password. After being on the phone for 2h waiting for “Australian support” the guy told me he couldn’t help because they were also doing a system upgrade. Annoying… yes. Will I run off to “product review” to leave a negative review, probably not but a lot of people would. In any case, my point is that whatever bank you use… sometimes you will run into a less-than-ideal experience. It’s wort noting that Product Review is full of people who are pissed off and want to vent their frustration, people that are happy don’t tend to bother writing reviews about these kinda services so take it with a grain of salt as reviews are skewed to the negative side. I’ve been with Up (Yes they are owned by Bendigo Bank) for 3 years and 10 months. Never had an issue. Customer support is done via their app chat system which for me is super convenient. The only time I’ve hat to reach out was to request a new debit card after mine was stolen. Apart from that it just works… I’m not sure what your issue was opening a Ubank account but I’ve also been using them and had no issues. Bankwest, HSBC, Suncorp also offer similar products. I’ve actually just signed up to Suncorpt to test out their debit card as it has no atm fees and no FX markup which is good for what’s a bigger bank.

Are there any advantages of Ubank over Citibank??

From a fee perspective, no. The only difference: you get $30 for signing up for a free account + the app is lightyears ahead of Citi so it’s just more user friendly.

Hi there. I’m off to Japan in May and I’m considering using the Westpac Worldwide Wallet. I’ve seen your comments about not recommending this option because of ATM withdrawal fees but according to the Westpac website there are no ATM withdrawal fees. Just wondering if I’ve read it wrong.

Hi Tom, Westpac only allows free ATM use when you use a “Global Alliance”. There are no such ATM’s in Japan, so you will be paying the fee. While you did read it correctly on their product page, you should also read the fine print as that’s where they tell you about all the fees.

Hi there, I’m 18 and going to be travelling around europe for 2 months. I’ve read all the comments and it seems like Up or Ubank is the way to go… is there much difference between them which could help me decide what to pick? Would getting both cards be a good idea incase one has issues (lost, not working, etc)? Thanks heaps

Not a huge difference. I think Up is easier to deal with because you can message them in the app. But otherwise just as good, both are free and offer a welcome bonus to sign up 🙂

Im heading to Europe for 2 months and will be in countries that use the pound and euro. What would be my best option regarding what would be the best travel card to take, I’ve been looking online and there is so many options that its kind of confusing me (wise/revolout/aus post/travelex just to name a few) and are travel cards the best option to take?

Just wondering what your opinion would be for the best options, thanks!

Hi Ash, all the products we’ve listed in this article are very good and will suit your purpose. Avoid Aus Post and Travelex unless you want to pay fees for no reason. As I’ve mentioned a few times, personally I use Revolut, Up and Ubank.

Hi Tom, I am going to Europe for 7 months. I have got the basic Revolut plan with the cards. I have already put some Aud and Euro on the card. I have added the Revolut card as my payment card on booking.com and Airbnb. If I choose to pay this accommodation now using this card will they take the money out in Euros or Aud( as I have both on my card?) Also, for a longer stay trip like this should I upgrade my plan? Thankyou for all your advice Leanne

Hi Leanne, it depends on what currency AirBnb is going to charge you in. For example, if AirBnb says AUD$100, you will be charged in Australian Dollars so long as you have enough of that currency in your account. If you had AUD$0 and EUR$200 on your card, you would be charged in EUR as it is the only currency loaded to your Revolut card. As far as upgrading your plan I can’t provide financial advice but can suggest you work out how much you plan to spend, and then compare the fees on a Basic and Metal account. Hope this helps, Tom.

I will be doing some travel in Europe (Malta, Greece, Spain, France etc) before living and working in the UK for a couple of years, paid in GBP. Do you think I should open a local UK bank account to get paid or will one of these travel debit cards work for me as a good allrounder? If yes, which would work best. Just looking to keep it simple.

Hi David. If you are looking to keep it simple and will be in Europe for several years, you might as well open a UK account. You can also get a travel card for when you travel. Cheers, Tom.

Great article / recommendations 🙂

I’m travelling from OZ to the UK, stopping at potentially some European countries (for a few days) I have a bank acc in the UK so can transfer money there (and use UK card in UK where I’ll spend the majority of my time) I’ll probably use the travel card to pay for all bills if possible (rather that use cash)

I’m tossing up between UP card / U Bank?

Any advice from yourself on a preference, and can I get an additional card linked for my partner or do I have to get a separate card?

Thanks in advance for your help 🙂

Hi Matt. Both are good options but I think the Up app is superior, plus the customer service is better and you can message them directly from the app. Both are free and offer a welcome bonus to sign up. Cheers, Tom.

We are a family of 4 (2+2) going to be travelling in India for 1.5 months. Just wanted to get your thoughts on what’s the best card to carry to cover our expenses in India (ATM withdrawal, paying for restaurant/shopping etc.).

Hi Alap. Please read the article for a list of the best travel debit cards. Any of these would work in India. For ATM withdrawals and general spending, I like my Up Debit Card. Cheers, Tom.

Hi I’m travelling to Europe in June for a month with my husband and I’m wondering if wise or Revolut would be best to use? Not sure which one is better but they seem to be very similar, or do you have any recommendations on any other cards Thanks!

Hi Rebecca. Both Wise and Revolut offer a cheap way to spend overseas and you are right in saying they are very similar. The major difference is when you go to make an ATM withdrawal. Both offer AU$350 equivalent of fee-free ATM withdrawals per month before Wise charges 1.75% plus AU$1.50 where Reolut charges 2%. If you subscribe to Revolut Metal for AU$24.99 per month (cancel anytime), you can withdraw AU$1,400 every month before that same fee kicks in (remember the ATM itself might charge a fee). Personally, I like the Wise app more, and use my Up card for unlimited fee-free withdrawals. Safe travels, Tom.

Hi there Thanks so much for this article , it was so helpful I opened a Citibank currency card but they are now closing . I’ve got an Ing orange everyday card which I’ve used before I’ve traveled to japan. Apart from the other comments saying about the bad customer service If you needed to call . And keeping in mind the 5 withdrawals fee free . Do you think it’s on the same level as one u bank ? Much of a muchness ? I won’t be missing out on much if I just take my ing card for convenience sake ? Thanks again

Hi Kath. My preference is UBank has a superior app and more features. Cheers, Tom.

Im travelling Europe later in the year and was wondering with the UP bank card do you convert AUD currency into (euro/pound) or is it payed in AUD? so would you just transfer AUD currency to the card and it withdraws from that?

Hi Jessica, the card automatically converts the money for you using the spot rate. If you use a product that allows you to convert currencies, you’re essentially betting on FX rates going either up or down. Unless you can predict the future, it’s probably smarter to average your FX rates at the time of transaction.

Hi im traveling to Malta soon .Im i better off to use u bank or Up .

Same same really. I use both 🙂

Hi Immanuel, Thanks for the great article and all the chat.

We’re going to France for 10 weeks in late June. We’ll want to be able to pay for some things by card and also withdraw cash. I note you recommend Revolut for paying by card and Up or Ubank for withdrawing cash from ATMs. Is it not possible to pay for things using a debit card? For example, could I pay for hotel accommodation, or some clothing using an Up debit card for example?

We’ve not had a Debit card before, always just had one credit card (NAB Platinum). When travelling in the past we used a NAB travel card and if necessary we used our credit card and accepted any fees that applied. A couple of questions:

1. If we open an Up or Ubank account should we just open it as an individual account for one of us rather than a joint account?

2. You suggest having more than one debit card. Would it be worth getting both an Up and a Ubank debit card or would we be better to get a Revolut card, and either an Up or Ubank debit card?

As we are in WA we might also look into a Bankwest account with a debit card. Thanks.

Hi Michelle, Revolut is a debit card as well. I just like the app interface and they have some extended functionality. It’s definitely possible to pay for things with a debit card. If you have a bank account in Australia, you also have a debit card. Joint or personal… it’s up to you. It would depend on how you like to manage your money. You can try both Up and Ubank and see which one you like the best. The difference would come down to how easy you find the app to use, apart from that they are pretty much the same. As for Bankwest, their debit cards are also pretty good. Just avoid Travelex and Commbank Travel Money card and you’ll be fine 🙂

Thanks for responding Immanuel. I got an Up in my name and my husband got a UBank in his. We haven’t got the physical cards as yet and we haven’t tried the Apps yet so not sure which one we will find the best to use. I think two debit cards will be sufficient so I probably won’t worry about Bankwest. It seems easy to transfer funds from our NAB account to the cards so it should work well overseas. We now just need to decide how to manage internet access whilst out and about in France! Any hacks on best e-sims for data when travelling in Europe?

Hi Michelle, perfect! Yes, you’ll have no issues funding either account from NAB as it’s all instant using the OSKO protocol. For eSim I’ve used Airalo in the past, they are one of the biggest providers. We actually partner with them and we have a discount code for 10% off all their plans with code “HACKS10”. If you do sign up, consider using our affiliate link 🙂

https://flighthacks.com.au/recommends/airalo/

I am wanting to go overseas and currently have a 28Degrees, Up and Citi account.

With the recent cyber attacks on Latitude would you still use the card while overseas? Would you recommend getting another card together with the Up and Citi or will these two cards be enough.

Also with Citi not taking new customers from May 23 am concerned there will be issues with this card as well.

I am worried as I do not want to be without access to funds should I go overseas?

Appreciate any suggestions you may have.

Thanks so much.

Hi Alisha, I think the Latitude issues only revolve around them exposing your personal information (which is bad), however it shouldn’t affect their credit card product. Up has been great for me and hasn’t skipped a beat. My understanding with Citi bank is that they will be closing down account sometime in the future since NAB now owns them and they are probably not getting much money out of the debit card side of the business.

Hi, what is quickest way to get a travel card in Australia- Westpac travel card any good as believe I can pick up one in person at bank? Thanks RA

We recently did a test and the Westpac Worldwide Wallet card came out as one of the worst options, from our tests you would be 4.6% worse off compared to using the Up debit card. Most cards take about 1 week to arrive so I would go for Up, Ubank, ING, Macquarie, Revolut or Wise. I’d say from all of them my Revolut was the fastest one to get to me.

Hi Immanuel, As we are tight on time, and only travelling to NY for 10 days we would only use the Westpac card for direct purchases (ie: no ATM use as we’ll take a little cash). Would that be a feasible option? Kind regards RA

Hi Immanuel, When comparing the Ubank Visa Debit foreign exchange rate versus the Wise mid market rate + Wise exchange fee, which provides a better exchange rate usually for UK and America? Or is there a general trend, where one is just better than the other?

They are pretty much the same, on the test we did, Wise came out slightly worse. We cashed out 10k JPY, Wise converted that to AU$114.98 and Ubank converted it to AU$114.76 (all fees included). If you’re sending money overseas, the contenders would be Wise and Revolut.

Hi Immanuel, Thanks for the reply. May be a bit of a silly question, but are you saying, if I want to pay by card when overseas, Ubank is marginally better, whereas if I want to send money overseas, Ubank can’t do that, and you recommend Wise and Revolut?

Thanks so much for doing the real world comparison between wise and ubank. I read right through the entire thread to find it after you suggested you might do one. I have to say your responses are outstanding and it’s a rare thing to see an author so committed to sharing useful information.. Also I would like to commend you for your polite manner in the face of so many people asking questions that could easily be answered by actually reading the article and your previous responses. That must be very frustrating. Impressive!

Thank you! I really appreciate it : )

Hi Immanuel, thanks for your dedication to this post and the discussion thread – both insightful and incredible! I’d be grateful for your opinion on the best card for travelling through Taiwan for a couple of months. I expect to be able to pay with a card at most places in the city centres (Taipei, Taichung, etc) but many places only accept cash. So I’ll need the occasional ATM withdrawal facility, preferably with a bank that has a strong local presence in Taiwan. I’d be grateful for your recommendations. Thanks in advance Tony

Hi Tony, any of the card we’ve mentioned here will work perfectly fine for you. Visa/Mastercard are some of the most accepted worldwide and in Taiwan. In our recent test, both Ubank and Up came out on top in terms of the best rates.

What are your thoughts on the ING Everyday Debit Card for travel in The UK and Europe?

Great card, as long as you meet the minimum spend requirements and funding requirements each month. The reason we don’t list it here is because if you are a casual user, the ING Everyday debit card actually works out very expensive. FYI; you need to make 5 card purchases each month as well as deposit $1000 each month to get the benefits.

Hi Immanuel

My partner and I are travelling to Spain/Portugual/Morroco in June. We would like to usE a combination of ATMs (take out a larger sum of money) and travel cards. We also current customers of Macquarie Bank. My partner is a little hesitant in using banks/travel cards of merchants she’s not heard of. Should we contact Macquarie and use one off their Visa cards or get a travel card. Any advice would be great

Hi Scott, yes the Macquarie Platinum Debit card is just as good as Up/Ubank etc. Only difference is that it doesn’t come with free $$ to open one 😀

I was about to open up a CBA Travel Money Card (Visa) and a Westpac World Wide Wallet (Mastercard) today with foreign currencies pre-loaded, but fortunately I stumbled across your site and I’m now going to open up 2 debit cards instead because they have $0/low transaction/international fees. I do like taking both a Visa and a Mastercard overseas in case one of them is not accepted. I’ll probably be applying for an Up Bank (Mastercard) debit card and a UBank (Visa) debit card. Many thanks for your advice.

Glad to hear that David! We’re currently working on a video comparing 11 different debit cards and so far CBA came out as one of the worst options on our real-world test taking out money and spending on the card.

Hi, Great content here and advice – thank you! Quick question though – Have you evaluated the different fx rates between Wise, Ubank or Up at one point in time? Considering either one of these and leaning to Ubank or Up given no ATM withdrawal fees but are there rates worse than Wise?

Hi Adam, yes we have! I’m actually making a video about it but it’s still being edited. We tested both ATM withdrawals overseas and in-store transactions for 11 different cards. Up & Ubank both came out on top with the same rate for cash out at ATM and also the same rate for in-store purchases. Wise came out slightly worse but only by 1c ($1.34 vs $1.35). For cash-out, 10k JPY converted to $114.57 for both Up and Ubank and $114.98 for Wise. Hope that helps!

Hey, I’m off to Japan in a few weeks. Last year when I went to South Korea I got a Wise card/account which is still active. I’m also a Westpac customer and while at the bank today mentioned I’m going to Japan and they gave me a Worldwide Wallet pack with the two cards (why two cards?). What would be the better option? Sticking with Wise, or going Westpac WWC?

They give 2 cards in case you lose one or it gets eaten by an ATM machine or stolen etc. Westpac Worldwide Wallet is one of the worst products we’ve tested. I’d avoid it. Your Wise card is exponentially better.

Hi, just about to go travelling to Europe and came across your article which is very helpful – thank you. I will now be getting an Upbank and U bank debit card based on your recommendation. I was also wondering if you could recommend a good credit card for large purchases when overseas. I currently have a CW platinum Visa. TIA

Hi Colette, for credit cards the ones that don’t surcharge overseas usually have a poor earn rate for reward points. In general, I never recommend credit cards that don’t provide rewards as there’s no real benefit. For reward-earning cards with no 3% surcharge: Commank Diamond, ANZ Adventurers, Bankwest QF Platinum & World Mastercard, Macquarie Qantas Platinum Visa (that’s all i can think off top of my head).

We are travelling to USA/Canada in a few weeks & are still unsure whether to take cash & a credit card or cash & travel card (currently have Stgeorge World Wide Wallet).Any advice would be appreciated TIA

Hi Michael, why would you take cash? Just leave it in your bank account and use an ATM when you’re in the USA/Canada to take out cash when you need it using one of the travel cards we suggested. Converting your AUD to USD in Australia (or US) in an exchange is a rip-off.

Thanks Immanuel – Great advice

Thank you for this article. I am frequent visitor on your website. Always great content. Just a quick question, I have had Citibank card for decade and have enjoyed benefits while travelling overseas. Since they have been bought by NAB and they are changing product services one by one. Have their transaction account been affected as well or they still offering same benefits? Website doesn’t give clear information either.

Hi Manish, from what I understand they will be closing down the free debit card at some stage this year. Personally, I’ve switched to Up/Ubank for my ATM cash-out needs overseas and Revolut for sending money internationally as they have the best rates.

Hi Immanuel, Just wandering if there is much difference between using my standard Suncorp debit card while travelling Europe in comparison to actually getting a travel card like UP? thanky ou

I don’t think there is, I’ve been wanting to test Suncorp as they also offer no fees but I’m yet to receive my debit card after waiting a month!.

I have the Westpac worldwide wallet travel card that I have loaded money into. I was told it is fee free. So I hope that’s true. I also have the Qantas cash card, but the exchange rate is not as good as the westpac card.

Both are pretty bad. We recently did a test of 11 of the most popular debit cards in Australia and Westpac Worldwide Wallet came in 7th place. Their rates where 4.63808% higher than what Up Bank charged. Qantas Money came in 19th place…

Hi, tossing up between UBank, Up or Wise debit card? I can’t decide, which one would you go with? And, was looking at getting the BankWest Breeze Platinum Credit Card? Is this a good credit card to use when travelling in Europe? Lastly, is it best to order Euros before i travel (was going to order thru S Money) or use an ATM in Italy with my Debit card? Many thanks 🙂

Hi Mel, I’ve just posted a video today which answers all your questions. We tested 11 different debit cards to see which one came out best: https://youtu.be/5KjgrNJTe1s

Firstly let me say this site has been extremely helpful and your recent video comparing 11 cards in Japan was also very informative.

A big thank you for creating this site and spending time to make things easier for travellers who need clarity around this topic.

I am about to travel to Europe and thanks to your post have both an Up and Ubank account. I understand there are no fees from these banks to use these cards overseas however I have been told I will still be charged fees by the overseas banks when using their ATMs to make withdrawls and making overseas instore card purchases? What are these fees? Is there any way these fees can be avoided?

Ideally I dont want to pay any fees to banks while I’m overseas and would like to maximise my funds while on my holiday.

Appreciate your time and advise

Hi Dianne, there are no fees charged by Up/Ubank but the owners of the ATM you use will generally charge a fee (that’s how they make money). It varies, for example for the video we made the ATM charged us AU$1.25 for taking out cash. My tip would be to use the ATM of big brand banks as their fees will be reasonable. The fee is always displayed on the screen and the machine will prompt you to accept it or deny. If you deny, your card comes out. There’s no fee for making in-store card purchases with these cards, your AUD is converted on the spot by Mastercard or Visa which is the best rate you can get as a consumer using a card to pay.

Thanks for this awesome up to date review and the video – so helpful. I’ve been reading up the last few weeks in prep. for our next trip knowing you have to be organised well ahead.

I’ve been a UBank and ING customer for years and was planning on using ING for Cash withdrawls on our next trip but was reassessing because they dropped the ATM reimbursement.

I’ve always used 28degrees Mastercard for purchases thinking it would be a better exchange rate than UBank or ING – I don’t know whether they are or not.

Anyway, reason I’m commenting because there are many many articles online saying how good Wise is. Unfortunately, last night, before reading your article and watching the video I joined Wise and was charged $10 for the Card. I paid before reading this article and am really annoyed about it. I paid because I thought they were way ahead on exchange rate so thought overall I’d be better off. But it seems ING and UBank are as good if not better and their cards don’t cost anything.

I’m thinking of cancelling my Wise card – in principle.

What do you think ?

Did you know there was a $10 fee to get the Wise Card ?

Hi Barbara, thanks for the kind words! Your 28 Degrees credit card will use the same Mastercard spot rate used by Up for example. Therefore I’d expect the conversion to be pretty much the same. Wise is really good for sending money overseas but I feel their debit card (although it’s also one of the best) is somewhat lacking compared to the free options out there. My key concerns with them are: card fee for ordering a card as you mentioned, limitation to cash withdrawal and as per our test their conversion rates on in-person payments and ATM cashouts where beaten by Up and Ubank which are both free and have zero limitations.

The Westpac World Wide Wallet card will cost you hundreds of dollars. Westpac claim no fees, but their exchange rate is always poor and slow to change. I have already lost hundreds of dollars converting to Euros. My cousin has one, and he consistently gets a higher exchange rate than myself, because he has more money in his Australian account than I do. I complained and was blown off, my cousin’s higher exchange rate wasn’t even addressed. I wish I’d read some reviews before blindly accepting their lies. There are better cards out there, you might pay a fee, but the better exchange rate will save you a lot of money.

Absolutely! It was one of the worst cards we tested. The best cards are actually free, for our tests Up and Ubank came out on top: zero cost to get it!

So confused with debit cards, travel cards, varying reviews on which one is best and worst. Please help.

Travelling to Europe for 7 weeks in June and we already use a NAB visa credit and an AMEX card so do we need yet another card?

I understand we have fees to tap and use at places and also for atm withdrawal etc but from what i can find its not a lot of $ but guess over 7 weeks it will add up.

Should i get a NAB Ultimate or Mastercard debit card or just use our current visa amex cards? Thanks for any help in advance everyone. Thank you

Hi Chris, this article is mainly focused on debit cards which you’ll need if you want to take money out of an ATM. Credit cards are good for in-person payments but you’ll get charged cash advance fees if you use credit cards to take money out. Also, keep in mind that a lot of credit cards will charge a 3% fee on the converted amount (if you’re earning reward points this is somewhat offset by the value you get back). As for debit cards, we’ve compared 11 of them in our latest video: https://youtu.be/5KjgrNJTe1s

Thank you for the link to video and very informative. When you check out reviews of both Ubank and Up however there is more unhappy customers than happy. Again my confusion grows as to whats best and who actually tells the truth about these cards.

Currently a ING customer. Travelling to Greece,Crotia and Italy. Looking at Up & UBank any preferences on either? Will be hopefully using card most of the time. Should I look at other options? Should I get hung up on currency conversions that HSBC and Wise offer?

Thanks again for the article

Hi Grant, we compare them all in our video so you’ll see that the difference between the top cards is pretty negligible vs the worst offenders. Personally, I’d go with whichever app/website you prefer. https://youtu.be/5KjgrNJTe1s

Hi Immanuel, the Bankwest Debit card seems to offer no fees for international transactions. Is this a good option for travelling overseas, paying and also withdrawing?

AWESOME REVIEW! Just what we’re looking into right now. What do you think would be the best option for travel to the UK.

I previously used the Qantas Cash Card but that was a disaster

Hi Steven, any of the cards mentioned here or in our video will be exponentially better than the Qantas Cash one and will do the job just fine.

Hi I intend travelling to Europe late next year and want to start saving now by putting a certain amount in a card monthly now. I will probably lean toward the ubank option because of their benefits. Is it too early to apply for a card now

Hi Gordon, it’s a free bank account so there’s no such thing as too early 🙂

Hi Immanuel, your article and answers here are incredibly useful. Thank you so much! I will be touing in Morocco for 2 weeks, and of course will have to buy things!. What is best card for me to use please? I have a Wise card already. Should I get another one as well? many thanks

Hi Christina, Wise is great but they do limit how much money you can take out. From our tests Up and Ubank had the best conversion rates.

Hi Immanuel, My wife and I are travelling to Europe for 3 months and whilst we already have Cash Passport cards pre-loaded with some Euros from last year, we are considering debit cards, but need one that provides 2 cards for joint access to the one account. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Hi Kym, from our tests, Cash Passport came out as one of the worst in terms of fees and conversion rates. As for joint account, it’s probably much easier to open a new account for your other half. Up/Ubank both use OSKO which means transfers from 1 account to the other are instant. From what I know, Ubank does offer join accounts during sign up.

Hi there We are travelling to UK/France/Italy next month. Originally we were going to get the card from Travel Guides TV show LOL travelmoneyoz.com/travel-money-card – after reading the comments and your article would it be safe to say the UBank option would likely be better as i think you have to preload the currency onto the Travel Guides one?

Hi Dan, from what I can tell it’s pretty much the same as AusPost and the likes. The giveaway is in their name “travel money oz”, golden rule is to avoid any company that really advertises the travel aspect of their product as the best cards don’t really advertise or push these features (because they don’t make much money from it). You will 100% be better of with Ubank, Up, Wise, Revolut etc.

Hi, thank you for the advice above. As yet, I don’t think anyone has asked about cards for India and Nepal. Do your suggestions of Up, UBank and Revolut still the best for these countries. They do prefer cash in many places so am guessing atms will be needed regularly.

Same rule applies for all countries where mastercard/visa are accepted.

Hi, great review. The one thing I am not clear about is the difference between the VISA or MasterCard exchange rates vs the mid point rate that WISE provides. Can that be a big difference? Also not clear which rate Revolut uses

Hi, Wise uses Visa so to convert transactions on the spot, the mid point rate you refer to only applies when you’re converting money within your Wise account. However, it’s always smarter to convert on the spot. From our tests, the Mastercard spot rate is slightly better than Visa at the moment but it’s negligible. You can check out our video where we test 11 travel debit cards: https://youtu.be/5KjgrNJTe1s

Presently in Japan on vacay, and signed up for the UP BANK, thanks for the referral bonus. As a digital card in Apple Wallet it works well, except a lot of places (regardless of store size) here “no touch, insert card only.” So if coming to Japan, grab UP’s physical card as well. The SUICA travel card is also available in Apple Wallet, and is easiest topped up from your UP BANK. This reduces your need for cash. The exchange rate for UP BANK Mastercard is so much better than CommBank Visa, and am only using the Visa when paying with the phone is not accepted. UP will probably end up being my default bank when we get back.

Hi 🙂 I’m heading off to Singapore in Sept/Oct, in which you can use mostly debit but I will likely withdraw small amounts of money. I already have a ubank card (from back when they were 86 400). I am looking to grab a backup card. Do you think the Wise or Up Bank, and would you suggest 1 VISA and 1 Mastercard to cover all bases? Thanks so much, Bianca

Hi, Up Bank came out on top during our tests. Probably a good back up (no pun intended!).

My partner and I are going around Europe for a month during December and a deciding what cards to take over with us. Based off your article and the majority of the comments I have read through I am thinking the Up or Ubank will be the way to go and also easiest as we won’t have to worry about have lots of different curriences or enough of each currency like a travel card. I also have a Suncorp banking debit card that has no international conversion fees I can take as a backup.

We are just wondering about security deposits for hotels that are paid when checking in- I have read that using a debit card for these can be a disadvantage as the money is withdrawn and can take a while to come back into your account after checkout, leaving you down a few hundred dollars in the meantime. Do you think it would be beneficial to have a credit card for these type of situations? Or would all associated fees make it better to just cut the losses with the debit card and factor in that “missing money” when planning budgets.

Hi Keely, looks like you got it sorted for debit cards! Personally I try use my credit cards as much as possible in order to earn points and have added benefits of not having to touch your own funds as well as the insurance benefits etc. However, I do understand that a lot of people don’t like using credit cards for whatever reason which is one of the main reasons this article exists 🙂 I use my debit cards to take out cash mainly as doing this on a credit card would attract cash advance fees and currency conversion fees. As for credit cards, there are a few that don’t attract foreign exchange fees but their annual fees might make it a not so attractive proposition. I mainly rely on my American Express (Platinum) and Macquarie Qantas Platinum Visa for daily use. I don’t hold any cards that don’t earn points but if you’re after a fee free card that doesn’t earn points but also doesn’t charge exchange fees, 28 Degrees by Latitude is an ok option.

Hi, is one better than the other hsbc vs ubank? Looking at switching from Citibank.

HSBC uses Visa so it would be mostly a Visa vs Mastercard thing. Difference will be minimal but from our testing, Mastercard is currently slightly better. One other downside of HSBC is that they don’t participate in OSKO so if you transfer money it usually takes 1-2 days.

I am travelling to Japan in couple of weeks and interested to hear what debit card is best to use in Japan? Hoping to be able to get actual physical card within a coming week.

Appreciate all your insights, so amazing is come across this article!

Hi Dragan, we answer this exact question in our video, you can check it out here: https://youtu.be/5KjgrNJTe1s

Hi Immanuel, I’m travelling to Egypt in October, and trying to figure out how to handle my money there… This is a great article and has given lots of good info, but wondering if these recommended cards would be OK for travel in Egypt?

Hi Zelly, the same rules apply in Egypt. The Egyptian pound is what they use there and Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted so you shouldn’t have any issues taking out the local currency via an ATM.

I’m travelling in October and was researching cards and saw your site. I was sold on Ubank but not only can’t I complete registration on the App which is so frustrating , I also checked out Customer Reviews on various sites and nearly all the reviews weren’t only bad, they were horrendous. Confused but definitely no longer confident

Hi Deb, with many review sites people are usually incentivised when something goes wrong. That said, I can only speak from personal experience. Having banked with Up since 2019, I have had zero issues. What a lot of people do is just transfer money from their “everyday bank” for example, Westpac, Commbank etc. to Up, Wise, Ubank etc when they need the money for overseas use and just transfer as much as you need.

Hi Deb, we have been with UBank for a very long time with multiple accounts – including travelling overseas very recently. They have been awesome. Hopefully this gives you some confidence, cheers Barbara

I saw ‘Revolut’ on the list above and I wouldn’t touch them with a bargepole. They hold the accounts of, in particular, the Microsoft Scammers. I stupidly got scammed and wrote a VERY bad review on Trustpilot and Revolut responded with a link to address the issue and reimburse the money but the link didn’t work and I never got a refund.

If you get scammed it’s hard to put the blame on anyone other than yourself… not exactly the fault of Revolut.

Update 23 October – Singapore, Spain and Portugal

sorry, some of this might be a repeat of what you have already provided:

I’m not sure where is the best place to put this up to date information as of October 2023: Have just been to Singapore, Spain and Portugal. I hope this information is helpful. Full disclosure – I am allergic to Bank Fees.

Cash – Good News: before leaving Australia how to obtain cash in a cost effective way took a lot of effort searching the internet and I still wasn’t sure until actually travelling and testing ATMs whether we would be successful keeping fees to a minimum.

First Rule: in case you have not read this before – Do Not Use any ATMs associated with Euronet – ever! The charges are outrageous. And Euronet are everywhere, outside convenience stores, restaurants etc… so very tempting – I cringed everytime I saw someone at an Euronet.

ATM machines – Debit Cards (hopefully you know not to use your Credit Card at a ATM) UBank Debit Card & ING Card were equivalent to each other with no fees and the same fair exchange rate: ING has more rules – but I was already used to their rules and managed to do my 5 transactions at the beginning of every month to meet the requirements. If that is too difficult – UBank is awesome. I used UBank and kept ING as my back-up. You need a back-up.

ATM machines – countries Singapore – one ATM was going to charge 8SGD we walked around the corner to Maybank (yellow colour) and it was zero fee. Suggest google the nearest Maybank to your accommodation – there might even be one at Changi. I took out $20 with ING, UBank and Wise to test their exchange rates (fee free so it was a worthwhile exercise as I was travelling for 66 days). All 3 were similar. I don’l like Wise because they charge you to move your money around. UBank and ING are truly fee free.

Spain – The first banks we tried charged Euro8 or more; the 3rd bank we tried was Deutsche Bank, charged Euro3 on a withdrawl maximum of Euro300, and we went with that. I would google Deutsche Bank and go to the nearest one to your accommodation.

Portugal we used Multibanco – Caixa Geral de Depositos and got charged zero fees. Apparently all Multibancos do not charge a fee – but we stuck with the same brand after having success at Caixa Geral de Depositos in Lisbon. We found that brand everywhere in Portugal.

The maximum withdrawl at one time was Euro200. It didn’t matter because 3mins later or after someone else used the ATM or using a different card accessing the same account you can get another Euro200. We got Euro600 out at a time, (3 times) because in Portugal they appreciate cash – and some smaller businesses only accept cash – fair enough.

Note that during the process the ATM asked if we wanted to accept their exchange rate and we pressed Decline, then it asked a second time in a different way, like do you want to lock in the the exchange rate?, we pressed Decline again – then it processed the withdrawl at our banks exchange rate – which is many many Euros better than the rate offered by the ATM – for us anyway as we were using a Debit card with Australian UBank and Australian ING and both give the best exchange rates on offer.

Credit Card – Lattitude 28 degrees: for good exchange rate and no fees is still the best Credit Card for overseas travelling – in my opinion. Unless you are a points gatherer the best fee free / no points earning credit card. As a couple we have an account each and each of us has an additional card with the others account. We use one card / one account all the time – it’s easier to track our transactions using only one card – and therefore to know quickly whether there is a fraudulent transaction. We have the other card as our back-up. You need a back-up. Travelling alone I would either use my UBank Debit Card for everything and keep the 28 degrees Credit Card as back up – or the other way around.

I hope this is helpful

Thanks for sharing such a detailed report!

Thank you for all this information. I have poured over all the posts several times. For three weeks in EU countries, making ATM withdrawals where we have to pay cash (local transport costs mainly, I guess) but mainly using a card to pay for expenses, am I correct in thinking that UBank or Up would be the best options? I read that you personally use these two, but then I also saw that you recommended Revolut for card payments, with UBank or Up as backups (for ATM withdrawals, I assume). I have poured over your comments and exhaustively researched other sites, but I cannot find out why you would use Revolut as your first option for card payments. They seem to offer the same exchange rate as UBank and Wise, whilst Up seems to offer a very slightly higher rate (MasterCard rate). Would you mind telling me what would be the advantage of using Revolut (or Wise) ahead of UBank or Up as your main payment option please? I am not concerned about ATM withdrawal fees in relation to Revolut or Wise, as we would use UBank or Up for these. I am just trying to figure out whether we should open both a UBank and an Up account and nothing else, or whether we should open either a UBank or an Up account and then also get a Revolut or Wise card – two bank debit cards OR one bank debit card and one travel money card? I would really value your advice! Thank you.

Hi Julie, you can check out our video review of 11 of the most popular cards. Up and Ubank do come out on top, I have accounts with all of them (cause it’s free). I use Revolut mostly for sending money overseas (it has the best rates for that) and also as a back up. If you go for their Metal plans they do offer cash back as well overseas which can be handy.

We currently have Commbank Travel Cards, a friend said she tried the Ubank and UpBank cards and said they were good no fees, but can you load more money onto them whilst you’re away? Can the Citibank one be loaded as well.

Hello Fay. You can load money onto a debit card when you have an internet connection, reguardless of your location. Cheers, Tom.

Thank you for this article- I’ve since decided on an Up card for my travels! Out of interest have you encountered many places that only accept Visa and not MasterCard or vice versa?

I don’t think i’ve ever found a place that only accept visa or only mastercard

Went to sign up to the Ubank Debit Card and followed the link, and it says it’s $10 sign up bonus.

Is it now $10 or is it actually $20 if you enter the code?

I can confirm that the $20 bonus is no longer, it is only $10 from FlightHacks.

Money landed in my account this morning.

Citibank Plus account is gone now, except for those grandfathered in who got given a special version of the a NAB account with no forex/ATM fees.

Hasn’t been taking new applications for months, and will close for existing customers in the coming months (except for the aforementioned NAB account, which isn’t available to new customers, afaik).

Thank you for the comprehensive replies and generosity of info provided. It seems Wise & Revolut have the advantage of international money transfers over and above their use as a debit card. However there is little mention of whether fees are charged moving money in or out of these accounts?

I have a number of cards similar to your good self. I also find the Macquarie card of a high standard. Moreover they have an Authenticator app that may be useful if there are issues with a transaction and you don’t have an internet connection

Thanks again for the invaluable advice

Why is Citibank Plus still on this page? It no longer exists. Sadly.

Not to worry! We’ve got a big update to this article coming out soon 😉

Hi. Will your update be available by mid April? I am hoping so as I am off overseas from the 1st week in May.

Hi Jen, we just updated this article a few days ago 🙂

My daughter is travelling to Italy in July (she is 14) was thinking the UP card for her and the U Bank for me when I meet her over there. Do I put these cards both in my name? Or can I have the UP card in hers? Are these still the best options for travel to Italy, UK and Ireland? Thanks so much

Hi Diana, most debit cards a minimum age of 16 is part of the requirements. You could however just get the card in your name and give her one, this way you can manage the funds. Alternatively, Revolut offers an option for parents to add a minor to the account and create a seperate debit card and linked account that they can manage themselves. As for what’s best, Up and Ubank are still my go-to and they will all work perfectly fine for the countries you’re visiting.

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In this guide

Key details

Eligibility, key features, how to apply, compare other transaction accounts.

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Ask a question

Up everyday account review.

Up's everyday account has no account keeping fees or foreign transaction fees and gives you detailed insights into your spending.

Up offers an everyday account for your daily spending and a bonus savings account that pays you a competitive interest rate. The everyday account is completely managed via the app, and offers a bunch of handy digital tools and features to help you manage your money.

Spending insights
Bill detection and reminders
Available on Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay
No International ATM fee at most major bank ATMs
Card delivery time

You can sign up for an Up transaction account in a couple of minutes and it's compatible with both Android and iOS. You'll be able to get a PayID on application to make instant payments to other bank accounts and you'll receive your Up card in 5-10 days. While you're waiting for your card to arrive, you can set up Apple Pay , Google Pay or Samsung Pay and start making contactless purchases with your smartphone instantly.

When you use the card, your transactions are automatically categorised and you'll receive real-time reports. You'll also have more visibility into your spending with details such as merchant IDs, the time of day you made the purchase and the location being available. Up also automatically detects your regular bills and predicts when they will next occur.

Features on offer with Up

Up offers a number of features with its products which include the following:

More detailed spending history. Up's "Naked Truth" feature aims to give you more clarity on your spending habits. Your transactions will display the amount you spent as well as the merchant, the time of day you made the purchase and the location.
Spending insights. Aside from telling you how much you've spent and where you've spent it, Up will share how often you're buying. For example, you'll be able to see your total expenditures at a chain of stores across the country along with your average purchase amount. You will also see a weekly total and be able to check your balance without needing to log in.
Payment splitting. Up offers a "conversational payments" feature in its app whereby you can make payments in real time to people and businesses. Your payment history with a particular person will be shown in a message format, similar to WhatsApp. You'll have the option to pay using people's PayID or BSB and account number.
Automated categorisation. Your transactions will automatically be categorised to get real-time reports into your spending.
Bills are automatically detected . Up will be able to detect regular charges and bills and help you budget for them. For example, it tracks when your subscriptions are direct debited and reminds you when they're coming up.
Payment options. You can use a range of payment options with Up including Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay and Fitbit Pay.
Savings roundups. You're able to nominate roundups, which means your transactions will be automatically rounded up and contributed to your linked savings account.
Link to Afterpay. Up has an innovative way of displaying purchases made using Afterpay. If you make an Afterpay purchase you will be able to see the details of the products you purchase as well as when the instalments are due to be debited out of your account.
Multiple savings accounts. Set up multiple savings accounts within the Up app and have them linked to an individual savings goal. You can earn bonus interest across these accounts up to a combined balance of $1,000,000
Low fees. You won't be charged for your transaction account, ATM withdrawals, international transaction fees or your savings accounts. Fees will apply when your account is overdrawn.
Access ATMs for free. You can make free ATM withdrawals at most major bank-owned ATMs in Australia and overseas. However, some smaller ATM operators will charge a fee, so make sure you check on the ATM screen when you're making your withdrawal.

Up transaction and savings accounts are available to individuals over the age of 16. You just need $1 in the account to get started.

To open an account, download the Up app on your Android or iOS device and provide the necessary information and documentation, such as your home address and driver's licence. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Once verified, your card will arrive 5-10 days later.

Up Everyday Account information page
Up Everyday Account TMD

To ask a question simply log in via your email or create an account .

Elizabeth Finder

Lead Editor

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September 30, 2023

Hello. Just a quick question. Once I’ve purchased a card and deposited money on to it, Will I be able to use the card for purchases online straight away? Before it arrives in the mail ? Thanks,

Also just wanted to say this, This is my first time using Finder, and i think it’s brilliant.

I spent way too long reading through the “ask an expert “ section though , because I enjoyed it. It got me thinking….. “Wow I should get back to work lol.

Some great questions were asked, and all were answered politely and accurately.

I noticed there when an expert replies to a question, a little profile pic of the expert pops up. That’s awesome, because the experts are not only super helpful, But also super attractive. ( In a professional sense of course. ) also It would be fun to read a brief bio about each

Oh, and one more thing. Whoever the “lucky expert is that gets to read this, can you do me just 2 small favours pretty please?

1…. Keep up the great work! 2…. Could you please tell Sarah Megginson that she’s a walking, talking reason to live. What a wonderful woman she is. Inside and outside.

Shubham Pandey Finder

October 23, 2023

Thank you for your kind words and feedback! We truly appreciate your positive feedback about our company and our dedicated employee. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we’re delighted to hear about your positive experience.

Regarding your question, please find the answer below.

You can sign up for an Up transaction account in a couple of minutes and it’s compatible with both Android and iOS. You’ll be able to get a PayID on application to make instant payments to other bank accounts and you’ll receive your Up card in 5-10 days. While you’re waiting for your card to arrive, you can set up Apple Pay , Google Pay or Samsung Pay and start making contactless purchases with your smartphone instantly.

Also, I’ll make sure your message reaches Sarah :)

Many thanks.

March 28, 2023

How do you put money on the card as there is no info on this and i cannot seam to be able to

Sarah Megginson Finder

April 25, 2023

Hi Anthony,

Your Up spending account has a BSB and Account Number like any other bank account in Australia. You can transfer funds into this account by transferring them using these details. You can also deposit cheques through Bank@Post™ at your local Australia Post outlet with no fees attached.

Hope this helps1

October 20, 2022

Will there ever be an option to have more than one card for an account? The only downside I find with Up at the moment is everything comes out of the 1 account, I like to split long term bills and every day transactions instead of tracking everything I spend

Alison Banney Finder

November 11, 2022

You’ve reached Finder. We aren’t sure what Up’s plans are for its account, you’re best to contact them directly to ask about any upcoming plans to launch mini/sub-accounts.

Thanks, Alison

April 04, 2022

Hi there, Can I just open a UP online account for online shopping purpose and I don’t need any physical card? Regards

April 06, 2022

Yes, you can use the account for online transactions without the debit card.

Best, Alison

July 31, 2021

Does Up Bank have an online portal accessible through a standard internet browser, or is it only accessible entirely through a phone app?

Alanna Glenn Finder

August 02, 2021

Hi Andy, Up Bank is available exclusively through the Up app.

Elizabeth Barry

Elizabeth Barry is the lead editor for Finder. She has over 10 years' experience writing about a range of topics with a focus on personal finance. You’ll find her writing and commentary in a range of publications and media including Seven News, the ABC, MSN, the Irish Times and Singapore Business Review. See full profile

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5 Best Banks for International Travel

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Using the right bank can save you money when traveling abroad. When researching the best banks for international travel, features we considered included:

Low wire transfer charges.

Decent currency conversion rates.

International ATM fee reimbursement.

Foreign currency delivery to your home.

Here are our favorite banks for international travel.

Charles Schwab Bank: Best for using ATMs.

Capital One 360: Best on foreign transaction fees.

HSBC Bank: Best for expats with high balances.

Citibank: Best for wiring money.

Revolut: Best for nonbank multicurrency account.

Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to make sure our coverage is fair and accurate, so you can choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions .

Best Banks for International Travel

Our pick for

Schwab Bank

Why We Like It

Schwab Bank customers who use the Investor Checking Account get fees refunded from any ATM in the world. That kind of perk is usually only available for premium checking accounts at other banks.

Plus, the bank doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Pros: - Refunds on all ATM fees worldwide. - No foreign transaction fees. - Account earns interest. - No minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee. - Free travel and emergency assistance services, including emergency messaging, medical and legal referrals, emergency translation and lost luggage location.

Cons: - Checking account must be linked to a Schwab One brokerage account (but the account doesn’t have a minimum balance requirement).

Foreign transaction fees

Capital One

Though it’s not the only bank that doesn’t ding you for international purchases, Capital One 360 is a NerdWallet favorite because its fees are low across the board.

Capital One 360 doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee for using your debit card outside the U.S. or for any transactions made in a foreign currency. If you want to use cash, the bank won’t charge you a fee for taking money out at an ATM (but it also won’t refund you if the ATM owner charges you a fee).

In comparison, many banks charge special fees when you make purchases abroad, or even if you buy something online from a retailer based outside the U.S.

Pros: - No foreign transaction fees. - No ATM fees. - No monthly maintenance fees.

Cons: - No refunds for fees charged by ATM owner.

Expats with high balances

In the U.S., HSBC only offers premium accounts that require a high balance to open. But for those who can swing the balance, this bank can be handy while living abroad. A few features make this bank handy for expats or frequent globetrotters: The bank doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on debit card purchases; it lets depositors monitor and move money between HSBC accounts in multiple countries; and if you lose your wallet while traveling, you can access up to $10,000 in emergency cash.

Pros: - Can access up to $10,000 in emergency cash in U.S. dollars or local currency if you lose your wallet while traveling. - No foreign transaction fee on debit card purchases. - Account holders can receive international wire transfers for free.

Cons: - In the U.S., HSBC only offers premium accounts with high minimum balance requirements. - Outgoing international wire transfers may come with a fee if the receiving account is not also an HSBC Premier account holder. - Mobile apps are poorly rated.

Wiring money

Citibank, N.A.

While many banks offer customers a way to send remittances directly without going through a third-party wire transfer service, few do it as elegantly as Citibank, which offers free international transfers to other Citi accounts through the Citibank Global Transfers service.

Plus, if you need cash while you’re abroad, Citibank offers free withdrawals at its ATMs in more than 20 countries. And if you often find yourself in a hurry before a trip with too much to do, the bank will deliver foreign currency by the next business day to a Citibank branch, your home or office.

Pros: - Foreign currency delivery before a trip. - Free international transfers to other Citi accounts. - Citibank ATMs available in more than 20 countries.

Cons: - Non-premium accounts are subject to out-of-network ATM fees from the ATM owner. - If you need to wire money internationally to someone who doesn’t have a Citibank account, the fee could be as high as $35.

Nonbank multicurrency account

The Revolut account lets you hold and send money in more than 28 currencies and uses a real-time exchange rate. Exchanges done in the app, exchanges for a transfer and exchanges for a payment use the same rates. One catch is that Revolut will charge an exchange fee for transactions on the weekends.

Pros: - Can withdraw up to $400, $800 or $1,200 fee-free per month at out-of-network ATMs, depending on your plan. - Can hold and send money in more than 28 currencies. - Account earns interest.

Cons: - Foreign currency exchanges made on the weekends incur a fee. - Premium accounts have a monthly fee of about $10-$17, which can’t be waived.

More top choices for best banks for international travel

BECU: No foreign transaction fee ( read full review ).

Axos Bank: ATM foreign currency conversion fee reimbursements with World Checking account ( read full review ).

Navy Federal Credit Union: Branches in just under 10 foreign countries ( read full review ).

Varo: No foreign transaction fee ( read full review ).

Wise (formerly TransferWise): Multicurrency account with a debit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees ( read full review ).

More strategies to keep banking costs down while traveling

Using money abroad can incur costs, but switching banks isn’t your only way to avoid them. Here’s a breakdown of different approaches and accounts to consider:

When spending money abroad:

Try a multicurrency account : Spend and hold different currencies in one account. This option is usually best if you live or work outside the U.S. for extended periods. Two mainstream providers are the financial tech firms Wise and Revolut .

Find a credit card with no foreign transaction fees : For everyday purchases when you can use physical cards or mobile wallets, a travel-friendly credit card can be useful.

When dealing with cash abroad:

Use a debit card with no foreign transaction or ATM fees : This is especially good for cash withdrawals, especially in countries where cash is heavily used. Generally, these debit cards, and the checking accounts they’re connected to, don’t have foreign transaction fees either.

Take advantage of currency exchange services from your bank : For cash you’ll bring on your next trip, see if your bank or credit union has this service since it’s cheaper than using kiosks at the airport.

When sending money abroad:

Consider nonbank money transfers : If you're sending a wire overseas while still in the U.S., companies such as Wise and OFX offer stand-alone transfers internationally that have competitive rates and low to no fees.

When managing wealth abroad:

Look into private banking : Private banking offers a personalized experience for high-net-worth individuals, which can include overseas considerations.

Open an offshore bank account : If you need help managing international business or investments, or if you'll be traveling long term, consider the merits of an offshore bank account.

Last updated on November 15, 2023

Methodology

We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.

Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm , All America Bank , Alliant Credit Union , Ally Bank , Amalgamated Bank , America First Credit Union , American Express National Bank , Andrews Federal Credit Union , Associated Bank , Axos Bank , Bank of America , Bank5 Connect , Bank7 , Barclays , Bask Bank , Bethpage Federal Credit Union , BMO , BMO Alto , Boeing Employees Credit Union , Bread Savings , BrioDirect , Capital One , Carver Federal Savings Bank , Charles Schwab Bank , Chase , Chime , CIBC U.S. , CIT Bank , Citibank , Citizens , Citizens Bank , City First Bank , Climate First Bank , Commerce Bank , Community First Credit Union of Florida , ConnectOne Bank , Connexus Credit Union , Consumers Credit Union , Current , Delta Community Credit Union , Discover Bank , E*TRADE , EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank) , Fifth Third Bank , First Foundation , First National Bank , First Tech Federal Credit Union , Flagstar Bank , FNBO Direct , Global Credit Union , GO2bank , Golden 1 Credit Union , Greenwood , Hope Credit Union , Huntington Bank , Industrial Bank , Ivy Bank , KeyBank , Lake Michigan Credit Union , LendingClub Bank , Liberty Bank , Live Oak Bank , M&T Bank , Marcus by Goldman Sachs , Navy Federal Credit Union , NBKC , One , OneUnited Bank , Pentagon Federal Credit Union , PNC , Popular Direct , Quontic Bank , Regions Bank , Revolut , Salem Five Direct , Sallie Mae Bank , Santander Bank , SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union , Security Service Federal Credit Union , Securityplus Federal Credit Union , Self-Help Credit Union , Service Credit Union , SoFi , State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina , Suncoast Credit Union , Synchrony Bank , TAB Bank , TD Bank , Truist Bank , U.S. Bank , UFB Direct , Upgrade , USAA Bank , Varo , Vio Bank , Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank .

How we rate banks and credit unions

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's Best Banks for International Travel

Schwab Bank : Best for Using ATMs
Capital One : Best for Foreign transaction fees
HSBC : Best for Expats with high balances
Citibank, N.A. : Best for Wiring money
Revolut : Best for Nonbank multicurrency account

Frequently asked questions

Banks that don’t make it expensive for you to use your debit card when you’re out of the country are best for international travelers.

Here are NerdWallet’s picks for best banks for international travel :

Some banks offer international bank accounts that U.S. citizens can open. International bank accounts generally require a high minimum balance.

Some banks allow you to make purchases and perform other transactions in other countries without charging a fee. Banks that don’t charge foreign transaction fees include Capital One 360, Discover Bank, HSBC Bank and Schwab Bank.

Dad Investor

Up Banking Review 2024: How I use the digital bank

Who is it for: App based bankers, those struggling to save, those needing help managing where their money goes and budgeting for essentials Key features: Slick app, unique banking experience, budget trackers, spending insights, continuous adding of new features Sign up bonus: Get $15 when you create an account

When deciding to make the switch from bank to bank, why not hop aboard the digital bank Express.

I've been using UP Bank for just over a year now after I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Since signing up for an account I've worked out what it's like using a neo bank.

But did I decide to move all my regular banking to UP? Short answer. No. It's still a new platform with a lot to build in its product suite, but the team is reimagining banking from the ground up so I like being part of the journey.

While it provides a solid fee-free banking experience, the banking app is its real differentiator. It allows for accessing and monitoring the accounts on the phone in a slick way. I'll get into the fun stuff soon, but let's start with the intro to this Up bank review.

What's a Neobank?

Neo-banks are banks entirely digitally created and operated. The name bank has traditionally been associated with lengthy queues, poor service, and countless fees but they do have promises of being different. There are no physical branches!

The bank gives everything the bank needs with its app for smartphones. The bank promises to provide an app-driven banking experience with an intuitive user interface and beautiful design with the ability to rapidly track the expenditure of the customers.

What is Up Banking?

Up is one of the earliest “digital banks” on Australian shores.

Founded in 2017 in Melbourne, Up is a collaboration between a software company (Ferocia) and the Bendigo & Adelaide Bank (who owns Up Bank).

Up started as a neobank that was aiming to rebuild the digital banking experience from the ground up.

This led it to be one of the more innovative and front running banks to use digital technology.

It was the first neobank to provide instant Apple Pay provisioning, meaning you didn't need a physichal card before you could start using the account.

In Australia, it provides one of the more cutting-edge banking experiences available be entirely app based.

This does mean that it does not have branches, over the phone or desktop-based experiences (at least yet). While the bank is owned by Bendigo Adelaide Bank the accounts are maintained separately.

Is Up Safe to use for banking?

Up bank has a full banking license and is regulated by Australian Prudence Regulation Authority (APRA).

It is owned and backed by the ASX listed Adelaide and Bendigo bank. This means the deposits are protected by Australian government guarantee and is similar to what is offered by any mainstream bank.

Any deposit (money held within Up) of up to $250k per person is protected under a financial dispute settlement scheme, FCCS.

Pros of Up Bank:

User-Friendly App: Up Bank's app is designed for ease of use, offering a seamless and intuitive mobile banking experience.
No International Transaction Fees: Customers can make purchases overseas without incurring additional fees, which is a significant advantage for travelers.
Interest Rates: Up offers competitive interest rates on their savings accounts, making it an attractive option for those looking to grow their savings.
Real-Time Payments: Up supports instant payments to other banks, which means faster transfers and access to funds.
Budgeting Tools: The app provides detailed insights into spending, helping customers to manage their finances more effectively with budget analytics tools.
Savings Automation: Features like Round-ups help customers save money by automatically rounding up transactions to the nearest dollar and saving the difference.
No Account Keeping Fees: Up's everyday account has no monthly maintenance fees, which can lead to savings over time.
Environmentally Conscious: Up Bank is noted for not investing in fossil fuels, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.
2UP Feature: This unique feature allows two people to manage their finances together, making it easier for couples or friends to budget and save.
Government Deposit Guarantee: Deposits are protected by the Australian government's Financial Claims Scheme, offering peace of mind up to $250,000 per account holder.

Cons of Up Bank:

Limited Physical Presence : As a digital bank, there are no branches, which may be a disadvantage for those who prefer in-person banking services.
No Overdraft or Home Loan Products: Currently, Up does not offer overdrafts or home loans, although home loans are mentioned as coming soon.
Cash Deposit Limitations: Depositing cash can be less convenient compared to traditional banks, as it may require visiting a partner institution or using specific ATMs.
Limited Product Range: Up's range of financial products is more limited than that of larger, traditional banks, which might offer a wider variety of loans, credit cards, and investment services.
Newer on the Market: Being relatively new compared to established banks, some customers might be hesitant to switch due to familiarity and trust built with their current banks.
No Credit Card Offering: At the time of writing, Up Bank does not provide a credit card option, which could be a deal-breaker for customers seeking credit services.

What does Up offer?

Up currently includes two accounts type

a transaction account and
savings account.

You create a transaction account first, that has a debit card linked to it.

From there you can create multiple savings accounts that are linked to that original account.

At this stage there is only one transaction account you can create per person.

That's the basic product overview, but the evolution of these products has been continual since launch and there is plenty the Up Bank team wants to achieve in the product space according to their road map .

An alternative to UpBank is ubank which is another neo bank that has modern features similar to Up.

Traditional banking services Up bank provides

Comparing it to a standard online banking offer (more on the unique features soon), Up bank provides what you would expect from a traditional bank in a speedy, well presented way.

Low-cost bank accounts

Just about a staple for banks these days, but Up is free to apply for and keep a bank account, or savings account and use their traditional banking services.

For ATM withdrawals and cash out, you will avoid paying atm fees when using the major bank-owned ATMs.

Unlike a bank like ING, they won't cover the ATM costs if you do get charged to use one.

A transaction account linked to multiple savings

As is the case for many digital focussed or modern build banks, Up Bank offers a single transaction account with the ability then add multiple savings accounts attached to it.

Note that only a single transaction account can be created per person or per account so may be a detriment to some people.

I know it was one of the reasons I didn't move all my banking to Up and continue to use ING.

Linked Savings accounts

Your standard savings accounts are called Up Saver and 2Up Saver (if going for a shared savings account) which can be created instantly via the app.

The interest you can earn is competitive.

I'd say they'd be easily better than the big banks, but not top tiers like ING or uBank.

You will need to use your up debit Mastercard five times a month to unlock the bonus interest which makes up the majority of the interest rate for your savings account.

When I say your Up debit Mastercard, it doesn't need to be the physical card itself.

Can be an online payment or device payment.

Overseas transactions

Happy to report that there are no overseas purchase fees online or in-store.

I've been using the transaction account for that purpose and it's great to avoid international transaction fees or a foreign transaction fees whether you are travelling or just purchasing overseas

The bank offers offer free deposits to the Australian Post office at no charge via Bank@Post. The only thing required is the physical Up card and PIN. You may need your ID when you deposit a cheque. Deposits may take 5-10 days to appear.

Up home loans are offered to exiting customers who want to keep all their money together in the Up bank experience.

There are a few parameters they have set and would say that it is not the most flexible offer for those looking for a home loan:

Principal place of residences only
Must have at least 10% equity
A capital city or major regional centre

They are not flaunting interst rates on their site, so imagine it is not the most appealing offer in terms of numbers. There is mention of up to fifty free offset accounts that you can add which coincides with the ease of which you can add savers in the standard banking experience.

Looking at the rates and fees page I can see the numbers are comparable with the big banks or just a bit better.

I like the appeal of having an all in one banking and home loan experience (which I have with Macquire) but Up bank will need to offer something a bit more for me to want to refinance any time soon.

Credit cards

Up bank does NOT offer any form of credit cards.

This is a focus of the business which it's the largest age group of customers is 16-24, who the bank believes is not ready for a credit card.

It hasn't ruled out offering one entirely but won't be rushing to launch one unless it meets the needs of customers.

The Up bank app experience

Now we covered the product basics, let's start talking about the fantastic banking app they provide.

It's fairly cutting edge and always adds new features or updates.

Instant and threaded payments

Up provides a conversational payment feature in its app that allows users to pay customers and companies in real-time using OSKO, PayID, or good old BSB.

Different from most banks your payment history for a specific person is displayed in message history, like WhatsApp.

So if you have a friend you transfer to regularly, then it's a simplified way to view your detailed spending history for that person. Up bank call them threaded payments.

Contactless payments

In terms of how you might want to pay beyond using the debit card, you can connect your Up account to the following devices:

Samsung Pay

Yeah, they are big on wearable transactions. If you have an Apple Watch then they regard the app on it as one of the best banking experiences for the device.

Create an Up bank account and get $15

Get the tools to help them master your money, smash savings goals and simplify your financial life. Join Up Bank today and get $15 dropped in when you complete your signup.

Just like Raiz , you can set your transaction accounts to round up your purchases to the nearest dollar and send that amount automatically to a savings account.

A nice little feature that a few banks offer, but also a small way to build up savings.

Money insights and more detailed spending history

One of the more unique ways the Up app provides a better experience to most apps is the way they display your spending.

They treat you like a real person who has pay coming, spends money throughout the week, and needs to allocate money to upcoming expenses.

Rather than a just list of incoming and outgoing transactions, up breaks it down into a number of sections you can swipe back and forth with.

Activity – see all your transactions

Payments – Summary of all your outgoings and the ability to send or even request money

SAvers – Your savings accounts

Upcoming – Up remembers your regular payments (like a subscription) and will note it here so you know what exactly they will all cost in the month ahead. It'll also note your Payday is a regular wage or salary comes, in on the same frequency.

An obvious but also a rare feature that Up manages to provide are icons and logos for all the transactions that take place. For example, if you spent money at coles the icon will appear so it's easier to quickly identify what you spent. No more confusing descriptions wondering what exactly you paid for and where.

There is also the weekly insights area. This is a list of transactions completed during the previous week and compares these transactions with the transactions of the previous week.

So while the app looks simplified when you start using it, there are a few mechanics behind the scenes making it easier to understand your personal finance rhythm.

I love automating my finances and the Up Bank account knows how to do it well.

The feature Up bank has is called split payments.

This gives you the ability to have your income automatically distributed around your up saver account or accounts. Leaving you the money you can spend in the spending account.

The coolness of the app shines here where you don't need to nominate a dollar amount but an actual percentage of your pay towards a savings account – 10, 20, 40%. Automatically.

You can turn this on and off at any time, but for those who want to commit to multiple savings goals , it's a handy feature.

Zap card (digital immediately)

Basically a digital version of your debit card that you get access to immediately after signing up to up bank.

Through the app you can access the card number, expiry and CVV so you can make purchases even if you don't have a physical card. All you'd need to do is transfer money it (and if its Osko its instant) and then use the card to tap and pay (via your phone) or online.

Technically you can create a new account transfer money into it (via Osko) then use it to buy something while you literally wait in line if you wanted to.

Unique features to Up Bank

The above are some of the features that are sort of variations of what you might expect from a bank but there are some really interesting ways they are using tech to give you more interesting ways to manage your money.

2-PLayer banking is a term Up bank has coined themselves. It's a reimagined way to do joint bank accounts.

Lack of joint accounts was the main reason I was reluctant to use UP as the main bank account, and even with it now available I haven't tried it.

You'll need to have your own individual accounts to create a joint 2Up account. That'll be a shared bank account where you spend on it via the individual cards you get for it – or via Google Pay or Apple Pay.

After that you can add joint Up saver accounts as you like, so it can become a mix of personal and combined savings.

At the moment I'll be sticking with ING for my joint accounts. Purely because I do a bit of banking via the desktop and Up do not have that option yet.

I'd say the 2Up features is more geared to couple thinking about joining their finances as it seems a good way to do it without losing your personal accounts. Oh and I have an article on combining finances with a partner if that is you right now.

Savings challenges

If you are struggling to save a consistent amount each week then why not let Up help you?

I tried out a $1000 savings challenge over a year.

This had the Up app ask me how much I wanted to save each week.

They were really odd amounts and its helpful if you have either a lot or a little able to contribute towards the goals.

there is also an option to have the week off in case its not possible.

While you do it as well, the app reveals a few different images piece by piece as you contribute.

A fun way to make it more realistic to build up some money.

This is a really unique feature that helps you save up for something you find in a few installments. If you see something online that you want to purchase, you can share that with the Up Bank app and it will turn it into a savings goal and show you exactly how much you can stash away with a few contributions to meet the amount of the product.

For example you might want a PS% for $800. If you share that with the app, it will ask if you want to save an amount over a few weeks, fortnights or months depending on what you want to commit too.

It might be $100 a month for 8 months. The may buy will then take that amount from your transaction account on a recurring basis until the goal is met.

At any time or even when you fund the full amount you can pull the money back to your regular savers or account to spend.

Its a cool way to make saving a bit more real and helps you avoid credit.

This is a interactive regular check-in to see how you’re feeling about your money with a simple, automated system focused on helping you move easily between pay days, confident your bills are sorted, savings goals on track, and you have a clear picture of what you have left to spend on the good life.

Hi-Fi is a tool that helps you keep an eye on your money by checking in on how you feel about your finances and using a simple setup to manage your cash.

Hi-Fi is especially aimed at those who find traditional money management unengaging or challenging to maintain. The idea behind Hi-Fi is to make it easy to tell the difference between what you need and what you want, with the option to get more detailed if you like.

It integrates features such as Pay Day, Upcoming, Spendable Balance, and Pay Splits into one system that balances bill payments, savings goals, and discretionary spending. It's a kind of in app budgeting approach that separates essential needs from wants while providing the option to adopt a more detailed envelope-style budget if desired.

Up Bank gives you their financial wellbeing score derived from customer surveys that assess their relationship with money and financial resilience.

This score helps track progress over time and gauge the effectiveness of the platform. Hi-Fi also employs an engaging, music-aided survey experience to encourage thoughtful responses.

Is Up right for you?

If you love new banking technology and a different way to do money management then give the Up app a go.

I've been using it for a year as an experiment and have become more used to the way it presents your spending, savings, and accounts.

There are no fees for basic stuff, so it's a good solid option for that. But it's really the Up app that is the winner here. Full of fun features, notifications, labels, and graphics that just make banking a little more personal.

So while it has not yet offered a complete product suite that many Australians want in a bank. like credit cards or home loans, it's still worth trying to use the technology available.

Some of the key types I would say Up Bank is suited for:

Tech-Savvy Millennials: Up Bank's mobile-first approach is ideal for millennials and younger generations who handle most of their life through their smartphones. The intuitive app with features like instant notifications, spending insights, and easy in-app support caters to those who prefer managing their finances digitally.
Travelers: Individuals who travel abroad often would benefit from Up Bank's no international transaction fees and free ATM withdrawals overseas. The convenience of a travel-friendly debit card without the usual extra costs can make Up an excellent banking choice for globetrotters. Since the accounts are free you can use this account purely for overseas travel.
Budget-Conscious Individuals: Those who are keen on budgeting and tracking their spending would find Up's built-in budgeting tools and real-time spending notifications particularly useful. The app's features can help users stay on top of their finances and save money more efficiently.
Eco-Conscious Consumers: Up Bank's commitment to not investing in fossil fuels might appeal to environmentally conscious consumers who want to ensure their money isn't supporting industries that have a negative impact on the environment.
Couples and Roommates: The 2UP feature allows two people to manage their finances together, which can be ideal for couples or roommates who want to track shared expenses, budget jointly, or save for common goals. It simplifies the process of managing shared finances without the need for multiple accounts or complex spreadsheets.

Summary of UpBank

All digital – sign up for an up account via the app and start using the digital debit card straight away
Competitive – No account fee, fee free to use ATMs and the big banks, decent interest rates for savings (after 5 purchases on your card a month)
Device friendly – Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit pay, Garmin pay are all there
Modern banking technology – round-ups, weekly spending notifications, money insights, payment splitting, conversational payments (read more on all these below)
Colour scheme – it's all orange, yellow and black. The debit card is a neon bright orange

I've had fun exploring my up account over the two years. Didn't think it was possible to be surprised and impressed by a bank but I have.

It can be a bit different and unusual to understand at first but start slowly using it and you'll find it's not just a solid set of banking products, but brilliant banking technology.

Why not sign up for free , get $15 for doing so and see what the fuss is all about?

Create a bank account with Up and get $15

Can you deposit cash or a cheque into up bank.

The bank offers offer free deposits to the Australian Post office at no charge via Bank@Post.

The only thing required is the physical Up card and PIN.

You may need your ID when you deposit a cheque. Deposits may take 5-10 days to appear.

Is Up a legitimate bank?

Yes, they are owned by the Bendigo Bank and Adelaide Bank organisation.

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Tim Ellis is the creator of DadInvestor.com.au, a website dedicated to getting people confidently investing and managing their money. Inspired by his own experiences, Tim has a passion to create a financially secure future for his family and loves to share the knowledge he's found in personal finance with the rest of the world.

2 thoughts on “Up Banking Review 2024: How I use the digital bank”

I am interested in setting up my SMSF funds with UB Can you tell me what the interest rate Is for SMSF

HI Ross- current rate is 4.35% which is ok but definitely not a top rate, as I know ubank do 5% currently (Nov 23)

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Cards with benefits

Up and 2Up accounts come perfectly un-packaged, with a 100% plastic free Zap Digital Card that’s ready to use right away along with the option of a plastic card sent in the mail.

Your Zap card is wired directly to your Up or 2Up account, perfect for buying and bill paying online, or charging up your Apple Pay, Google Pay or digital wallet of choice. No muss no fuss, no waiting for the postie. It’s ready to go.

If you do need a physical card, just order in-app and it’s yours. You’ll get a second card number and a card you can use to travel or withdraw cash from ATM’s.

Card Details in Hand

Get your card numbers instantly in-app. It’s easy and secure to access your card number, expiry and CVC.

Making a quick buy online? Copy and paste to make sure you never enter payment details incorrectly again.

Zap Card gives you these instantly upon sign‑up.

Card Controls

Disable and enable your card.

False alarm? Not. A. Problem. Disable and enable your card with one tap just in case you don’t find your card wedged between the couch pillows.

Change Your Pin

Reassess your chosen PIN at any time. No need to head to an ATM. If your PIN gets found out, simple, just change it.

Configure Your Card For Max Safety

Enable or disable ATM cash withdrawals, online or in-store purchases in Australia and overseas, and contactless payments in just a few taps.

Report Card Lost, Stolen Or Damaged

Go ahead and grab that extra piece of mind. If your card should become misplaced or stolen you can cancel and order yourself a new one in seconds.

Up can also help you...

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Best Chase credit cards of May 2024

If you’re looking for great cash-back rates and valuable transferable reward points, consider our top picks for the best Chase credit cards. Chase offers a wide selection of credit cards for all customers, whether you’re looking for the easiest cash-back option or a premium travel card. Chase also makes it easy to combine rewards across multiple accounts, so holding more than one Chase card can allow you to maximize your earning strategy — especially if you’re interested in maximizing Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

With so many card options available, you’re sure to find a Chase card that fits your wallet — so check out the list below of offers from our partners compiled by our team of travel experts.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for overall mid-tier cards
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for business travelers
Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for dining and travel insurance
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card : Best for office supplies and technology services
Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best for rotating bonus categories
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card : Best for frequent Southwest flyers
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card : Best for a lower annual fee
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card : Best for no annual fee business card

Browse by card categories

Comparing the best credit cards, more details on the best credit cards, maximizing chase credit cards, how we rate, what is chase, how to choose the best chase credit card, ask our experts, pros + cons of chase credit cards, frequently asked questions, chase sapphire preferred® card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card .

You’ll earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases, 2 points per dollar on all other travel and 1 point per dollar on everything else.  
Annual $50 hotel statement credit when booked through Chase Travel
Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance
The card comes with a $95 annual fee
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
Member FDIC

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card’s sign-up bonus is among the highest we’ve seen from Chase. Plus, earn points across the four bonus categories (travel, shipping, advertising and telecommunication providers) that are most popular with businesses. The card comes with travel protections, shopping protections and will also have primary coverage when renting a car for business purposes for you and your employees. Read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card .

One of the highest sign-up bonuses we’ve seen — 100,000 bonus points after $8,000 worth of spend in the first three months after card opening
Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for points redemption
Reasonable $95 annual fee; bonus categories that are most relevant to business owners
Primary car insurance; and perks including cellphone and purchase protection
Extended warranty
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance; trip delay reimbursement
High spending needed to get 100,000-point sign-up bonus
No travel perks
Subject to Chase's 5/24 rule on card applications
Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve .

Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners
10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel, 10 points per dollar on dining purchases through the Ultimate Rewards portal, 5 points per dollar on flights booked through the Chase Travel portal, 3 points per dollar on all other travel and dining, 1 point per dollar on everything else
50% more value when you redeem your points for travel directly through Chase Travel℠
$300 Annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
Steep initial $550 annual fee
May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

The Chase Ink Business Cash is an excellent no annual fee card for small business owners. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on office supplies and select utilities, as well as 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations. On top of that, the Ink Business Cash card also offers automatic credit limit increase assessments every six months — and sometimes even sooner — to suit the needs of growing businesses. Read our full review of the Chase Ink Business Cash card .

The current sign-up bonus on this card is an impressive up to $750.
There is no annual fee which is perfect for small business owners.
You’ll earn 5% at office supply stores and on common monthly bills such as internet, cable and phone services. Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
5% cash back earned on certain categories is capped at the first $25,000 you make in combined purchases each account anniversary year.
Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
10% Business Relationship Bonus If you have the Ink Business Cash card plus a Chase Business Checking account on your first card anniversary
No Annual Fee
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex delivers a formidable 5% cash back on select bonus categories and travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This card is an excellent addition to your wallet as it provides ongoing rewards, a welcoming sign-up bonus and no annual fee to worry about. Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex .

The generous sign-up bonus is impressive for a no annual fee card.
The card features several categories that earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards and rotating quarterly bonus categories and 3% back on dining and drugstores.
Your phone is protected against theft or damage for up to $800 per claim (up to $1,000 per year) when you pay that bill with the card.
You must remember to activate your bonus categories quarterly or risk not earning 5x on select purchases.
This card charges foreign transaction fees so it's best to use it within the U.S.
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

While other airlines’ top credit cards have annual fees toppling over $500 per year, the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card comes with just a $149 annual per year. If Southwest is your airline of choice, you’ll receive a number of perks every year: a $75 Southwest travel credit and 7,500 points on your cardmember anniversary. These benefits alone make up the annual fee for frequent Southwest flyers. For every $10,000 spent on this card, you’ll earn 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points, fast-tracking your way to A-List Status. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Card .

Travel and purchase protections through Chase.
$75 annual Southwest travel credit.
7,500 points on each cardmember anniversary.
20% inflight discount on food, drinks and WiFi.
Ability to earn A-List status faster by spending on this card
$149 annual fee.
Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
7,500 anniversary points each year.
Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
$75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
No foreign transaction fees.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

The Southwest Plus credit card is a great starter card for those who are loyal to the carrier. Read our full review of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card .

Earn 3,000 points each year after your cardmember anniversary
Extended warranty and purchase protection
Secondary car rental insurance and collision damage waiver.
Baggage delay insurance
Up to $3,000 in reimbursement for lost luggage
Roadside dispatch
Travel accident insurance via Visa Signature
$69 annual fee
3% foreign transaction fee
Flight redemption limited to U.S., Caribbean and Central American destinations
3,000 anniversary points each year.
Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases.
2 EarlyBird Check-In® each year.
Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited’s sign-up gives you a generous $750 cash back spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on every business purchase. It fills in rewards gaps not covered by the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. You can maximize this card by pairing it with cards including the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred. Read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card .

No annual fee
Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Primary insurance for car rentals
0% introductory APR for the first 12 months on purchases (then a variable APR of 18.49% - 24.49% applies)
Higher spend to receive sign-up bonus
No conversion to Chase points without holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred
No travel protections
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel rewards credit cards available. It offers comprehensive travel protection plus elevated rewards on travel and dining purchases while maintaining a reasonable $95 annual fee.

New travel credit card users who are looking to earn transferable rewards without committing to a high annual fee would be a great fit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been in my wallet for 5-plus years and is the go-to midlevel rewards credit card that I recommend to people. It usually has a pretty solid sign-up bonus, with points that can be transferred to some of my favorite loyalty programs, like British Airways Executive Club and World of Hyatt. The strong earning rates on dining and travel as well as streaming services makes it a good choice for a millennial like me. Finally, I like using this card when renting cars, as it provides primary rental car insurance and a little more peace of mind.” — Matt Moffitt , senior credit cards editor

Transferable points are often considered the golden currency in the travel reward world, but if you find that you prefer American Express travel partners, the American Express® Green Card offers a comparatively low annual fee while still allowing you to earn on travel, restaurants and more.

The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You get tons of perks for a $95 annual fee. Instead of having to spend $15,000 to qualify for the 100,000 bonus points offer, new cardholders can qualify for the bonus points by spending $8,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Although this is primarily a business card, it’s also a great travel card as well. Frequent flyers who book trips through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards can maximize the value of their earned points when booking travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal. The best part? The cash back you earn doesn’t expire as long as your account remains open.

“I originally signed up for the Ink Business Preferred primarily for its sign-up bonus. But, over the last year, I’ve found myself making it my go-to card when booking travel. After all, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel and provides excellent travel protections, including trip delay protection and rental car insurance.” — Katie Genter , senior writer

The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a good option if you want to avoid paying an annual fee and want to earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend at office supply stores, on internet, cable and your phone bill, 2% cash back on the first $25,000 you spend at gas stations and restaurants plus an unlimited 1% cash back on every other purchase you make.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel card with matching benefits. The card offers an elevated earning rate on many bonus categories, includes premium lounge access and features a $300 annual travel credit . For just about any traveler, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a solid pick.

Frequent flyers will find the Chase Sapphire Reserve to be a great addition to their wallet, thanks to its travel perks and benefits.

“The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a no-brainer for me. My top two spending categories are travel and dining, and this card lets me earn 3 points per dollar in both of these categories. Then, I can transfer these points to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners or redeem them for a generous 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase travel portal or Pay Yourself Back program. The card has a high annual fee, but I don't mind paying it thanks to perks like a $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access and impressive travel protections.” — Benji Stawski , former senior reporter

If you’re looking for a more luxury-focused travel card, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express instead. The Amex Platinum comes with more benefits, travel credits and lounge access — as well as a higher annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees ).

The Ink Business Cash offers a great introductory offer, no annual fee and multiple elevated reward rates. In addition, you can increase the value of your rewards by transferring rewards to an eligible Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points.

New business owners who are looking to separate their business and personal expenses while earning rewards on a card with no annual fee should consider the Ink Business Cash card.

The Ink Business Cash card offers elevated cash-back rates on regular business categories and a solid sign-up offer, all with no annual fee. When combined with a higher-end Ultimate Rewards card, the Ink Business Cash is a no-brainer for any small-business owner looking to maximize their rewards earning.

If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee business card but have varied spending habits, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card . That card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all spending and features a similar introductory bonus.

The Chase Freedom Flex makes cash-back earning easier than ever. You can earn elevated cash back on dining and travel, but every quarter, the Freedom Flex also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases at a rotating selection of merchants (after activation).

The Chase Freedom Flex is a great addition to any beginner’s wallet since it has no annual fee and offers a large spectrum of elevated cash-back categories.

“I love when a cash-back card is more than a cash-back card, and that's definitely the case with the Chase Freedom Flex. I can effectively convert the cash-back rewards on this card into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points, since I also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve — opening up fantastic redemptions like luxury World of Hyatt properties and top-notch premium airplane cabins.” — Nick Ewen , director of content

If you know your spending habits do not align with the quarterly bonus categories offered by the Chase Freedom Flex, consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited® instead. You will still earn the same elevated rate on travel and dining but you get 1.5% cash back on all other purchases instead of 1%.

The Southwest Priority card is a great card for Southwest loyalists who can maximize the card’s perks and benefits. Some notable features include an annual bonus of 7,500 Rapid Rewards points (valued at $113, according to TPG’s valuations ), a $75 annual Southwest travel credit and four upgraded boardings per year.

Southwest loyalists can easily justify the Priority’s annual fee with the anniversary point bonus, travel credit and other perks.

Any Southwest loyalist should add the Priority card to their travel wallet, as the perks and benefits easily pay for the annual fee every year.

If you still want a Southwest card but find that you don’t need all of the perks on the Priority, consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card , which offers similar perks with a lower fee.

The information for the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus credit card is a great starter card for Southwest travelers thanks to its low annual fee. In addition to earning bonus points on Southwest purchases, the card comes with two EarlyBird check-ins annually and bonus points for each account anniversary.

If you’re a casual Southwest flyer (at least once a year), you’ll likely benefit from the perks on the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.

For beginner travelers who occasionally fly Southwest, adding the Southwest Plus card can be a great way to expand your travel card collection.

If you’re looking for more benefits from your Southwest credit card, consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card which features a higher annual bonus upon card renewal and additional benefits when flying the carrier.

There is no easier cash-back business card than the Ink Business Unlimited, as you’ll earn 1.5% back on all purchases. In addition, it features a generous introductory annual percentage rate period and primary insurance on business-related car rentals — all for no annual fee.

Small-business owners who want a simple business card will benefit from the Ink Business Unlimited’s flat reward rate.

“I have the Chase Ink Business trilogy — the Ink Business Cash Credit Card, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited cards. The first two cards maximize my points-earning on things like office supply, internet and phone purchases, whilst the Ink Unlimited covers everything else, with a flat 1.5% earning rate. The fact that I have the Ink Preferred means I can convert my cash back from the Ink Unlimited into more valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This no-annual-fee card will stay in my wallet for years to come.” — Matt Moffitt , senior credit cards editor

If your business has more specialized purchases that align with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card , it can be a better fit, as the bonus categories have higher earning rates than the Ink Business Unlimited’s flat 1.5%.

Decide the type of rewards you want to earn

Chase offers a wide range of credit cards — including ones that earn the issuer’s own Ultimate Rewards points as well as cobranded products with partners like United and Marriott . You could even opt for a top cash-back card if you don’t want to mess with travel rewards. Before you apply for a Chase credit card, consider what type of rewards are most useful for you. Many travelers will benefit from the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards, though everyone’s situation is different.

Earn the welcome bonus

Once you’ve pulled the trigger on applying for a new card, it’s critical to ensure you hit the minimum spending requirements to earn the welcome bonus. Most Chase credit cards give you at least three months to do so, but it’s critical to plan your spending accordingly. In some cases, the bonus can get you over $1,000 worth of rewards, so missing out on it can be a major setback for your travel planning.

Add new cards to maximize your earning potential

Getting a top Chase credit card can unlock valuable rewards, but if you really want to take your card strategy to the next level, consider adding more than one to your wallet. While managing multiple credit cards takes added effort, it can also expand the number of points or miles you can take home. You can use one card to earn bonus points on travel and dining, for example, and then another card can give you extra rewards at drugstores. In fact, Chase cards feature prominently in our guide to the best credit card pairings .

Chase, also known as JPMorgan Chase Bank, is a large American national bank. It offers a large variety of banking and investment products for both consumers and small businesses — including a wide range of credit cards.

Types of Chase credit cards

Chase offers a large selection of credit card products. Some notable types are defined below.

Travel credit cards are typically tailored to travelers, offering more rewards on travel purchases and providing additional protection and value-added perks. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an annual $300 travel credit, which can help lower the out-of-pocket cost of your trips. In addition, it offers extensive travel protection when things go wrong, along with lounge access — both perks that can make your next trip a simpler process.

Cash-back credit cards earn a percentage of cash back on each purchase you make. Some — like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card — offer a simple, flat cash-back rate on all purchases. This could be a great fit for someone who is looking for a straightforward earning structure without needing to worry about maximizing bonus categories.

Other cards — like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ — feature bonus categories which help those who have more tailored spending habits get the most return on their spending.

But the best part about Chase is that you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into fully transferable (and more flexible) Ultimate Rewards points, simply by having a higher-end Chase card.

A “starter” credit card typically refers to a simple product that’s relatively easy to get. Generally these don’t impose an annual fee, and they offer basic cash back so as not to overwhelm a new entrant into the world of credit cards.

One such card would be the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, as it earns an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases plus an elevated rate on travel and dining, two big expense categories for many people. With no annual fee, even the newest credit card user can find many benefits with the Freedom Unlimited.

Business credit cards typically offer business-focused perks and elevated earning rates on business spending. These cards are a great way to keep your business expenses separated from your personal expenses and earn on what you are already spending. Chase offers multiple business products under the Ink family of credit cards .

Business owners will have to look over their spending and see which card will help them earn the most on their current expenses.

Finally, cobranded credit cards are issued by a bank in partnership with another organization. The cards typically feature brand-specific rewards and benefits, most frequently with travel companies. For example, Chase issues cobranded cards with United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and the World of Hyatt loyalty program.

However, it can also partner with a lifestyle brand — as it’s done with the Instacart Mastercard® and DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® .

How to apply for a Chase credit card

You can apply for a Chase credit card online, by mail or in person at a Chase bank. You'll need some basic information like your social security number and gross annual income. Here's what else you should know before you submit an application.

The Chase 5/24 rule is infamous in the credit card world. While Chase has never publicly published this policy, data has proven that it almost always applies.

In short, Chase will not approve new applicants who have opened five or more personal credit cards within the last 24 months. This applies to all bank cards, not just Chase cards. You generally have to be under this number to be approved for a new Chase credit card. You can learn more with our full guide to the Chase 5/24 rule .

Chase's 48-month rule states that you're ineligible to earn a bonus on a Chase card if you're a current cardholder of that specific card or if you have already earned a sign-up bonus on a specific card you've had within the last 48 months.

Chase credit card benefits

Chase credit cards come with many benefits and perks. Some notable benefits are highlighted below.

Many Chase cards fit into the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem . However, only three that are available to new applicants earn Ultimate Rewards points: the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. These Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to a number of airline and hotel partners but can also be used to book travel directly, making them incredibly valuable when it comes to redemption.

Luckily, if you have one of these products, you can combine your cash-back rewards with your Ultimate Rewards points in a single account — allowing you to maximize your earning.

Chase is known for some of the best welcome bonuses in the card industry. You can see the current welcome bonus on the card tiles above — and you can refer to our guide with historical offers to see how the current ones measure up.

Travel and shopping protections can be some of the most underrated perks offered by credit card companies. You hope you won’t need to use them, but they can save the day when things go wrong.

One of Chase’s most notable benefits is primary rental car coverage, available on many popular products like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®. When you charge a rental car to an eligible card, you’re covered for theft, loss or damage to the vehicle, without needing to invoke your personal insurance.

Related: Best credit cards with travel insurance

One of the most notable features of Chase cards is their pairability, thus maximizing the reward potential for your wallet. It is worth considering adding multiple Chase cards to your wallet to get the best return on your spending.

There are multiple strategies for pairing Chase cards, but one of the most popular is commonly known as the Chase Trifecta — the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. However, the best combination of cards should be tailored to your spending and specific reward needs.

That being said, you’ll almost certainly want to feature the Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred in your strategy to ensure you’re earning fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points. Then, select the cash-back Chase cards that best match your spending habits.

Related: How (and why) to combine your Chase Ultimate Rewards points into a single account

Redeeming your Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are among the most valuable transferable rewards currencies out there. TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents each, but you have the potential to redeem them at a higher rate for the right travel redemption.

In many cases, the best way to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points is by transferring them to Chase’s travel partners . Popular programs that can unlock luxury travel experiences include World of Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus. However, if you don’t want to mess with another loyalty program, using your Ultimate Rewards points directly with Chase Travel can still offer a solid value .

For an in-depth look at how to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, check out our complete guide .

1 Sign-up bonus Choose a card that aligns with your financial goals — if you’re saving for a big vacation, applying for a card with a generous sign-up bonus may help cover some of the travel costs for that trip.
2 Annual fee Whether your preference is a card with no annual fee or a premium card with a high annual fee, choose the one that best fits your lifestyle.
3 Bonus categories Choose the card that earns rewards in your most frequently used bonus categories like groceries, gas and streaming subscriptions.

What's your favorite Chase card — and why?

Using Chase credit cards responsibly can help you build your credit score.
Chase credit cards can earn points, miles or cash back on every dollar you spend.
Some Chase credit cards provide purchase, theft and fraud protection.
Select Chase credit cards provide perks like travel insurance, lounge access and more.
Chase credit cards can encourage overspending.
Carrying a balance and using your Chase card irresponsibly can damage your credit score.
The cost of borrowing on Chase credit cards is higher than traditional loans.
Having too many card applications can negatively affect your credit score.
Chase has some of the most stringent application restrictions of any issuer.

There’s no single Chase credit card that’s best for everyone. Instead, it will depend on your spending habits and what rewards you are looking for. Luckily, Chase cards are easy to pair and maximize, so you can consider adding multiple cards to your wallet.

To apply for any Chase card on this list, you can click on the card’s name, photo or “Apply Now” link to the right of the card. Then, simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete (and submit) your application.

Chase doesn’t have an official limit on the number of Chase cards one person can have. In fact, many TPG staffers have had several Chase credit cards at the same time. However, Chase does limit the amount of total credit it will extend to you. It also has the 5/24 rule (more on that below). Finally, as a general rule of thumb, you can only be approved for one personal card and one business card within 90 days — but even that’s not a hard-and-fast rule.

There are also different application rules for specific Chase cards. You can only hold one Sapphire card at a time. You can only have a single personal Southwest credit card; however, you can hold both a Southwest business card and personal card, which is a great way to earn the Southwest Companion Pass.

For more details on Chase’s application rules, read our guide to credit card application restrictions .

That being said, having a score of at least 700 will give you the best chances of being approved for the top Chase credit cards. Of course, it’s possible to be approved with a slightly lower score; it’s just not as likely.

To cancel a Chase credit card, you’ll need to call the number on the back of your card. A phone agent can help you complete the cancellation process. However, be sure to use (or transfer) all of your rewards first, since you may forfeit them after canceling (or shortly thereafter). Pay off any outstanding balances, and be sure to update your account with any merchants that automatically bill the card you’re closing.

Just note that canceling a credit card should not be taken lightly, as it can affect your credit score. You can check out our guide to how to cancel a credit card to help you determine if you should go this route.

Chase does not publish an official score for approval, but our data suggests that a score of at least 670 will increase your chances of getting approved. In addition, rewards credit cards generally require a higher credit score for approval, typically 720-plus.

Having a score of at least 700 will give you the best chances of being approved for the top Chase credit cards. Of course, it’s possible to be approved with a slightly lower score; it’s just not as likely.

Related: How to check your credit score for absolutely free

Citi Enhances the Citi Premier Card with New Benefits to Make Travel Adventures More Rewarding

The card refresh also unveils a new name, travel protections from Mastercard and sleek design

NEW YORK - Today, Citi announced the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card – an enhancement of the existing Citi Premier® Card – now offering increased benefits and more opportunities to earn ThankYou® Points with the same $95 annual fee 1 , and Mastercard as the payments network. The newly redesigned card provides cardmembers with the opportunity of making travel more rewarding and adds travel protections for peace of mind.

The new name, Citi Strata Premier, evokes a sense of ambition and adventure, empowering cardmembers to reach new heights and unlock their passions. Accompanying the new name is a sleek, modern card design featuring distinctive treatments and sweeping wave lines, welcoming cardmembers into the new Citi Strata Premier experience.

“We heard from our cardmembers that they want be rewarded for their travels as well as their everyday spending,” said Anthony Merola, Head of Proprietary Products for U.S. Branded Cards at Citi. “The Citi Strata Premier Card now offers extra ways for cardmembers to earn on travel and turn their purchases into future experiences.”

The refreshed Citi Strata Premier Card offers new benefits including:

Now as an ongoing benefit, 10 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions when booking through the Citi Travel site 2
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption (Common Carrier) 4
Trip Delay 3
Lost or Damaged Luggage 3
Car Rental (MasterRental Coverage) 5
3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at EV Charging Stations

In addition to the new benefits, Citi Strata Premier cardmembers will continue to enjoy access to all existing benefits including:

3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on Restaurants
3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on Supermarkets
3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on Gas Stations
1 ThankYou Point for each $1 spent on all other purchases
A $100 Annual Hotel Benefit 6 - once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through the Citi Travel site
Complimentary breakfast for two
$100 resort credit 7
Early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades upon availability.
Access to Mastercard World Elite benefits, with offers on ride-sharing, food delivery, streaming, online shopping and more as well as access to Priceless® Experiences
No foreign transaction fees 1

With the ThankYou Rewards program, cardmembers can make every moment and every point count. ThankYou Points do not expire and there is no limit on the number of points cardmembers can earn with this card. Additionally, cardmembers can access valuable redemption options such as transferring ThankYou Points to participating airline and hotel partners.

Starting today and for a limited time, customers who apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card on CitiCards.com and are approved can earn 75,000 bonus ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. 8

“Over three quarters of American consumers are likely to leverage credit card travel benefits, so we partnered with Citi to refresh a card product that enhances their traveler experiences,” said Jason Lane, Executive Vice President, Global Account Management at Mastercard. “We’ve focused on essential benefits that travelers value, by adding protections that help make sure every journey is plain-sailing.”

For more information the Citi Strata Premier Card, visit citicards.com .

Citi is a preeminent banking partner for institutions with cross-border needs, a global leader in wealth management and a valued personal bank in its home market of the United States. Citi does business in nearly 160 countries and jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products and services.

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi

Media Contact:

Gabrielle Baum 908-930-6320 [email protected]

1 The variable APR for purchases and balance transfers is 21.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Plans subject to an APR, the variable APR is 21.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. For Citi Flex Pay Plans subject to a Plan Fee, a monthly fee of up to 1.72% will apply, based on the Citi Flex Plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the Transaction, and other factors. The variable APR for cash advances is 29.99%. The variable penalty APR is up to 29.99%. Minimum interest charge - $0.50. Annual fee - $95. Fee for foreign purchases - None. Cash advance fee - 5% of each cash advance (min. $10). Balance transfer fee - 5% of each transfer (min. $5). Rates as of 05/13/2024.

2 Citi Travel Site: You will earn 10 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions when you use your Citi Strata Premier Card to book them through the Citi Travel site via CitiTravel.com or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711). For bookings made with a combination of points and your Citi Strata Premier Card, only the portion paid with your card will earn points. Points are not earned on cancelled bookings. If your account is closed for any reason, including if you convert to another card product, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with Booking.com.

3 Should you apply and be approved for the Citi Strata Premier Card more information will be provided in the Guide to Protection Benefits you receive with your card. Benefits are subject to terms, conditions, and limitations, including limitations on the amount of coverage. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG company.

4 Policy provides secondary coverage only

5 Coverage is secondary within the Eligible Renter’s country of residence.

6 Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, when booked through the Citi Travel site via CitiTravel.com (Citi Travel is powered by Rocket Travel Inc., part of the Booking Holdings Inc. group of companies together with Booking.com) or 1-833-737-1288 (TTY:711).

7 Eligible experiences for the $100 resort credit varies by property

8 Bonus ThankYou® Points are not available if you have received a new account bonus for a Citi Premier® or Citi Strata Premier℠ account in the past 48 months. This offer is available if you apply through the method(s) provided in this document today. Offers may vary and this offer may not be available in other places where the card is offered.

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COMMENTS

Is UP bank a reliable travel card to use in Europe (from ...
salty_catfish22. •. Up uses Mastercard, while UBank uses Visa, which may or may not matter to you. You'll have to see which ones offer the better exchange rate at the time, but from experience both have been pretty close with each other and not far off the spot rate. Up Bank has a nice app, can't comment on UBank.
Cards to use when travelling overseas
Some Debit Cards with no overseas transaction fees: HSBC Everyday Global. ING Orange Everyday - only one I'm aware of which rebates operator ATM fees as well (if you meet their conditions and only 5 per month) Ubank Spend. Some Credit cards with no overseas transaction fees:
Is UP bank really as good as everyone says it is? : r/AusFinance
Reply reply. ThePronto8. •. Up is a great bank for managing your money, I've gotten a few friends to use it and taught them to develop a budget using the SAVERS feature and it has made it way easier because you can do it all from within the app to move your money around.
Using Up card overseas? : r/UpBanking
Kyle-K. • 4 mo. ago. One of the main reasons why you would need phone access while overseas 3-D Secure Up supports in app now so you'd received these via push notification instead of SMS. Also, my recommendation is if you're going overseas have more than one account and have a backup Otherwise Up be great for your travels.
Recommendations for Travel Card : r/CreditCards
The Amazon card actually covers lost baggage up to like $3,000 and no foreign transaction fees. It also depends on where you're going to travel. Some places don't take Amex or Discover, whereas if you go somewhere like Bangkok, Amex is huge there and MasterCard has coverage so low that they offer promo discounts.
Best Travel card for Europe?
There's online fintech apps that will do it now but a lot of the major international banks (like Citibank) will give you close to spot rates with no fees attached. Otherwise there's always fee-free credit card options like 28 degrees etc. 2.
Self-Review: Travelling with Up
Competitor card at Euronet ATM with fees rebated: $516.13; Up card at major bank ATM: $462.32; Even at a major bank ATM, using Up can work out a lot cheaper than competitors given we offer the best exchange rate we can. Check out this Tweet from a happy customer (as mentioned above, we no longer charge the $5 fee so this works out even better now):
Travel visa debit card : r/AusFinance
Please don't use prepaid travel cards. Use something like Wise (formerly Transferwise) if you want to exchange currency ahead of time. Look at a debit card with no fees like Up, 86 400, Macquarie they give you the Mastercard or Visa daily rate for exchange of foreign currency and offer a lot more protection and better than a prepaid card.
Up Bank Review: Is It The Best International Travel Card?
Up Bank: Your Key to Fee-Free Travel. Up Bank is revolutionizing the way people manage their finances while traveling the globe. When it comes to international fees and overseas ATM charges, Up Bank stands out as the smart choice for savvy travelers. ... Consider Travel Cards: Several travel-specific cards waive international transaction fees ...
Up Bank: Is It The Best International Travel Card?
The Up card makes a great travel companion, and is accepted worldwide. There are no fees on international purchases online or in person, and there's no rebates or conditions to worry about. ... Enter Up Bank, a shining example of the new generation of financial institutions known as neobanks.Neobanks are digital-only platforms designed to ...
Bank overseas, without the fees
Up Doesn't Charge ATM Fees Overseas. Sometimes when you're travelling you need cash. When you withdraw money from an ATM, Up doesn't charge you any additional fees for the privilege. Note: ATM operators can also charge fees we can't foresee. In Australia and most other countries, operators must tell you if they're going to charge fees.
Credit Card Traveling, who really benefits from it?
That gives 2.625% flat with no maximum spend, 5.25% travel, 5.25% online shopping/phone/streaming (and includes airfare and hotels booked online) for 20k a year, and 3.5% groceries/Costco. I have other cards though like the US Bank Altitude Go (4% dining) and US Bank Cash Plus (5% utilities and gym) and Amex Blue Cash Everyday (3% gas).
Wise vs Revolut vs Up: Which Is Best For Travel?
Whether you're a frequent traveler or embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, Revolut's comprehensive features make it a worthy companion. International Transaction Fees: Free up to $9,000, then 2%. ATM Withdrawal Fees: Free up to $350 per month, then 2% of the transaction amount. Account Monthly Fee: $0. Physical Card Fee: $0.
Best Travel card for Europe?
Save. Look at the CitiBank plus debit master card and the Latitude 28 visa. I used both on our last trip to Europe in 2018 I have found them very good, plus the ING card seems to get favorable comments on the forum for overseas travel. Edited: 09 March 2023, 20:40. Reply.
Up reviews
UP Bank is a game changer! As someone who spent 30+ years (unsuccessfully) trying to budget, I had almost given up hope. Since joining UP Bank I have stayed on top of my budget & absolutely LOVE everything about the app. My fave features include the ability to have multiple savers + ability to customise them with amounts & emojis, the lock ...
Best Travel Debit Cards For Australians Overseas
TLDR; our experts rated Up ($15 free bonus), Ubank ($10 free on with code C7N1TAZ) & Revolut (Free $15 exclusive Flight Hacks bonus) as the best travel debit cards for 2024.. No matter where you're going or for how long, making use of a good travel debit card is one of the easiest ways to save money overseas. The problem is that amidst the excitement, the importance of selecting ...
Up on TransferWise
The Up debit card is already a great travel companion. You can withdraw cash from international ATMs and make purchases using the MasterCard® mid-market rate without any markup. Now, with the addition of international payments in Up you can truly roam free, without borders. ... Up is a brand of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, ABN 11 068 049 ...
Up Bank Review
You'll be able to get a PayID on application to make instant payments to other bank accounts and you'll receive your Up card in 5-10 days. While you're waiting for your card to arrive, ...
It pays to go mobile: U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card is an underrated premium travel rewards card that takes the headache out of all things award travel. It comes with a pricey annual fee, but it delivers enough statement credits to largely make up for its cost. ... Like many cards, you also get up to $100 in statement credits every four years to ...
5 Best Banks for International Travel
Here are our favorite banks for international travel. Charles Schwab Bank: Best for using ATMs. Capital One 360: Best on foreign transaction fees. HSBC Bank: Best for expats with high balances ...
Up Banking Review 2024: How I use the digital bank
Credit cards. Up bank does NOT offer any form of credit cards. This is a focus of the business which it's the largest age group of customers is 16-24, who the bank believes is not ready for a credit card. It hasn't ruled out offering one entirely but won't be rushing to launch one unless it meets the needs of customers. The Up bank app experience
How do you feel about Bank of America cards? : r/CreditCards
Been fine, mostly. The 75% cash back bonus is awesome. Setting up autopay was not intuitive, but it's just a one time deal. Had to use a YouTube video to figure it out. No issues with fraud/decreased credit limits/any other issues. Vote. Award. I keep reading all kinds of horror stories related to Bank of America.
Is the Chase Freedom Flex card worth it for me? : r/CreditCards
Get the Freedom Flex with the 5% grocery bonus for one year + $200 SUB. Start using your Citi Custom Cash for restaurants and the FF for groceries. Now you have a 5% restaurant card for the next year. If you want a nice dining cash back card with no AF, get the US Bank Altitude Go. Comes with $15 streaming credit every year too and has no FTF.
Cards with benefits
Up accounts come with a 100% plastic free Zap Digital Card that's ready to use right away along with the option of an Up Plastic Card sent in the mail. ... You'll get a second card number and a card you can use to travel or withdraw cash . from ATM's. Card Details in Hand. Get your card numbers instantly in-app. ... Up is a brand of ...
Cash back vs. travel rewards: How to choose a credit card
Travel rewards cards almost always offer higher welcome bonuses than cash-back cards. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express currently offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards points, worth $1,600 (according to TPG calculations ). However, a higher bonus on a travel rewards card usually comes with a higher spending ...
Citi Launches New Strata Premier Card With One Big Upside That ...
Jerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable ...
Best Chase credit cards of May 2024
740-850 Excellent. Why We Chose It. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, bonus points on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Your 2024 Credit Card Checklist for Summer Travel
Here's a credit card checklist to review before you hit the road this summer. 1. Bring a card. First things first — be sure to bring a credit card! Many airlines, and even entire airports, are ...
Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
The Citi Strata Premier ℠ Card offers several benefits, including the ability to enjoy rewards through the ThankYou ® Rewards program: 10X Points on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. 3X Points on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases 2. 3X Points at Restaurants 2. 3X Points at Supermarkets 2.
Citi Enhances the Citi Premier Card with New Benefits to Make Travel
NEW YORK - Today, Citi announced the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card - an enhancement of the existing Citi Premier® Card - now offering increased benefits and more opportunities to earn ThankYou® Points with the same $95 annual fee 1, and Mastercard as the payments network.The newly redesigned card provides cardmembers with the opportunity of making travel more rewarding and adds travel ...