Hi OzB,
With Citi bank’s retail arm is now with NAB, wanted to see what alternative options everyone is using for their travel cash needs?
I use my Citi account only for travel, to avoid carrying cash and exchanging money.
Essential features needed:
- ATM withdrawals in local international currency;
- AUD based local account, to easily transfer between my everyday account Aus bank;
- No fees, account keeping or international atm fees;
- Reasonable exchange rates.
Thanks
Has anyone used anything in Japan yet? Hopefully can use the 7/11 and still with the NAB card.
You can
Thanks!
Macquarie or hsbc
I have used Macquarie bank recenlty when overseas and they offer the best exchange rate and no fees for cash withdrawls.
Ubank, HSBC or Macuqried Bank debit visas.
You get the Visa cash rate, no ATM or international fees.
Get the HSBC account anyway because 2% cashback for tap-and-pay in Australia. Free money, or at least eats the surcharges.
FX rate and was told that they use the VISA FX rate.
$0 monthly fees.
No international transaction fees.
And no fees at all major bank ATMs anywhere in the world.
Wise! Put money in, convert to any currency you need. Use ATMs, use Apple Pay. That or Revolut… Used it for 7 months of travel in Europe and US.
Expensive using Wise….due to limited ATM withdrawals, and having to covert funds
I believe UBank doesn't charge ATM fees either.
HSBC
HSBC, thats what i got now …. Citi was the best though
If you’re okay with debit card, use UP banking. 0 forex fees and really good support. haven’t failed me once.
They got apple / google pay. Digital card, physical card also shared card with your partner etc..
Depends where you go. Europe is fine on Ubank eftpos,
Revolut is more global.
UP looks interesting. UP banking is branded by Bendifo and Adelaide Banks. Mastercard rates and no UP atm fees for cash withdrawl annd can be linked to wise
How do the HSBC rates compare to Visa/Mastercard?
My understanding is that HSBC applies their own rates if it's one of their listed currencies (including USD, EUR, GBP etc)
That is correct.
You use their card in countries that are not their listed currencies and a HSBC atm is available with a handful of exceptions.
If you don't have an alternate atm operator with zero fees but have access to a HSBC atm, you'd need to gauge the other operators fee against HSBC's (presumably) higher rates.
The question is if one would bother with the extra card.
The maths isn't hard… can set up a spreadsheet in advance on one's phone to speed up the process.
i have wise but the card expired in Jan and they did not send a replacement, in the app it says renew card for 6 dollars, tf since when do we pay for card renewal? anyways I got Ubank and classic Nab and hsbc and wise, which of the 4 is the best for travel overseas? that includes conversion rate, any fees with atm, cash withdrawal limits at atm. or tap and go. which of these is the best overall, or how do they rank for 1 to 4. 1 being the best
Hi
I have a couple of things to share and ask.
I am currently in America and have been a Citibank Oz user for about 8 years so was gutted when they closed up shop. I ordered the Wise card and decided to try an experiment when it arrived. I withdrew US 500 with Citibank and then immediately did the same with Wise. It cost me 9 Australian more to use the Wise Card. Now that NAB has replaced Citi and they don't cover the atm fees then the difference between NAB and Wise over here is 6 Aussie bucks (3 dollar atm fees).
I do have a question. I tried to set up my NAB account but never got past the temporary password issue as no SMS ever arrived. Has anyone been overseas and tried to open an Aussie Bank Account and do you know how to deal with this no SMS issue?
Thanks.
why are you in america?
I should add that today I transferred 2000 Aussie from Wise to my American Bank account and Wise is as good as Citibank OZ. This is obviously the best way to use Wise as well as using the debit card to make purchases. The atm feature is where it falls down.
Macquarie.
Aside from meeting all of your stated needs, they have an excellent app and good support.
I've been through a few banks including the Citi to NAB migration. Stopped using Citi a long time ago because Macquarie was better in everyway.
can't edit my original comment: but adding extra info: it seems like it doesn't do osko between St George and HSBC, but does do instant from uBank to HSBC, and St George does instant (osko) to uBank…
so St-george to HSBC requires 2 instants 🙄