Best Australian debit card for overseas cash withdrawals?

[bernardblack]

Is Citi Plus still the best option for overseas cash? Obviously I haven't done a lot of international travel since 2019.

If I have to open some other account it might be time to get started, since we depart in five weeks.

(I'm set for FX-fee-free purchases, with a US Amex Gold backed with a Coles Rewards Mastercard and a Bundll account which charges to my Dragon Visa.)

 

[aspro2]

But would my Aussie MC/Visa be accepted? Based on my experiences in Taiwan, I would fear not, so having cash would be the only option?

Although my experience does not align with yours, the answer is get cash from an ATM, put some of it on an Easycard for transit.

 

[SYD]

Although my experience does not align with yours, the answer is get cash from an ATM, put some of it on an Easycard for transit.

But otherwise, Oz CC/DCs widely accepted elsewhere?

 

[aspro2]

But otherwise, Oz CC/DCs widely accepted elsewhere?

As per my reply a bit further up, I have had no problems over a number of years -- but wouldn't try in small restaurants, sights, nightmarkets. However, @clifford obviously had more trouble with their cards. ATMs are plentiful. The only type I remember that does charge a foreign-card fee is the ones in 7/11, but IIRC there might be one or two banks.

Oh, I should add: TAKE CASH when travelling anywhere that is remote, even if touristy. Many homestay-inns (minsu) only take cash or local transfer methods, and some places like Jiufen only have (or had) one ATM, so when it broke down I was up cough creek with no way to pay for anything (because even the restaurants only took cash). (This was, however 11 years ago, so I would hope things have changed, given the enormous rise in foreign tourism since then.)

 

[clifford]

(This was, however 11 years ago, so I would hope things have changed, given the enormous rise in foreign tourism since then.)

I'm not sure if things have changed that much, so when I arrive at TPE in Feb I'll be withdrawing a fair bit of cash, to tide me over my stays.

 

[frodo]

and HKG Octopus card. Can’t speak for Taiwan, but the Octopus is not worth the cost and effort anymore for a casual visits with contactless payment now available on the MTR.

It really just depends what you do in HKG. You can get around on the MTR and buses using contactless, but many smaller restaurants take octopus or cash payment only.

Anyway back on topic, I've been using ubank debit visa /transaction account ever since citi/NAB fee free stopped being a thing but only because I had the account previously. If I were to open a new account now, I would probably choose macquarie.

That couple of % interest I'm missing out on doesn't bother me as it is very minimal for my circumstances.

 

[SYD]

It really just depends what you do in HKG. You can get around on the MTR and buses using contactless, but many smaller restaurants take octopus or cash payment only.

But you can get cash from an ATM fee free so Octopus wasn’t worth it. I believe there are some discounts using Octopus, so obviously if you’re there for a long time / local - then worth the effort.

Anyway back on topic, I've been using ubank debit visa /transaction account ever since citi/NAB fee free stopped being a thing but only because I had the account previously. If I were to open a new account now, I would probably choose macquarie.

That couple of % interest I'm missing out on doesn't bother me as it is very minimal for my circumstances.

The standard bonus interest on UBank Saver is actually higher than the standard Macquarie Bank Saver account but the downer now with UBank is the requirement to grow your total balance each month to get the full interest.
Rakes the sine off it. So I went to Mac Bank.

 

[serfty]

But you can get cash from an ATM fee free so Octopus wasn’t worth it. I believe there are some discounts using Octopus, so obviously if you’re there for a long time / local - then worth the effort.

The standard bonus interest on UBank Saver is actually higher than the standard Macquarie Bank Saver account but the downer now with UBank is the requirement to grow your total balance each month to get the full interest.
Rakes the sine off it. So I went to Mac Bank.

Yes, subject to increasing the balance every month, Ubank has 5.10% for 4 months then 4.35% against Macquarie's 4 months at 4.60% then 4.25% ongoing, the latter without balance hijinks.

If I'm going to bother with increasing the balance every month for higher interest then ING's 4.75% suits.

All three have related transaction accounts that have levels of fee free overseas cash withdrawals.

 

[SYD]

Yes, subject to increasing the balance every month, Ubank has 5.10% for 4 months then 4.35% against Macquarie's 4 months at 4.60% then 4.25% ongoing, the latter without balance hijinks.

If I'm going to bother with increasing the balance every month for higher interest then ING's 4.75% suits.

All three have related transaction accounts that have levels of fee free overseas cash withdrawals.

Mac Bank also has modest interest (2%) on the Transaction account. Handy if you have cash sitting there while travelling. Better than Wise etc (who earn interest on your money)…

 

[Aeryn]

Mac Bank also has modest interest (2%) on the Transaction account. Handy if you have cash sitting there while travelling. Better than Wise etc (who earn interest on your money)…

And since transfer between Savings and transaction account is instant via the app; you can just move enough $ for that days anticipated spending into the transaction account; and top up as needed.

 

[coolstepslg]

What about the bano debit card. It claims no fx fees and cash back. Has anyone used it overseas?

 

[apeman]

Hi all, started using my NAB debit card in this year's travels and have noticed the bludgers are now charging me a ATM fee and conversion fee. Is the Bankwest debit the best option. A freind uses a Wise card, but not keen locking in the currencies as I travel to many off the radar places. Thoughts please

 

[oz_mark]

Hi all, started using my NAB debit card in this year's travels and have noticed the bludgers are now charging me a ATM fee and conversion fee. Is the Bankwest debit the best option. A freind uses a Wise card, but not keen locking in the currencies as I travel to many off the radar places. Thoughts please

The fee-free ones are often much of a muchness. I've been using the Bankwest one without issue.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hi all, started using my NAB debit card in this year's travels and have noticed the bludgers are now charging me a ATM fee and conversion fee. Is the Bankwest debit the best option. A freind uses a Wise card, but not keen locking in the currencies as I travel to many off the radar places. Thoughts please

Just transfer between currencies with Wise as needed.

 

[SYD]

Just transfer between currencies with Wise as needed.

But get charged a further conversion fee each time? Although possibly better than ending up with odds and sods in notes.

On cash withdrawals (main topic of this thread), Wise is very limited in getting cash if you’re in a “cash is king” place.

Hi all, started using my NAB debit card in this year's travels and have noticed the bludgers are now charging me a ATM fee and conversion fee. Is the Bankwest debit the best option. A freind uses a Wise card, but not keen locking in the currencies as I travel to many off the radar places. Thoughts please

Except for the NAB Platinum Debit card, pretty much all other NAB cards (and most of the other major banks) will charge 3% forex fee and varying amounts for OS ATM withdrawals. Only certain NAB Private Banking packages provide fee free OS ATM withdrawals.

The fee-free ones are often much of a muchness.

^ this!

Get at least one of the free DCs. I have three(!) and that’s saved my bacon many times when one or other wasn’t working at ATMs.

MacBank, UBank, etc all generally work fine. You’re getting the published VISA/MC rate and a small fee built in (less than 0.5%).

28° MC is still working well for me. Although I must check what their fee arrangement is. I’ve never paid a fee and I think they waive it now if spending $X pa.

 

[kpc]

I use Bankwest and / or Ing Orange...still get slugged the ATM fee which was US$10 at LPB airport! Had to catch a taxi so needed local cash as could not get a Uber

 

[Cynicor]

Hi all, started using my NAB debit card in this year's travels and have noticed the bludgers are now charging me a ATM fee and conversion fee. Is the Bankwest debit the best option. A freind uses a Wise card, but not keen locking in the currencies as I travel to many off the radar places. Thoughts please

Assume you mean the ex-citi card, and that you missed the various letters and emails announcing the fee change?

If so there’s a heap of replacement options- Bankwest, Macquarie, ing, up bank, UBank etc

 

[SYD]

I use Bankwest and / or Ing Orange...still get slugged the ATM fee which was US$10 at LPB airport! Had to catch a taxi so needed local cash as could not get a Uber

The card charged you or was that the ATM operator imposed fee?

ING waived their fee on domestic ATM fees but still charge OS ATM fees UNLESS you still do the 5x monthly transactions (which I still do for the bonus interest).

But Mac, UBank and others don’t charge an OS ATM fee at all.

 

[blackcat20]

I use UP, you will still pay the local atm fee (ie what is charged by the ATM and not the bank) but there are no transaction fees and the currency conversion is very good.

 

[Chicken]

The fee-free ones are often much of a muchness. I've been using the Bankwest one without issue.

Yes, but if you do need to open a new one, then do take customer service into consideration. Bankwest is 30 minutes in the queue minimum whenever I call them, hence I don't use them for transaction.

 

[bpc]

macquarie - no fees, no hoops to jump through, mastercard exchange rate, and a high interest rate without the hoops. I used to have ING but shut it down, not worth the hassle and they still slugged me half the time