Best debit/eftpos card to use in South Africa?

Ljhamilton on 09/09/2018 - 20:11

Hi, so I am going to South Africa at the end of the year (from Australia). Which debit/eftpos card would be best for international transactions and least amount of ATM withdrawal fee cost? I am currently with NAB bank, and while they do have a travel card, I cannot load Rand currency on it. Also, I cannot tell what their ATM withdrawal fee is like in South Africa.

I know that the Velocity global wallet card has rand, except it has ATM withdrawal fees (I think), and also has a monthly renewal last time I checked… I'll be in SA for 5 weeks. And last time I checked Qantas I don't think their card options are really economically a great decision for a one off holiday, although I'm open to suggestions if I overlooked something.

I am looking for the best option along these lines (least amount of ATM withdrawal fee, preferably no international transaction fee with eftpos, and hopefully to avoid changing banks, although I'm thinking of changing banks soon anyway).

So if there is a good option for other cards to use in South Africa (or good banks to change into, I would love to hear it. I do hear that ING have no international fees except for that I'm not sure I'll be earning the required $1000 per month during that time as I am a casual worker…)

Thanks!

Travel Africa Card Debit Card eftpos South Africa

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2018 - 20:23
    +2

    Gold Kruggerands are accepted everywhere in SA

    • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2018 - 23:18
      +1

      I lost mine in a car accident.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/09/2018 - 20:23

    Nah, even cash-poor students take advantage of ING by exploiting PayID (if you only have $500 for example you do it twice). In my case I use MyState account but the catch is it takes me 2 days of effort because MyState has a $5 monthly fee if you don't deposit $2000 and ING's Osko/PayID limit is $1000. Remembering to do 5 transactions is more annoying.

    • smuggler on 09/09/2018 - 21:13

      They have to be eftpos, right?

      • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/09/2018 - 21:36

        "…make at least 5 card purchases that are settled (not pending) using your ING debit or credit card (excluding ATM withdrawals, balance enquiries, cash advances and EFTPOS cash out only transactions)."

        "Card purchases includes in store credit or EFTPOS purchases, online purchases, regular card payments, payWave, Apple Pay, and Google Pay transactions made with an Orange Everyday Visa card, Orange One or Orange One Platinum Visa card or Nil Interest Visa card provided with an eligible ING home loan. Card purchases made in store or online this current calendar month which settle next calendar month do not count towards the 5 card purchases that are settled (not pending) needed this current calendar month."

        So if you're stuck overseas in a location where you can't make in-store transactions and there's no 5 items you wish to purchase on-line I suppose you could invoice yourself a 1 cent transaction 5 times via Paypal and pay each using your ING debit card. I tested this ages ago (don't know if Paypal has introduced changes since then) but whether your time is worth it depends on the ATM fees, your income, and whether you'd benefit from the bonus interest.

      • KBZ on 10/09/2018 - 08:53

        You can use Beem It to meet the 5 transactions a month. As it is a card transaction when sending money to people.
        Send 5X$1 to a friend and tell them to send it back.

  • toniyellow on 09/09/2018 - 21:11

    Try https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/397856 - only requires 200/month

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/09/2018 - 21:39

      I think the intent was to avoid the foreign ATM fees though, which only ING refund AFAIK.

  • benwaffle on 10/09/2018 - 00:52

    Citibank Plus

  • Ryk on 16/09/2018 - 16:21
    1. ING, will refund ATM owner fees, but you need to cycle $1000/mth through their accounts, and do 5 card transactions/mth
    2. Macquarie Bank, easier than ING, but no ATM owner fee refund
      =2. UBank, same as Mac Bnak
    3. Citibank Plus, was the best, but last on this list due to issues with their internet banking and apps.
      in that order, avoid everything else due to fees, transactions fees, exchange rate fees, fees…
  • jhamilton on 13/11/2018 - 12:24

    Thank you so much everyone! This is extremely helpful. Am going to look into ING and see what I can do.

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