Which debit card is best overseas?

[lonewolf]

I use both Ing and Citibank but ING is better due to reimbursing you overseas bank / ATM fees as well as all other fees. But it is annoying in terms of the 5 transactions and pay / salary being deposited in your account every month requirement.

 

[BorisWood]

We use Citibank debit MC for cash and 28 Degrees MC for credit. We also have an HSBC debit card which is Visa and operates almost the same as Citibank. We did a comparison with identical withdrawals done at the same time and Citibank was about 0.4% better than HSBC due to slightly better exchange rate. We do pay an ATM operator fee sometimes but it is usually only about A$2-3 so we take a larger amount out. ING has too many requirements for us to use their card.

 

[sydunipete]

I am very happy with the Macquarie Bank debit card and associated savings account where you can actually earn some (token) interest. I also have a Bank West Mastercard as a fee free credit card for most purchases and a 28 Degrees Latitude as an emergency backup.

Once factor to consider is the quality of the app. 28 degrees was pretty bad, but BankWest and Macquarie give me great control of the card and also instant alerts when a purchase is made - often while I'll still standing at the point of sale.

 

[Lindab]

Happy with all aspects of ING - you don’t really need to deposit pay (though no doubt they’d like to encourage that), just 2 deposits a month

 

[Chief Wiggum]

Another vote for ING. Saves me a heap on ATM fees when o/s. The FX rate is basically market-rate for the day of transaction. And also no o/s transaction fees for all foreign purchases, online and instore.

Going to check out Citibank though as a backup. We've all been in a situation where a certain card just will not work in a certain location.. for no obvious rational reason. Currently use a HSBC debit card - connected to a multi-currency account in the back - as my backup to gte cash out, but the rate is horrible and from memory, there are also fees.

 

[Gotogate]

I've used Citibank debit card for years and in many countries around the world.

No conversion fee and no other fees provided you get cash out at any bank ATM and not a generic ATM in a shopping centre otherwise the ATM will charge you a fee AND to ensure you don't pay a conversion fee ALWAYS choose the option for local currency either at the ATM or the shop. If you choose the AUD amount the establishment or bank will have included a conversion fee in the AUD price.

I keep only $5 in the account between trips to keep it open and transfer funds to the card just before I go and out on my return as there is no interest on any balance in the account .

I also use 28 degrees Mastercard for purchases.

 

[Jacques Vert]

I keep only $5 in the account between trips to keep it open and transfer funds to the card just before I go and out on my return as there is no interest on any balance in the account .

That's a bit extravagant; mine has 98 cents!

 

[auriga]

Happy with all aspects of ING - you don’t really need to deposit pay (though no doubt they’d like to encourage that), just 2 deposits a month

I believe it's $2000 per month, not 2 deposits

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I believe it is dep $1K mth + 5 cleared transactions

 

[chodo]

I've used Citibank debit card for years and in many countries around the world.

No conversion fee and no other fees provided you get cash out at any bank ATM and not a generic ATM in a shopping centre otherwise the ATM will charge you a fee AND to ensure you don't pay a conversion fee ALWAYS choose the option for local currency either at the ATM or the shop. If you choose the AUD amount the establishment or bank will have included a conversion fee in the AUD price.

I keep only $5 in the account between trips to keep it open and transfer funds to the card just before I go and out on my return as there is no interest on any balance in the account .

I also use 28 degrees Mastercard for purchases.

did you receive communications about a change of fees? Do these fees accept the Citibank debit card?

 

[pottsy]

Thankyou to everyone for your insights, very much appreciated!
Does anyone know if 'ing' will close your a/c if you don't put the $1000 in during the months 'prior' to travel?
I have the card now but will only be using it early next year. Hoping to start the dep $1K mth + 5 cleared transactions, then? (Perhaps should have held off getting it so early.............)

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

No closing.
They will suspend account if no use for months.
Can then call up to re activate.
Ing does not send money to ASIC either.
Its a very good bank, Aust based call centre by the looks
No interest on Orange debit account but can open maximiser
account where interest is earned.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Activate the card now though.
Only 3 weeks to do it, or you will need a new card if you let card sit without activating it.

 

[Snowant]

I use the Citi Debit Plus for cash, and 28 Degrees for purchases, happy with both. However, it is often quite hard to find a Citi ATM, especially in Utah, and I think every bank ATM I used last trip charged a fee for use.

Another little irritant is the Citi card gets suspended if you don't use it for some months, and one trip I loaded some cash into it and figured taht would wake it up. Well, it didn't, so was in the US and my cashcard wouldn't work. I don't have roaming on my mobile, so getting onto them was also tricky, but I ended up doing it via email (or Chat, can't remember) and they re-activated it for me.

 

[pottsy]

Activate the card now though.
Only 3 weeks to do it, or you will need a new card if you let card sit without activating it.

Great, thankyou so much, will do! (I already have a maximiser with them). Much appreciated.

 

[11sjw]

Anyone used the HSBC debit card (Everyday Global Account) at all?

 

[Pete98765432]

Great, thankyou so much, will do! (I already have a maximiser with them). Much appreciated.

If you have a maximiser account, you should be doing the $1000 deposit and 5 card transactions now. You’ll get bonus interest of 1.7% on maximiser account (total 2.2%).

 

[pottsy]

If you have a maximiser account, you should be doing the $1000 deposit and 5 card transactions now. You’ll get bonus interest of 1.7% on maximiser account (total 2.2%).

Crikey! Thanks for the info. Will definitely do so......

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Pottsy, if you want, you can get some USD out of the St George ATM, if they have them in your state, esp if they are foreign cash ATM.
As mentioned above, only 4 currencies are available, but USD is a good one to have.
According to my quick look, St George has them.
And Westpac has them too.
Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide have them.
Good to have a few of the real notes, in your pocket.
Even though NZ has touch and go, I tend to still have NZD$200 or so, available, Wendys NZ does not accept cards, so cash still rules in some regards.
And if you do the $1000 deposit and 5 touch and go non insert buying transactions, ING will refund the fees for that ATM usage.