Best UK debit cards and banks to use abroad with no foreign transaction fees

Regularly make international purchases or travel abroad? Opt for a current account and debit card with no foreign transaction fees and free European cash withdrawals to save you money.

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Matthew Boyle

Updated

Fact checked

Today’s best debit cards & banks to use abroad with no or low foreign transaction fees 6 November

Rank Product Overseas cash withdrawals Overseas card transaction fees
1 Kroo Bank Current Account 0% 0%
2 Starling Current Account 0% 0%
3 Chase Current Account 0% 0%
4 Revolut Standard 2% 0%
5 NatWest Select Account 2.75% 2.75%
6 Santander Everyday Current Account 2.95% 2.95%
7 Nationwide Building Society FlexBasic Account 2.99% 2.99%

Best debit cards to use abroad

Finder’s best debit cards to use abroad for 2026

Rank Account name Finder score
1 Starling Current Account 9.8/10
2 Monzo Current Account 9.3/10
3 Revolut Standard 8.9/10
4 Chase Current Account 7.9/10
5 Kroo Bank Current Account 6.3/10
Starling Current Account

Best for fee free spending & customer service

9.8 Excellent
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
See dealRead review

Starling has zero fees for spending overseas and was also our winner in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2023, with 94% of its current account holders saying they would recommend it to a friend. Its app is one of the highest scoring apps in the Apple app store and Google Play Store. Meaning you'll not only benefit from being able to use your card fee free when travelling, but you'll also be able to easily manage your money on the go.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable.

Chase Current Account

Best for fee free spending & cashback

7.9 Great
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
Go to site

Chase does not charge fees for using the card to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad. There is also the handy option of free cash withdrawals at any Chase ATM if you’re travelling within the United States, although there is a limit on withdrawals. Chase offers cashback, up to a monthly cap. However, if you plan to take advantage of this on holiday as well, be aware that this offer only applies to spending in GBP.

Kroo Bank Current Account

Best for fee free spending & in-credit interest

6.3 Standard
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)3.25% AER

While you may be focused on spending when looking for a debit card to use abroad, don't forget that you can also earn interest on the money you aren't spending. Kroo Bank has a competitive in-credit interest rate on current account balances up to £500,000, in addition to fee free spending overseas. Meaning you can save money when using your card on holiday and earn interest on whatever you don't spend.

Monzo Current Account

Monzo Current Account

9.3 Excellent
Minimum opening balance£0
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
Go to site Read review

If you open a Monzo bank account, you'll also receive a debit card that can be used for fee-free spending abroad. Whenever you use your card to make a purchase overseas, Monzo uses the Mastercard exchange rate without adding any extra fees to the transaction. What's more, if Monzo is used as your main bank account, you'll also benefit from unlimited fee-free cash withdrawals in EEA countries and up to £200 fee-free every 30 days in countries outside the EEA. Different limits apply to different plans. Some plans also include additional benefits such as worldwide travel insurance and mobile phone insurance.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.

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Our expert says: How we chose these cards

"To choose the best card for each category shown above, our experts analysed app ratings, overseas fees, exchange rates, customer service, account access and extra features. In this particular case, these were selected from our list of debit cards that have no fees for being used abroad, not the whole market. If we show any ‘promoted’ picks, these are based on factors that include special features or offers and the commission we receive. If we show any ‘best’ picks, there are our banking editor’s top picks for different categories and are chosen based on factors that include cost, purpose, rewards and extras. What you need from a debit card is personal, so these picks are just a guide to help you with your decision."

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Editor

There’s also the Monzo debit card which charges no foreign transaction fees, and cash withdrawals are fee-free in the EEA and up to £200 a month elsewhere (if you use Monzo as your main bank account).

App-based bank Revolut gives you fee-free foreign card transactions and cash withdrawals on weekdays up to a total of £1,000 a month on its free Standard plan. You can withdraw £200 a month from cash machines before you start paying fees. The big banks generally charge relatively high fees on at least their free accounts.

Alternatively, you can use credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fees to make overseas purchases. These include Santander’s All in One credit card and cards from Barclaycard and Halifax. It’s not generally a good idea to use a credit card to withdraw cash as there’s usually no interest-free period as with purchases. It can also affect your credit score. However, there are some that let you withdraw cash abroad cheaply.[/ee_quote]

Other reviews of debit cards with low or no foreign transaction fees

Revolut Standard

Revolut Standard

8.9 Great
Minimum opening balance£0
Account fees£0
Interest (AER)0% AER
See dealRead review

Revolut is ideal for keen travellers. For a start, you can use the Revolut card to spend and withdraw cash abroad and no fees will be charged, provided you stay within your monthly limit and carry out transactions on a weekday. Monthly limits will depend on the plan you have. You can also convert money in 36 currencies within the app, meaning you can convert some spending money into the local currency before you go on holiday. Certain plans also offer other benefits such as travel insurance, airport lounge access, car hire excess insurance and RevPoints on accommodation if you book through Revolut Stays. RevPoints are earned through everyday spending, turning card purchases into perks.

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Our expert says: Finding the best fee-free options for foreign transactions

"Paying fees when you make foreign transactions with your debit card needn’t be a fact of life. There’s a good selection of cards that lets you save money on these. The Chase current account charges no fees for both overseas cash withdrawals as well as overseas card transactions, as does Starling Bank.
We also have separate guides for credit cards to use overseas and prepaid travel cards that you can top-up before you go.

What is a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that’s applied by your bank whenever a currency conversion is required. For example, if you make a payment online using your UK debit card on a US website, your bank needs to exchange pounds sterling to US dollars to process the payment, and it might charge you a fee for this.

The foreign transaction fee is usually around 3% of the transaction value. This can end up being costly if you’re making a large purchase, or if you’re spending abroad on a regular basis. For example, if you bought something on a US website for £300 and the bank applied a 3% foreign transaction fee, you’d be hit with a £9 fee. This may not seem like much, but if you’re making payments like these every month, it can quickly add up.

What are debit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

You usually receive a debit card when you open a current account. You can use this card to access the money in your account to make everyday purchases in-store or online and withdraw cash from an ATM. Depending on the provider, some debit cards won’t charge a foreign transaction fee when you spend on them abroad or make a purchase on an overseas website. Using one of these cards could save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

What are the benefits of using debit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from using a debit card with no foreign transaction fees:

  • Save money on international purchases made online. Debit card foreign transaction fees typically vary from 2-3% of the transaction value. If you often buy things from overseas websites, a debit card with no foreign transaction fees could lead to significant savings.
  • Save money when using your card overseas. The same applies when travelling internationally. Debit cards with no foreign transaction fees let you use your card overseas just as you would at home and so you won’t have to worry about transaction fees. Not only will this save you money, but it will save you the hassle of getting a travel debit card just for your trip.
  • Global and easy. If you have a Mastercard or Visa debit card, you can use your card in over 200 countries and territories across the world. You’ll be able to use it wherever you see the Mastercard or Visa sign.
  • No overspending and no interest accruing. Unlike a credit card, a debit card only lets you access the cash in your current account. This can help keep your spending in check as you’re only spending what you actually have available in your account. You also won’t rack up interest on your spending, as you would with a credit card.
  • Keeping it simple. A debit card gives you a simple way to access your own money, no matter where you go. You don’t have to worry about loading foreign currency onto your card, you don’t have to exchange cheques for cash and you don’t have to worry about applying for a credit card.

What fees are normally involved when using a debit card for international purchases?

Although using your debit card when overseas gives you quick and easy access to money, it pays to find out just how much you’ll end up paying in other fees and costs. Some cards might charge the following:

  • Foreign transaction fee. This fee is a combination of what your card provider charges along with what the payment processor charges. You might have to pay this fee when you use your card to pay in foreign currency, which your card provider converts into pound sterling. It is usually between 2% and 3% of the transaction value.
  • Overseas ATM fees. When using your debit card to withdraw money from an overseas cash machine, your card provider might charge a fee for the privilege. Again, this is likely to be around 3% and it will be on top of the foreign transaction fee. In some cases, the ATM you’re using might charge a separate fee.
  • Foreign exchange rate margin. Banks make money by adding a margin (or a markup) on top of the real exchange rate when transferring one currency into another. Each bank will charge a different margin, so will offer different exchange rates. 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.

I chose Starling because I was attracted by the monthly interest rate on any balances held in a current account. Also the lack of fees that are normally charged on any foreign transactions or cash withdrawals abroad.

If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?

It would be the fact that I would not be charged interest on foreign transactions like restaurant bills, holiday shopping and cash withdrawals whilst on holiday."

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Money expert
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How do these debit cards compare to prepaid travel money cards or credit cards?

There are multiple options to consider when it comes to spending money overseas. Here’s how debit cards compare to popular alternatives like prepaid travel money cards and credit cards:

Bank accounts and debit cards to avoid when travelling

Although it can be easy and convenient to stick with your existing bank account and use your existing debit card for purchases and cash withdrawals on holiday abroad, doing so could work out to be very expensive.

As we’ve said, some debit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of around 3% on all overseas purchases. So, if you were to pay for a meal costing £100, this would add an extra £3 to your bill that your bank would pocket.

What’s more, if you withdrew £100 cash on your card abroad, you’d be charged the 3% foreign transaction fee (£3), plus a cash advance fee on top. This cash advance fee is also often around 3%, so that’s another £3 to pay. In total, your £100 cash withdrawal would cost you £6.

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Account fee Overseas cash withdrawals Overseas card transactions
£3 per month
2.99% conversion fee plus 1.5% cash fee
0%
Free
2.95%
2.95%
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What are the pros and cons of using a debit card with no foreign transaction fees?

Pros

  • Access your own money. Since you’re accessing money from your own bank account, you don’t have to worry about repayments, paying interest or overspending.
  • Low or no foreign transaction fees. If you’re outside the UK for a considerable length of time and end up using your debit card regularly, low or no foreign transaction fees can lead to noticeable savings.
  • No transfers required. Since your debit card gives you direct access to money in your bank account, you don’t have the hassle of transferring money from your account to another account or card.

Cons

  • No access to extra emergency funds. You can only access funds in your bank account, so in an emergency, a credit card could work better.
  • Limited choice of providers. While a number of UK financial institutions provide debit cards, not many offer debit cards with no foreign transaction fees, so your choices remain limited.
  • Conditions to meet. Fee-free foreign transactions and cash withdrawals might be limited to a set amount per month.

Learn more about the disadvantages of using a debit card abroad.

Bottom line

There’s no need to pay foreign transaction fees when you’re using your debit card abroad or buying something from an overseas website. There are a number of fee-free options to choose from that will save you money. Otherwise, you could end up paying fees of up to 3% of the value of the transaction, which will add to your costs significantly, especially if you’re on holiday abroad for days or weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Our “Best for” picks highlight top options in specific categories based on our independent evaluation (see our full methodology), while “Promoted” tags indicate sponsored placements. Selected products may not suit everyone. We track selected market offers, which may not cover every product. Products are listed in no particular order unless specified, and inclusion or ordering may be influenced by popularity or commercial agreements. Most comparison table data is provided by Defaqto or sourced directly from providers. Always evaluate your own circumstances and consider independent advice before making major financial decisions.
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Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio

Matthew's expertise
Matthew has written 210 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
  • Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
  • Publishing easy-to-understand guides
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