Currency exchange firm Travelex has launched an iPhone app for travellers, targeted at users of its Cash Passport preloaded currency card.
The main feature is that the app gives you the correct BPAY details to make a bank transfer to reload your card with more value.
You enter your Cash Passport card number into the app, and the amount you want to add to it, and then the app provides BPAY reference details for you to transfer to using your bank's internet banking.
If you set up Travelex in your internet banking as a BPAY biller before you go, your bank's smartphone banking app may let you do the BPAY payment via your phone as well.
Travelex's announcement of the app really hams it up, though: "Whether you’re fine dining in New York City or skiing down the untouched mountains of the Alps, all Cash Passport holders can reload their spending money with the touch of an iPhone button. This is, put simply, ease and convenience we’ve never seen before."
What Travelex neglects to mention is that you could achieve exactly the same result using the iPhone web browser; indeed, to top up a Cash Passport, all that's actually needed is for a BPAY transfer using the Cash Passport number as the reference number.
However, the app doesn't add obvious functionality like the ability to check a Cash Passport account balance or recent transaction listings, which would help you keep an eye out for fraudulent transactions.
The app also includes a currency converter. Unfortunately, it uses only official bank rates, which are not the same as the much more expensive rates Travelex charges when you actually buy currency from them.
One quirky feature is a holiday budget calculator that lists the cost for bare travel essentials including a bed, beer and a burger in all major currencies around the world. However, that appears to be the only real value that the app offers beyond already existing currency converter apps.
You can download the Travelex iPhone app here: iTunes AU (not currently available in the iTunes US store).
29 Jan 2014
Total posts 1
TRAVELEX CASH PASSPORT , recently loaded my card with Thai Baht for my current trip to Thailand was advised NO fee on cash out at ATM...on arrival take out 15000baht charged normal fee of 180 baht that is OK then when I check my account on cash passport I have been charged and exchanged fee of 900 baht on the 15000 and they have have charged me for taking 15700 ...MY BANK receipt clearly says I have taken out ony 1500 baht.....happens everytime is costing me a firtune and making a mess of my holiday.....JUST A RIP OFF......bought my card in Australia...NEVER AGAIN WILL I USE THIS COMPANY
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Travelex releases iPhone app for Cash Passport users