Agreed, I often check the exchange rate between my Qantas cash card and Mastercard, and the later is always better. The Qantas card is no better than taking cash.
Citi Plus Account for ATM withdrawals - no ATM fee and uses the wholesale rate set by Visa/MC. And debit card transactions if that’s how you want to transact. And....
Bankwest Zero MasterCard for general purchases, hotels, car hire etc - no overseas fee, no annual fee.
I would never use the pre loaded travel money cards. Even AMEX abroad is expensive unless you can somehow justify the point accrual.
Every bank (apart from Citi) has charged me 2-3 dollars per ATM withdrawal in USA and Canada on my Citi Plus Debit C
There is no perfect answer but we have settled on 28 Degrees MasterCard for credit purchases and Citibank Debit MasterCard for cash withdrawals. We also have an HSBC Visa Debit card for cash mainly for use in Japan where you get 5% off for paying with Visa at some stores. It is also a good back up card. There is no % fee ever and the exchange rate is very good. HSBC was a little worse than Citibank but not by much. All 3 cards have no annual fees and can be applied for online.
We do get charged an ATM fee of A$2-3 sometimes but minimise this by making larger withdrawals. I believe ING will rebate ATM fees but their account comes with requirements to deposit and have charges to the account regularly every month. The way the fees are charged might make it difficult to demonstrate a fee was actually charged - it is not shown separately on your statement but hidden in the net exchange rate or as a an addition to the amount withdrawn (for example 50,000 yen cash dispensed but 50,216 yen charged to our account - 0.43% fee). There is no minimum transaction requirement with Citibank or HSBC.
Avoid using your big 4 banks cards ever overseas for cash or credit. Also, avoid the cash cards and buying currency in Australia or at the airport. Of course, don't accept the offer to pay in A$ while overseas!
It'll be an improvement when Aussie residents can get the Transferwise Mastercard debit card.
Midmarket rates, lowest fees and way more currencies than you get on your travel money card.
Also, if you haven't loaded up enough of a particular currency, it deducts from another currency you have on the card - at the most favourable rate for you. That's what I hear anyway.
Vulch
Vulch
Member since 09 Jan 2016
Total posts 4
Agreed, I often check the exchange rate between my Qantas cash card and Mastercard, and the later is always better. The Qantas card is no better than taking cash.
duffa Banned
duffa Banned
Member since 11 Nov 2017
Total posts 5
Every bank (apart from Citi) has charged me 2-3 dollars per ATM withdrawal in USA and Canada on my Citi Plus Debit C
boris
boris
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 Aug 2013
Total posts 4
There is no perfect answer but we have settled on 28 Degrees MasterCard for credit purchases and Citibank Debit MasterCard for cash withdrawals. We also have an HSBC Visa Debit card for cash mainly for use in Japan where you get 5% off for paying with Visa at some stores. It is also a good back up card. There is no % fee ever and the exchange rate is very good. HSBC was a little worse than Citibank but not by much. All 3 cards have no annual fees and can be applied for online.
sq or qf
sq or qf
Member since 03 Feb 2018
Total posts 9
It'll be an improvement when Aussie residents can get the Transferwise Mastercard debit card.