[[cards_with_no_overseas_transaction_fees]]
Debit & Credit Cards with No International Fees
This wiki breaks down all the credit and debit cards available in Australia that don't charge you international fees.
This wiki is contributed by the public, therefore its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. You need to perform your own checks on the specific banks websites by reading their up to date terms and conditions.
Ethical Banking
See if the bank you choose invests its money in fossil fuels:
Visa & Mastercard
Visa and Mastercard are the payment networks which allows banks to process credit and debit cards transactions. So even though your bank is the card issuer (which is linked to a local bank account), Visa and Mastercard allow them to use their networks for the payments to happen.
Mastercard is more popular in Australia due to its discounts, specials and rewards; however, Visa is the largest payment network globally.
It's advisable when travelling overseas that you consider having both a Visa and Mastercard issued credit or debit card on you, just in case a merchant doesn't accept either Visa or Mastercard.
Mastercard
If you transact in a foreign currency that is not USD, Mastercard will first convert the amount to USD and then back into AUD.
Mastercard Exchange Rate: https://www.mastercard.us/en-us/personal/get-support/convert-currency.html
Visa
Visa's exchange rates in USD generally match Mastercard's rate. However on other currency they generally have a very slight advantage as they don't convert to USD and then to AUD like Mastercard does.
Visa Exchange Rate: https://www.visa.com.au/support/consumer/travel-support/exchange-rate-calculator.html
eftpos
eftpos is the local Australian payment network, and payments made via the Savings (SAV) & Cheque (CHQ) options on the terminal will be processed in real-time via eftpos. The payment network is available on eftpos payment cards and most dual-network Mastercard/Visa debit cards.
Withdrawing cash (Cash Out) from your account when at a terminal is also available at some merchants via the Savings (SAV) & Cheque (CHQ) options. Some merchants also charge less or no payment fees (Surcharge) when making a payment through the eftpos network, due to it being a cheaper payment method (lower cost of acceptance for the merchant).
Some dual-network Mastercard/Visa debit cards can also use the eftpos network via the contactless payment method (Tap to Pay) on a smartphone. This payment option can be enabled/disabled through the corresponding digital wallet that the card has been added to (currently only available with Apple Pay & Samsung Wallet).
eftpos is available in Australia only and is not related to 'Eftpos' in New Zealand. While eftpos can't be used overseas, it may influence your choice of Mastercard/Visa debit card, as not all Mastercard/Visa issued debit cards are dual-network with eftpos.
Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
If you have a card with no international transaction fees, it's advisable to avoid using DCC if it's offered to you.
DCC is sold as a service for travellers because you don’t need to understand the exchange rate to know what a transaction is costing you. However, it will almost always result in paying extra compared to paying in the local currency, as DCC comes with the risk of hidden fees and a poor exchange rate in the amount.
DCC occurs when you’re prompted if you like to be charged in the local currency or Australian Dollars (AUD). The three places you will likely see DCC being used is via PayPal, foreign ATMs and foreign merchant terminals. However, you may find this prompt in other places while travelling overseas.
If you have a card with no international transaction fees, you will likely always be ahead if you select 'pay in local currency' which will process the payment via Visa or Mastercard's exchange rate. This is almost always better than the rate an overseas ATM or merchant will give you via their DCC offering.
Credit Cards - Joint vs Additional Card Holders
A joint credit card is different to a credit card that has a nominated additional cardholder (or cardholders).
Joint credit cards are held in the name of two people. Both of these people will need to apply and be approved for it, and they will be jointly responsible for paying off any debts incurred. Generally, each person will receive a credit card with a unique number (like a debit card).
Additional cardholders also receive a physical credit card and are able to use it with few or no restrictions, but they do not carry any liability for the debt of the card. The primary cardholder is responsible for paying the debt (including any spending made by the additional cardholder). Depending on the financial institution, the additional card holder may have a card with the exact same number as the primary card holder, whereas others will provide a unique number.
Credit Cards with No International Transaction Fees
Bank | Product Name | Annual/Monthly Fee | Visa/Mastercard | Joint Accounts | Additional Card Holder | Reward Points/Cash Back | Airport Lounge | Travel Insurance | Price Guarantee | Purchase Security | Extended Warranty | Apple Pay | Google Pay | Garmin Pay | Interest Free Period | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bankfirst | Classic | $0 | Visa | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | 55 Days | International transaction fee waiver only applies if you have a home loan with Bankfirst. |
Bankfirst | Platinum | $99 | Visa | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | 55 Days | - |
Bankwest | Breeze Platinum | $69 | Mastercard | - | Yes | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | - |
Bankwest | More Platinum | $160 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 2 Bankwest points per $1 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Bankwest | More World Platinum | $270 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 2.5 Bankwest points per $1 | x10 passes per year. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Bankwest | Qantas Platinum | $160 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 0.6 QANTAS points per $1 up to $2500, then 0.3 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Bankwest | Qantas World Platinum | $270 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 1 QANTAS points per $1 up to $5000, then 0.5 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Bankwest | Zero Platinum | $0 | Mastercard | - | Yes | - | - | Yes (International Only) - to be removed from 03/09/2024 | Yes - to be removed from 03/09/2024 | Yes - to be removed from 03/09/2024 | Yes - to be removed from 03/09/2024 | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Complimentary insurances to be removed from 03/09/2024 https://www.bankwest.com.au/help/cards/credit-card-changes |
Bendigo Bank | Ready | $0 | Mastercard | Yes | Yes | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Bendigo Bank provide a BSB/Account number for the credit card, so you can do fast money transfers onto the card, no need to pay via BPAY. The only bank that currently offers a zero international fee credit card with the option of insurances and a joint account. A big problem found is that for some reason the Bendigo Bank app still DOES NOT do transaction notifications as of July 2024 |
Commonwealth Bank | Smart Awards | $0 with $2000 monthly statement spend, otherwise $19 each month. | Mastercard | - | Yes | 1.5 Commbank Award Points for grocery/petrol, 1 Point for everything else, up to $5,000, then 0.5. Option to earn Qantas Points instead of CommBank Award Points for $60. | Access to lounges at additional cost. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Commonwealth Bank | Ultimate Awards | $0 with $4000 monthly statement spend, otherwise $35 each month. | Mastercard | - | Yes | 3 Commbank Award Points for International Spend, 2 Commbank Award Points for grocery/petrol, 1 Point for everything else, up to $10,000, then 0.5. Option to earn Qantas Points instead of CommBank Award Points for $60. | x2 passes per year. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
Commonwealth Bank | Neo | $12/$18/$22 each month based on credit limit. | Mastercard | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | No interest charged. | Monthly fee is charged if you use the card. If you don't use the card then no monthly fee applies. No additional card holder function available. |
HSBC | Low Rate | $99 | Visa | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | 55 Days | - |
ING | Orange One Low Rate | $0 | Visa | - | Yes - $10 | - | - | Yes - If credit limit is $6000 or more. | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | 44 Days | Deposit $1000 + x5 transactions across ING debit or credit card or hold an ING home loan. |
ING | Orange One Platinum | $149 | Visa | - | Yes - $10 | 1% cashback up to $3000 spend per month. | - | Yes | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | - | 44 Days | Deposit $1000 + x5 transactions across ING debit or credit card, or hold an ING home loan. |
Latitude Finance | 28 Degrees | $8/month (from 17 Sep 2024) | Mastercard | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Charges at least $0.95 for each BPay payment. |
Macquarie Bank | Black | $149 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 2 Macquarie Points per $1 | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Applications restricted to Macquarie Bank home loan customers. |
Macquarie Bank | Platinum | $99 | Mastercard | - | Yes | 1.25 Macquarie Points per $1 | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Applications restricted to Macquarie Bank home loan customers. |
Macquarie Bank | Rate Saver | $69 | Mastercard | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | 55 Days | Applications restricted to Macquarie Bank home loan customers. |
NAB | Rewards Signature | $0 with $5,000 monthly statement spend, otherwise $24 each month. | Visa | - | Yes | 1.5 NAB Rewards points for every $1 spent up to and including $15,000 in a statement period, then 0.5 points | - | Yes | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 44 Days | - |
NAB | StraightUp | $10/$15/$20 each month based on credit limit. | Visa | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | No interest charged. | Monthly fee is charged if you use the card. If you don't use the card then no monthly fee applies. No additional card holder function available. |
Westpac | Lite | $9/month | Mastercard | - | Yes | - | - | - | - | - | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | 45 Days | - |
Debit Cards with No International Transaction Fees
Bank | Product Name | Monthly Fee | Card Colour Options | Visa/Mastercard | Joint Accounts | Cashback | Bank@Post | International ATM Withdrawal Fee | Rebate International ATM Operator Fee | Apple Pay | Google Wallet | Samsung Wallet | Garmin Pay | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bankfirst | Visa Debit | $0 | - | Visa | Yes | - | Yes | $2.50 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | International transaction fee waiver only applies if you have a home loan with Bankfirst. |
Bankwest | Easy Transaction | $0 | Yes | Mastercard | Yes - Must have 2x individual accounts or an existing mortgage with an offset account to open a joint account online via the Bankwest App - Otherwise you currently need to visit a branch to open a joint account (which is limited to WA only). https://www.bankwest.com.au/help/applications/joint-applications | - | Yes | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bankwest is set to become a digital/online only bank by the end of 2024. |
Bankwest | Qantas Transaction | $0 | Yes | Mastercard | Yes - Must have 2x individual accounts or an existing mortgage with an offset account to open a joint account online via the Bankwest App - Otherwise you currently need to visit a branch to open a joint account (which is limited to WA only). https://www.bankwest.com.au/help/applications/joint-applications | - | Yes | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 Qantas Points per eligible purchase and 0.3 Qantas Points for every $100 in your account each day on balances up to $50,000. Must deposit $2000 per month. Bankwest is set to become a digital/online only bank by the end of 2024. |
Great Southern Bank | Everyday Edge Account | $0 | - | Visa | Yes | - | Yes | $4.50 - Rebated if eligible criteria met. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Deposit $2000 + 5 eligible card purchases in the current month. The rebate is applied on the first day of the next month. |
HSBC | Everyday Global | $0 | - | Visa | Yes | 2% on contactless purchases under $100. | Yes | $0 | HSBC ATM's only. Excluding HSBC ATM's in Argentina, France, Greece, Malta, Mexico and Turkey. | Yes | Yes | - | - | For 'Everyday Extras' you must deposit $2000 per month. No eftpos functionality. |
ING | Orange Everyday | $0 | - | Visa | Yes | - | Yes | $0 - x5 ATM withdrawals rebated per month (Domestic & International). | - | Yes | Yes | - | - | Deposit $1000 per month and make 5 eligible transactions or hold an ING home loan. |
Macquarie | Transaction | $0 | - | Mastercard | Yes | - | No | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | - | - | No eftpos or Bank@Post functionality. |
ME Bank | SpendME | $0 | Yes - 1¢ is donated to the charity linked to each card colour for every transaction performed. | Visa | Yes | - | Yes | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | - | Yes | x5 different debit card colours are linked to different charities. 1¢ is donated every time you make a purchase on your card. https://www.mebank.com.au/banking/charity-transaction-accounts/ |
NAB | Platinum Debit | $10 | - | Visa | Yes | 1% on contactless purchases. | Yes | $5 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Suncorp Bank | Everyday Options | $0 | - | Visa | Yes | - | Yes | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | Suncorp Bank has been acquired by ANZ. Suncorp Bank customers will be migrated onto the ANZ Plus app in future. https://www.bankingday.com/anz-plus-hitting-its-straps |
:ubank | Spend Account | $0 | Yes - Joint account has a different card colour. | Visa | Yes - Each need to have individual transaction accounts in order to have a joint account (can close individual transaction accounts after opening a joint account). | - | No | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Bank@Post functionality. Additional 'Bills' transaction account is not available for joint accounts at this stage. |
Up | Transaction Account | $0 | Yes - Joint account has a different card colour. | Mastercard | Yes - Each need to have individual transaction accounts in order to have a joint account (can't close individual transaction accounts after opening a joint account). | - | Yes | $0 | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Up has integration with Wise for international money transfers. 2Up joint accounts can only be used if each individual's Up transaction account is active. Up can only be accessed via an Android and iOS app (no support for internet banking via web browser). |
Pre-Paid Debit Cards with No Overseas Transaction Fees
Payment Provider | Product Name | Monthly Fee | Visa / Mastercard | Airport Lounge Access | Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee | Rebate Overseas ATM Operator Fee | Apple Pay | Google Wallet | Samsung Wallet | Garmin Pay | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hay | Prepaid | $0 | Visa | - | $0 up to $500 per month, 1.5% for amounts over $500. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - |
Revolut | Standard | $0 | Visa | - | $0 up to $350 per month. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free physical card (excluding delivery) and no fee for 1st virtual Visa card. |
Revolut | Premium | $10.99 | Visa | Passes are available to purchase. Free passes if flight is delayed for >1 hour. | $0 up to $700 per month. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Revolut | Metal | $24.99 | Visa | Passes are available to purchase. Free passes if flight is delayed for >1 hour. | $0 up to $1400 per month. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
Wise | Multi Currency Account | $0 | Visa | - | $0 up to $350 per month. | - | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $10 new order fee for physical cards and free virtual Visa cards. Wise has integration with the bank 'Up' for international money transfers. |