By Tim MaxwellWhat to Know About Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards
By Tim Maxwell
Quick Answer
- Foreign transaction fees on debit cards generally range from 1% to 3% of what you spend or withdraw.
- You may incur foreign transaction fees when you shop abroad, buy from a foreign merchant online or make ATM withdrawals abroad.
Foreign transaction fees are charges from credit card issuers, banks and other financial institutions when you pay with a card in another country or buy goods or services in another currency. Debit card foreign transaction fees typically range from 1% to 3% of the total purchase or withdrawal amount. That can add up to a lot of money if you're using your card during a long trip abroad.
Fortunately, you can avoid foreign transaction fees by using a card from a bank that doesn't charge them. Here's what you need to know about foreign transaction fees on debit cards, including their costs and how to avoid them.
Do Debit Cards Have Foreign Transaction Fees?
Debit cards commonly charge foreign transaction fees, especially cards issued by traditional banks. Banks and financial institutions charge these fees to cover the costs of processing international payments and losses when exchange rates change. If your card charges foreign transaction fees, you may pay them when you:
- Buy goods or services while traveling internationally in a foreign currency.
- Withdraw cash from an ATM in another country. You may also pay a separate international or out-of-network ATM fee.
- Buy online from a foreign merchant, even while you're in the United States.
Keep in mind, some checking accounts and debit cards waive foreign transaction fees. Check with your bank to confirm whether it charges a foreign transaction fee and for how much.
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How Much Are Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards?
You'll usually pay an extra 1% to 3% in foreign transaction fees if your card charges for them, typically as a percentage based fee.
Say you travel overseas for a $5,000 vacation and put everything on the card. In this case, you could incur a foreign transaction fee between $50 and $150, not including any markup on the conversion rate.
Tip: If your bank charges foreign transaction fees on debit cards, consider opening an account that is fee-free to use while you're abroad, or use a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Banks That Charge Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards
Most big banks charge foreign transaction fees and international withdrawal fees. Here's what you can expect to pay with these banks:
| Bank | Foreign Transaction Fee | International ATM Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Ally | Up to 1% of purchases from merchants outside the U.S. | Up to 1% of withdrawals at ATMs outside the U.S. |
| Bank of America | 3% of transactions in a foreign currency; $0 if the transaction is in U.S. dollars | $5 per withdrawal at non-Bank of America ATMs in a foreign country, plus 3% if the withdrawal is in a foreign currency |
| Chase | 3% of purchases in a foreign currency | $5 per withdrawal at non-Chase ATMs outside the U.S., plus 3% if the withdrawal is in a foreign currency |
| Citi | 3% of purchases in a foreign currency made outside the U.S. | 3% of withdrawal amount |
| Citizens Bank | 3% of transactions made outside the U.S. and U.S. territories | $3 per withdrawal at non-Citizens ATMs, plus 3% if the withdrawal is made outside the U.S. |
| PNC Bank | 3% of international purchases | $5 per transaction at non-PNC ATMs outside the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands ($3 in those locations) |
| SoFi | 0.2% of purchases made in a foreign currency (this is a Mastercard fee SoFi doesn't reimburse) | 0.2% of ATM withdrawals made in a foreign currency (this is a Mastercard fee SoFi doesn't reimburse) |
| TD Bank | 3% of purchases in a foreign currency or in U.S. dollars with an international merchant | $3 per withdrawal at non-TD ATMs, plus 3% if the ATM is outside the U.S. |
| Truist | 3% of international purchases | $5 per transaction at non-Truist ATMs outside the U.S., plus 3% of the withdrawal |
| U.S. Bank | 3%, whether the transaction is in U.S. dollars or a foreign currency | $3 per transaction at non-U.S. Bank ATMs |
| Wells Fargo | 3% of debit card purchases in a foreign currency | $5 per cash withdrawal at non-Wells Fargo ATMs outside the U.S. |
Tip: Check your account tier before you travel. Some banks waive foreign transaction fees on premium checking. For instance, Chase and Citi drop the fee on Sapphire Checking and Citigold accounts, respectively.
Banks That Don't Charge Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards
You can skip foreign transaction fees with a debit card from one of these accounts:
| Account | Foreign Transaction Fee | International ATM Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Betterment Checking | $0 (Visa's 1% fee is reimbursed) | ATM operator fees reimbursed worldwide |
| Capital One 360 Checking | $0 | $0 |
| Charles Schwab Bank Investor Checking | $0 | $0 and unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide |
| Chime Checking | $0 | Not stated on Chime's international-use page |
| Varo Bank Account | $0 | $3.50 per withdrawal at international ATMs |
As the table shows, you may still pay other fees even if your bank doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee. For example, a bank or network could charge you to use an ATM, and a merchant could charge a fee if you pay in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency.
How to Check if Your Debit Card Has Foreign Transaction Fees
Here are four ways to check whether your debit card charges foreign transaction fees.
- Check your account's fee schedule. On your bank's website, look at the bottom of the page for "Disclosures" or "Fees" links, or log in to your account and check your statements and documents.
- Read your debit card agreement. Look for a section about foreign transactions or foreign currency to see when fees apply. For example, Chase explains its fee under "Foreign exchange transactions" in its deposit account agreement.
- Call the number on the back of the card. Ask a representative whether your card charges foreign transaction fees or a separate fee for ATM withdrawals abroad.
- Check a past statement. If you've used the card outside of the U.S. or bought from a foreign site before, check your statement for a fee listed apart from the purchase or withdrawal.
Learn more: What Is a Bank Statement?
How to Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees on Debit Cards
Here are three ways to avoid paying foreign transaction fees on your debit card.
Apply for a Credit Card That Doesn't Charge Foreign Transaction Fees
Many credit cards, including most travel cards, don't charge foreign transaction fees.
Travel credit cards also often provide a wide variety of valuable benefits and perks, such as rewards earning, access to airport lounges and discounts on TSA PreCheck. Using Experian's credit card comparison platform can help you discover cards that you may qualify for and easily compare their features.
Exchange Currency Before You Leave Home
You can exchange your dollars for your destination's currency at your bank before you leave the United States. Paying for your purchases in cash when you travel internationally is another way to avoid transaction fees. However, exchanging your U.S. dollars into the local currency while abroad can be costly. U.S. banks generally have a low foreign exchange fee or don't charge a fee, which could save you considerably.
Keep in mind, carrying large amounts of cash can be risky, so you may only want to have a small amount of spending money when you arrive. That way, you can avoid potentially costly airport kiosks or international ATMs to get cash upon arrival.
Open a Checking Account Without Foreign Transaction Fees
If your bank charges foreign transaction fees on debit cards, consider opening a checking account with a bank that doesn't charge the fee. A fee-free debit card could come in handy abroad, especially if a merchant doesn't accept credit cards or charges extra to use them.
Start your search for a bank that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees with the tables above. If you don't want to switch banks or add another bank account, ask your bank if it has branch locations or partner banks where you're traveling. If so, you may be able to access cash while abroad without incurring a fee.
Find the Right Card With No Transaction Fee
As the table above shows, most big banks charge 3% on foreign purchases and a flat fee for ATM withdrawals abroad. If your bank is among them, you have several fee-free options.
Some credit cards also come with no foreign transaction fees. This payment method may be your best option since credit cards generally offer stronger fraud protection than debit cards and may also come with travel perks. If you don't have a credit card yet, Experian's credit card marketplace can help you find credit cards matched to your unique profile. Check each card's fees and terms to make sure it doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee.
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About the author
Tim Maxwell
Tim Maxwell is a former television news journalist turned personal finance writer and credit card expert with over two decades of media experience. His work has been published in Bankrate, Fox Business, Washington Post, USA Today, The Balance, MarketWatch and others. He is also the founder of the personal finance website Incomist.
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