Quick view: Best international debit cards
- SoFi Checking and Savings
- Yotta Checking
- Capital One 360 Checking
- Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking
- Betterment Checking
The best debit cards for international travel have no foreign transaction fees and are accepted at most international ATMs. Here are our favorite picks as well as a few honorable mentions that nearly made the cut.
Take a closer look at the pros and cons of each checking account that offers debit cards with no foreign transaction fees:
SoFi Checking and Savings
Finder score
APY | Up to 4.60% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Yotta
Finder score
APY | 0.20% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Capital One 360 Checking
Finder score
APY | 0.10% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking
Finder score
APY | 0.45% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0.01 |
Betterment Checking
Finder score
Fee | $0 per month |
---|---|
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Our editorial experts research and analyze over 150 debit cards to fund ones with minimal or no charges on the following fees: international ATM fees, foreign transaction fees, and currency conversion fees. We also consider factors like monthly fees, minimum balance requirements, customer service and interest rates when choosing the best cards, particularly when choosing among those that fulfill our major requirement of few international fees.
The debit cards attached to these accounts didn’t quite make the cut for our best list. But they still offer low fees when traveling internationally that could be worth considering if they fit your specific needs.
Varo
Finder score
APY | Up to 5.00% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Chime Checking account
Finder score
APY | N/A |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Quontic Bank High Interest Checking
Finder score
APY | Up to 1.10% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $100 |
Wise Multi-currency
Finder score
APY | 4.33% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
NBKC Everything Account
Finder score
APY | 1.50% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Before you open a new travel-friendly debit card, consider the following factors to find the best option for you:
If you’re not keen on using a debit card while traveling overseas, here are some good alternatives you could use:
Your bank applies a foreign transaction fee whenever a currency conversion is required. For example, if you make a payment online using your US debit card on an Australian site, your bank needs to exchange USD to AUD to process the payment, so it will charge you a fee to do this. This fee is usually around 3% of the transaction value, but it varies from bank to bank.
Your bank can also charge you even more fees when you use a foreign ATM or send an overseas transfer — plus it can mark up the cost of a foreign currency and pocket the difference. Because these fees are often charged on top of one another, they can start to add up if you make regular foreign transactions.
Our guide to foreign transaction fees
Debit cards with no foreign transaction fees don’t charge you to spend in a foreign currency. Some accounts will also let you use foreign ATMs without paying a fee and/or transfer money internationally for free.
When you use your debit card in another country or while shopping at an overseas store, you’ll generally pay for additional fees. You may incur fees on the following actions:
Your checking account will usually charge a foreign transaction fee when you purchase something in a foreign currency. You may also have to pay a margin on the exchange rate, which means that your bank sells you foreign currency at a higher price than you’d pay elsewhere.
Debit card readers in stores and hotels can often detect that you’re using a card from another country, and they may ask to debit the purchase in US dollars rather than the local currency. While this can help you save on foreign transactions fees, it often means you’ll pay a significantly worse exchange rate, and it’s generally the more expensive option.
Avoid making frequent ATM withdrawals while traveling. Even if you have an account that does not charge for you for international ATM withdrawals, local operator fees still apply.
Your normal bank account will usually charge the following fees: Foreign ATM fee, foreign transaction fee, exchange rate markup and, in most cases, the ATM itself will charge a third-party fee. These fees can make withdrawing money at a foreign ATM very expensive.
Visa and Mastercard are two popular debit card issuers overseas. Discover is starting to gain traction in countries like Ireland and Canada, but it’s still not widely accepted.
No matter what takes you overseas, you shouldn’t be penalized for using your debit card. Use a globally accepted debit card that’s designed to help you keep more money in your pocket as you withdraw cash and make purchases overseas. As always, compare your debit card options to ensure the cost doesn’t outweigh the benefits.
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I’m about to obtain and load a Debit Card (Master Card Cash Passport) ready to travel from Australia to india. Can I just load it up with AUD or should I be putting in USD.
Hi Julie,
Thank you for leaving a question. For the MasterCard Cash Passport – you may lock in exchange rates each time you load and reload. Load up to 11 different currencies on one card: USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, THB, CAD, HKD, SGD, JPY, AED and AUD.
For your question, you may either load AUD or USD whichever is more convenient.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Val
I a m planing to travell to Singapore. Will I be able to use easyshopPlatinum Debit master card of HDFC Bank for purchases And payment towards food ch and taxi fairs or I need to arrange for forex card only
Hi Raja,
Thanks for your inquiry and for visiting our page. You may certainly use the easyshop Platinum Debit Mastercard of HDFC Bank for purchases and payment for food, taxi fairs and etc. when you go to Singapore. Call HDFC that you will be travelling to Singapore and inform them of your travel dates so they can activate your card for international transactions. Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.
Best,
Nikki
Can i withdraw money from any ATM using my South African Standard bank debit card in USA?
Hello Sizwe,
Thank you for your comment.
According to Standard Bank (South Africa), your card is accepted at over 30 million merchants worldwide. You may use to withdraw from ATM’s overseas, however, please note that fees may apply. Please note that you need to notify the bank in advance if you’re planning to use your card overseas so they won’t need to disturb your trip with a phone call to authenticate your purchases. You can also activate your card for overseas travel in the mobile banking app by letting the bank know your travel dates before you leave.
To be sure, best to bring with you back up cards and cash.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
How much will fees cost if I withdraw from my asb debit card in Australia
Hi Nina,
Thank you for leaving a question.
The ASB Bank Limited NZ has an overseas ATM withdrawal fee of $7.50. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I have a child in the Philippines. I am there for a month every 6 months. WesternUnion fees are reasonable but is there a cash or debit card I can load here in the USA for my baby’s mom to use anywhere in the Philippines without those fees? And can she get cash from an ATM without paying fees? Lastly, are there common banks in both the USA and the Philippines?
Hello Gene,
Thank you for your comment.
Since you’re looking for a prepaid cash card or debit card, you may want to take a look at the prepaid travel money cards.
These are the cards that you can load up, design when traveling, and can be used in different countries. I have not confirmed that this can be used in the Philippines, however, please do note that most Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex can be used in the said country. You can also withdraw cash through an ATM. Please do note that fees when withdrawing money will still depend on the card. The local ATM fees may apply.
Alternatively, you may also want to take a look at the ways to send money to the Philippines.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn