Best Current Credit Card with No Foreign Exchange / International Fees

Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 02:35

I currently have the Bankwest Platinum Mastercard as my go to card to buying things from international/overseas sites.

I'm looking for a second credit card that offers zero foreign exchange fee.

I applied for the Bendigo Ready Credit Card last year and was put on hold for like 3 months before being rejected.
I've never previously had any trouble applying for credit cards so I must have put something they didn't like.

28 Degree is probably 'cheapest option' although I think it's too expensive for what little you perks get.

I don't mind paying $100-300 annual fee if it comes with other good perks. I can use it as my daily driver to collect reward points.

I've checked out Macquaire Black and it seems to have some good perks and a decent rewards points per $1.

Are there any other options out there?

Financial Credit Card

Comments

  • rickb on 11/02/2025 - 06:25

    Start your research here -> https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/cards_with_no_overseas_tra…

    Do you have a home loan with Macquarie? That's the only way you qualified for their credit card.

    • 87percent on 11/02/2025 - 07:35

      Macquarie have rejected our credit card application despite approving our home loan… even our mortgage broker was lost for words

      • wannagrababargain on 11/02/2025 - 08:36
        +1

        Sorry to hear but weird stuff from them seems to be the norm. Their credit card department doesn't talk to their home loan department.

    • Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 17:38

      Thanks. That's a really useful table.

  • sator on 11/02/2025 - 06:47
    +1

    Why not a debit card?

    • Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 17:35

      I prefer the benefits of credit cards.

      I do have ING and Ubank so I could possibly use them to for international purchases.

  • SlickMick on 11/02/2025 - 09:31
    +1

    Why another card with zero foreign exchange fee? Do you do sufficient purchases to justify paying fees to accumulate rewards points?

    I use amex/citibank for local use with rewards, plus travel insurance. Then switch to BankWest for international transactions.
    I'm too stingy to pay fees even if the points would make it worthwhile.

    • Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 17:37

      You're right, I should just use the one card. However, I'm an OCD freak and like to have a card for different purposes.

      • SlickMick on 11/02/2025 - 17:56

        I get that.
        I have amex with citibank backup for local rewards purchases.
        I just got Bankwest Zero Platinum to replace 28 Degrees for fee-free international purchases.
        I have Revolut, Up and Citibank debit cards for international cash-out.

  • 6079 Smith on 11/02/2025 - 10:18
    +1

    In a nutshell:

    Bendigo - Free with insurance

    Bankwest Platinum - $160/year but the cheapest points earning and super basic insurance

    Bankwest World - $320/year and a solid 100k QF points over 15 months but a huge min spend, not sure why you would

    Commbank Ultimate - $35/month if you spend less than $4k/month on it. If you're a decently high spender and/or do a lot of OS spend this is the best card on the market. 2 Lounge Passes, good insurance and if you opt to earn VA points you're getting 1.5ppd on fx spend

    Nab Rewards Signature - $24/month for a less good version of the above

    Commbank Smart Awards - $19/month if you spend less than $2k/month on it. Not a bad choice if you cant hit the spend for the Ultimate

    • soan papdi on 11/02/2025 - 11:19

      ING Orange Platinum, including the fee free card but credit limit has to be $6,000 or more (hence the platinum). Of course, needs 5 transactions per month but that is trivial.

      • 6079 Smith on 11/02/2025 - 11:25

        Not a fan of ING's hoops of 5 transactions and a $1k deposit. I know they're not high but between that and the $149 annual fee I don't see why it's better than say 28 Degrees

        • soan papdi on 11/02/2025 - 12:07

          The free platinum card also has 0% international transaction fee and travel insurance. If this is the primary card, the hoops are trivial to cross off. Agreed that the $149 fee card is not worth it.

    • scottishdave on 11/02/2025 - 15:35
      +1

      I recently rang Bendigo Bank Travel Insurance (Allianz) and said they in their preamble message that they have just removed the pre-existing condition part of their policy. Not that I have any pre-existing condition but those who do should best look at other travel insurance policies that cover them.

    • Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 17:38

      Thank you. That's similar to the list I came up with my research.
      I may go for the NAB rewards signature.

    • SlickMick on 11/02/2025 - 18:02

      Bankwest has a range of Platinum cards. Zero Platinum is free but has no reward points or insurance (the preferred travel card IMO, though I've never done calculations on whether other cards' rewards > annual fee… nor whether rewards > amex/citibank)

  • itoyjobed on 11/02/2025 - 17:44

    I went to Thailand and spend on 3 different cards from 7-11. The best one was Wise (Debit), then Bendigo Ready (CC) and the last was Up bank (Debit).
    Overall for future travels I will use Wise for smaller amounts & Bendigo to book flight tickets as it comes with complimentary free travel insurance.

    • SlickMick on 11/02/2025 - 18:10
      +1

      In what way was Up < Wise or Ready?

      (My understanding is Ready & Up use base FX rate and no fees, so only difference would be the FX rate at the time??… and that no card will be "better" than them??)

      Also, don't you have a card that collects reward points + free travel insurance? e.g. I use citibank. You don't normally need an international card to purchase flight tickets.

      • itoyjobed on 12/02/2025 - 00:44

        I compared the rates with google and found the best rate was offered by Wise compared to Up & Bendigo

    • Hunter14 on 11/02/2025 - 19:22
      +1

      I really wish I got approved for Bendigo Ready. They did say they had an unusually large amount of people applying (I'm guessing due to 28 Degrees introducing fees).

      • itoyjobed on 12/02/2025 - 00:45

        I applied Bendigo after surrendering the Latitude card and got approved within a months time. The process was not very smooth and I had to chase them up

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