These Australian debit cards don't charge overseas transaction fees
A growing number of Australian debit cards offer savvy travellers various ways to save on international transaction fees, and in some cases, even provide rebates on ATM fees imposed by the machines' operators.
With no monthly account keeping fees and easy online banking tools to manage your cash wherever you may be, these debit cards can be handy tools to keep in your arsenal.
ING Orange Everyday Debit Card
This branchless bank offers what may be the most competitive debit card offering, albeit with some work involved every month.
What’s great about it:
- Potentially, free ATM withdrawals in Australia and around the world, with a waiver of ING's $2.50 international ATM withdrawal fee and rebates on fees charged by ATM operators both in Australia and overseas.
- The 2.5% charge for international transactions can be waived as well.
- In my experience, international transactions are settled on the Visa exchange rate (very close to the ‘Google rate’), without additional commissions or fees, when meeting the monthly cash criteria below.
The catches:
- You need to deposit at least $1,000 per month into any personal ING account in your name (e.g. a linked Savings Maximiser account), excluding Living Super and Orange One accounts. Having your salary paid into ING is the easiest way to achieve this.
- You also need to make five debit card purchases every month, which are settled (not pending) before the end of that month.
- These benefits only come into effect the month after you complete the above requirements, and are activated (or taken away) on a month-by-month basis. So, if you meet these requirements in October, your fee-waivers would come into play in November. Meet the requirements again in November to enjoy the benefits throughout December, and so on. Or, if you don't meet the requirements in November, those fees would become enabled again in December.
Also good to know:
- There are no account-keeping fees on ING’s Orange Everyday account.
- If you meet the $1,000 deposit + five card purchases a month requirement, you also qualify for a bonus interest rate on your ING Savings Maximiser account for the next month.
- The app is smooth and functional. It’s very easy to move money around if you need to make a purchase in a pinch, both here and overseas.
Personal notes:
- Great support staff at the Australian call centre.
- This is currently my main bank. Having my salary paid into it and doing five card taps at the self-checkout fulfils the requirements every month. I’m then free to use any ATM as needed with no extra cost.
- If I need to dash overseas, having this card already in my wallet means I’m set for cash withdrawals and card payments, without worrying about extra fees.
Citibank Plus Everyday Debit Mastercard
This debit card account has been around for a long time, but can be an excellent all-rounder.
What’s great about it:
- No Citibank-imposed transaction fees overseas, for both purchases and ATM withdrawals.
- No monthly hoops to jump through: these benefits are active no matter how much (or how little) you use your Citibank account.
- In my experience, overseas transactions adopt the official Mastercard exchange rate, without additional fees or commissions from Citibank.
The catches:
- Any fees imposed by ATM operators are not rebated, so you may still be charged for those overseas (and in Australia, too).
- Mobile app and website interface is a bit dated and clunky.
Also good to know:
- There are no account-keeping fees on the Citibank Plus Everyday Account.
- No Citibank fees to transfer money overseas or to receive International Money Transfers. Transfers between selected international Citibank accounts can also be instant.
- Citibank Dining program offers a free bottle of wine at partner restaurants, when you pay with your Citibank card.
Personal notes:
- This is my backup card which I also carry with me every day. It’s worked very well on previous trips before the ING offering came along.
Macquarie Debit Mastercard
Linked with the newly- updated Macquarie Transaction Account, this card can also help you cut down on fees when travelling.
What’s great about it:
- No international transaction fees overseas, for cash withdrawals and purchases.
- Macquarie advises that when you choose to pay in a foreign currency, transactions are processed using the Mastercard international exchange rate with no additional fees.
- No minimum deposit or transaction requirements, so again unlike ING, these fee waivers apply regardless of how active your account is.
- ATM fees in Australia are waived or rebated.
The catches:
- Any withdrawal fees charged directly by overseas ATMs are not waived or rebated, so there may still be some costs when accessing your money abroad.
Also good to know:
- No monthly account fees.
- Macquarie's mobile app supports push notifications for each transaction, so you can see both the local amount and AUD conversion instantly. Enable the app's "Travel Mode" feature and you can also see the exchange rate at a glance for the country you're in.
UBank Visa Debit Card
This branchless bank is a shoot-off from NAB, and offers a no-fee transaction account that comes with a Visa Debit card. There are no UBank fees for overseas ATM withdrawals or transactions.
What’s great about it:
- No international transaction fees overseas, for cash withdrawals and purchases.
- UBank processes international transactions with no additional fees.
- No penalty for accidentally overdrawing your account (but interest still applies to the overdrawn amount).
- No ATM fees in Australia with NAB and RediATM. Other operators may still charge a fee to use.
The catches:
- Any withdrawal fees charged directly by ATM operators are not waived or rebated, so there may still be some costs when accessing your money abroad or in Australia.
Also good to know:
- No monthly account keeping fees.
- Bonus interest on your savings if you deposit $200+ into your USaver Ultra or Savings account from an external source, every month.
05 May 2016
Total posts 616
Btw from 1 Jan 2019 transactions at RediATM will no longer be free for UBank customers.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
03 Jul 2011
Total posts 187
06 Jun 2017
Total posts 53
A soon to come outee fr card is also the crypto.com card. While its design for Bitcoin/etc, you will be able to load it with AUD and spend at the current interbank exchange rate. Additionally if you opt for a higher tier card, you actually get 1%+ cashback on purchases (the higher tier cards also offer LoungeKey access). Making it a very attractive option.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 130
I use my ING card overseas now (unless I’m somewhere where there may be security issues around ATM’s), and its fantastic. Much better rates than getting cash changed.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Sep 2011
Total posts 77
What about the HSBC Global Debit Card?
10 Aug 2016
Total posts 20
I have used the HSBC card and you don't pay any foreign ATM charges as long as you used a HSBC atm. Good in Europe Asia and the UK
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 May 2018
Total posts 73
In Amsterdam they are useless ..trams require a credit card. Attractions such as museums/galleries require a credit card.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Jan 2012
Total posts 258
I used my Macquarie MC Debit card on the trams and to purchase a ticket for Rijksmuesum with no trouble in May this year.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 15
I use the HSBC card and so far so good ,have only used it in Asia.The app is a bit dated I think and not simplified.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Oct 2016
Total posts 11
For the Macquarie Bank card where you say:
06 Jan 2019
Total posts 1
There is one bank in Australia (at the moment) who do rebate ATM operator fees on International ATMs - ING with their Orange Everyday account.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Dec 2014
Total posts 6
You can add Up Bank’s debut mastercard to the list too
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2424
Hi Joshua, the cards featured in this article have no international transaction fees and also no international ATM withdrawal fees, so that you're not paying extra for your cash or purchases. Up, however, charges a $5 fee per withdrawal from overseas ATMs, so was excluded.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
01 Apr 2017
Total posts 32
I switched to ING a couple years ago as my main everyday bank account, so meeting the monthly requirements is not an issue by just living life.
05 Jan 2012
Total posts 7
Not sure about the time of writing (as opposed to publishing) of the article, but the Citibank App - described as "a bit dated and clunky" - was updated around one month ago and has improved functionality for Credit Cards, but no noticable changes for Debit Cards/Transaction accounts. Hopefully the latter will see matched updated functionality soon too. (iOS v15.0.7 and Android update date 5/10/18)
17 Dec 2014
Total posts 5
Just got stung recently with 3% fee plus $5 withdrawal fee at HKIA using my NAB debit card at a HSBC ATM. If only I had known that I could have used my Citibank Debit card I would have likely saved the full $18.50 on a $450 withdrawal. The Travelex and other operators exchange rates were that poor at HKIA (around 10% commission), I refused to exchange cash at the airport.
06 Nov 2018
Total posts 14
Is a Visa or Mastercard debit card a better option? What gives a better exchange rate?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Nov 2018
Total posts 3
My vote is Citibank MasterCard - no fees on conversion fees - never been charged twice re withdrawing from overseas ATM - use every year in Europe - only fee is the local one at ATM for taking money out the wall - eg 2 euro withdrawal fee - which is pretty standard...Citibank app has been updated - worked fine in June 2018 in Italy UK and Hong Kong
06 Nov 2018
Total posts 14
Thank you very much for the update!
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