How foreign transaction fees work

Accessing your money overseas — whether it’s online shopping at a foreign store from home or withdrawing cash at an overseas ATM — can get pricey. Familiarize yourself with the fees you could be facing, and consider switching to a more competitive checking account with no foreign transaction fee if the costs are starting to add up.

What is a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee, also called an FX fee, is charged to your account when a currency conversion takes place. For example, if you buy something online from Canada and your bank needs to process the payment in CAD instead of USD, it’ll charge you a fee for making this exchange. Although foreign transaction fees vary by institution, they’re usually around 3%.

How to avoid foreign transaction fees

If you’re stuck paying a foreign transaction fee when you swipe your card, here are a few ways to avoid them:

• Exchange currency before you leave the US. Converting money at your home bank before you head off overseas could save you the conversion fee.
• See if your bank has any foreign partnerships. Some banks partner with other institutions to bring their customers fee-free access overseas. For example, Bank of America customers can withdraw money for free at any Scotiabank ATM in Canada, Chile, Mexico and Peru.
• Get a new checking account. If foreign transaction fees are eating into your bank account, you may want to consider getting a debit card with no foreign transaction fee. That way you can avoid the fee and keep more money in your pocket.

What are the features of debit cards with no foreign transaction fee?

Checking accounts with debit cards geared toward users who make foreign transactions generally include features such as:

• Low currency conversion fees. Some debit cards have low fees or waive these fees altogether.
• Low ATM fees. Some cards don’t charge you to use foreign ATMs at all, while other have low fees or international ATM networks.
• Competitive exchange rates. Using a debit card from a bank that charges exchange rates as close as possible to the mid-market rate can save you a considerable amount of money on foreign transactions.
• Global money transfers. If you regularly make foreign purchases or payments then you may want to look for a bank that offers low-cost or free international transfers.
• Rewards programs. Some debit cards let you earn rewards points for eligible purchases which you can use to claim travel benefits. Take a look at whether your card is linked to a frequent flyer program or a dedicated provider rewards program.

Compare checking accounts with no foreign transaction fee

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Name	Product	Monthly fee	ATMs	ATM transaction fee	Out-of-network ATM fee	ATM fee rebates	Foreign transaction fee
TransferWise Borderless		$0	Free at any ATM in the world	$0	$0	You can withdraw $250 every 30 days with no fees	0%	Send and receive 40+ currencies right from your phone, but with a better exchange rate and low fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Aspiration Spend & Save Account		$0	Fee-free ATM withdrawals at Allpoint ATMs	$0	$0		1%	A spend and save combo account with no monthly service fees, free access to every ATM in the world, unlimited cash back rewards and deposits insured by the FDIC. The Aspiration Spend & Save Account is a cash management account offering of Aspiration Financial, LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Aspiration is not a chartered bank.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Chime Spending account		$0	38,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide	$0	$2.50		0%	Linked checking and savings accounts from a mobile-first bank that’s light on fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
TD Beyond Checking		$25 per month	1,900 ATMs across the country and Canada	$0	$0	Unlimited fee rebates when you maintain a daily balance of at least $2,500	0%	A checking account that offers interest plus three ways to waive the monthly fee, two overdraft paybacks a year and no ATM fees with a $2,500 balance.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Zero Checking		$0	No access to ATMs	$0	$0	At the Carbon level, all ATM fees, including what the ATM owner may charge, are refunded.	0%	A mobile banking experience consisting of an app, a credit card called Zerocard, and a checking account called Zero Checking.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Other fees to watch out for

In addition to foreign transaction fees, look out for the following when traveling abroad:

• ATM fees

  Some banks will charge you a fee as high as $5 or more for using a foreign ATM, which you’ll have to pay on top of the fee you’re charged from the ATM provider. These fees can be charged any time you use an ATM, including to withdraw money, transfer money or just check your balance. To save on these fees, you can withdraw a large amount of money when you visit a foreign ATM to limit the number of transactions you need to make.

• Currency conversion fees

  Currency conversion fees are charged each time you make a transaction where the bank needs to convert your money into a different currency. Most banks will charge currency conversion fees as a percentage of the amount you withdraw or spend. These fees can be charged on their own if you’re shopping online at a foreign store or purchasing something in person while traveling.

  They can also be added on top of ATM fees if you withdraw money while out of the country. Most banks charge around 3% for using a foreign currency, but accounts geared towards travelers can sometimes come with lower or no conversion fees.

• Foreign exchange rate margin

  Banks also make money by adding a margin on top of the real exchange rate when transferring one currency into another. For example, if US$1 is currently worth EUR€0.88, your bank might exchange your money at US$1 = EUR€0.87 and keep the difference. While this cost is not as transparent, if your bank is offering a poor exchange rate you could be losing money when using your debit card overseas.

• International money transfer fees

  If you need to send money to someone overseas, your bank can charge you an international money transfer fee on top of the currency conversion fee and exchange rate margin, which can get pricey. These often cost around $15 to $45 at major banks, though some debit cards allow you to transfer money to partner banks in various countries and with no fees.

Bottom line

Foreign transactions fees can get pricey, especially when they’re being charged on top of each other. For example, if you withdraw money at a foreign ATM, you can be charged an ATM fee, currency conversion fee and exchange rate markup. To make sure you’re getting the best deal, compare checking accounts to find one with a debit card that works for both your domestic and international purchases.

Frequently asked questions

• How much does it cost to use a foreign ATM?

  Your bank will generally charge anywhere from $0 to $5 plus 3% of the transaction for using an ATM. On top of that, you’ll need to pay the ATM provider’s fee, which can vary greatly depending on which country you’re in. For a more specific list of fees by country, read our guide to foreign ATM fees.

• What options do I have for getting foreign currency?

  If you need foreign currency, you have four main options.

  1. Order currency at your bank before leaving.
  2. Order currency through a currency exchange specialist.
  3. Withdraw cash at an ATM in a foreign country.
  4. Exchange currency at a currency exchange in the city you’re visiting.

  To learn more about the costs associated with these options, read our guide to currency exchange.

• Can I be charged a foreign transaction fee for shopping online?

  Yes. If you’re shopping at an overseas store and/or purchasing in a foreign currency, your bank can charge you a currency conversion fee.