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8 best international debit cards with no foreign transaction fees

SoFi, Discover, and Chime are some of the best debit cards to travel abroad.

No doubt the reason you’re looking for an international debit card is to avoid foreign transaction fees while traveling. Here are our best international debit cards with great perks, no foreign transaction fees and no monthly maintenance fees.

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8 best debit cards for international travel

  1. SoFi Checking and Savings
  2. Discover Cashback Debit account
  3. Chime® Checking Account
  4. Varo Bank
  5. Revolut debit card
  6. Capital One 360 Checking
  7. Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking
  8. Betterment Checking

SoFi Checking and Savings

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Get up to $300 cash bonus with qualifying direct deposit. Terms apply. This offer is available until December 31, 2024.
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on SoFi's secure site
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APYUp to 4.20%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0
New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus when they set up Direct Deposit of at least $1,000 during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period. Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 12/31/24. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
SoFi members with Direct Deposit can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 4.20% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Direct Deposit will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances(including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

SoFi members with Direct Deposit or $5,000 or more in Qualifying Deposits during the 30-Day Evaluation Period can earn 4.20% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. Members without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits, during the 30-Day Evaluation Period will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Only SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/31/2024. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet

Our account fee policy is subject to change at any time.

SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $2M through participation in the program. See full terms at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/terms
See list of participating banks at SoFi.com/banking/fdic/receivingbanks


We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees incurred when using out-of-network ATMs are not subject to reimbursement. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.

Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.

Discover® Cashback Debit

4.8
★★★★★

Finder score

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Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0
Earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month. See website for details.

Chime® Checking Account

4.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Refer a friend to Chime using your referral link, and if they complete a $200 direct deposit within 45 days of opening their new account, you both get $100.
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Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0
Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by The Bancorp Bank N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC.
ATMs: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at MoneyPass ATMs in a 7-Eleven, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATM.
Deposit: Once the retailer accepts your cash, the funds will be transferred to your Chime Checking Account. Cash deposit fees may apply if using a retailer other than Walgreens and Duane Reade.
Mobile Deposit: Mobile Check Deposit eligibility is determined by Chime in its sole discretion and may be granted based on various factors including, but not limited to, a member's direct deposit enrollment status.
Chime Savings Account: Chime Checking Account is required to be eligible for a Savings Account.
APY: The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) is variable and may change at any time. The disclosed APY is accurate as of May 22, 2023. No minimum balance required. Must have $0.01 in savings to earn interest.
Get Paid Early: Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
Credit Builder: To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account.
SpotMe: Chime SpotMe is an optional, no fee service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each at least once every 34 days. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member’s Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime’s discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won’t cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions.

Varo

4.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Existing and new customers get a $25 referral bonus when signing up for a Varo Bank account. T&C apply.
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Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Revolut

4.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Get a $10 cash reward when you first use you card on a qualifying $1+ transaction. Terms & Conditions apply.
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APYUp to 4.25%
FeeFrom $0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0
Money loaded on your prepaid card is held at Metropolitan Commercial Bank and money in your Savings Vaults is held at Sutton Bank. Money at each bank is FDIC insured up to $250,000 in the event of Metropolitan Commercial Bank's or Sutton Bank's failure.
Securities products are not FDIC Insured, not bank guaranteed and may lose value.

*The Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is a variable rate and may change at any time. These APYs are accurate as of 16 March 2023. Monthly fees apply for Premium and Metal plans. Terms and Conditions Apply. Standard customers can earn up to 3.25%, while Premium and Metal customers can earn up to 4.25%. No minimum amount required. Savings Vault services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC.

Capital One 360 Checking

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

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APY0.10%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking

4.8
★★★★★

Finder score

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APY0.45%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0.01

Betterment Checking

3.8
★★★★★

Finder score

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Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Methodology: How we choose the best international debit cards

Finder’s experts researched and analyzed over 150 debit cards to find ones with minimal or no charges on the following: international ATMs, foreign transactions and currency conversion fees.

We also consider factors like monthly fees, minimum balance requirements and interest rates when picking the best cards, particularly when choosing among those that fulfill our major requirement of limited international fees.

What about the international Wise debit card?

Wise, formerly Transferwise, is a well-known international account and money transfer service. However, Wise has temporarily paused issuing new debit cards to US customers, and this pause is still in effect as of August 2024. If you already have a US Wise debit card, you won’t be impacted.

Wise is still a great option for money transfer services, offering some of the lowest currency conversion rates in the market.

How to compare international debit cards

These factors should be top of mind when comparing the best debit card for international travel:

  • Foreign transaction fees. Most traditional debit cards charge foreign transaction fees, often at least 3% of the transaction amount. But if you go with SoFi, Chime, Revolut or Discover, you’ll avoid those pesky fees.
  • International ATM fees. If you need to withdraw money, watch out for international ATM fees. Some banks charge a set dollar amount plus a percentage of the amount you withdraw overseas, and some foreign ATM fees aren’t even charged by the bank itself.
  • Currency conversion fees. A hard-to-avoid fee, you’re likely to run into currency conversion fees when switching currencies. However, some accounts, like Revolut, offer free currency conversions.
  • Monthly fees.If you don’t use an account that often, you’ll likely want a free checking account with no balance requirements so you can keep it open without worry.

International debit cards for travel

Learn how to make the most of your debit card with these travel money guides to:

Alternatives to international debit cards

Don’t want to open a new checking account just for traveling? There are alternatives.

  • Travel credit cards. Great for booking flights and hotels, travel credit cards can offer tasty cashback rewards and perks like travel insurance, baggage insurance and even trip cancellation insurance.
  • Virtual debit cards. Want some extra security and make contactless payments? Virtual debit cards are a great option for traveling. Revolut is a strong choice, as it offers unlimited virtual debit cards and the account is designed for international spending and money transfer services.
  • Cash. Cash is king, and you may be able to convert currencies at your local bank. Most currencies exchange for a rate of around 1% to 3%, but it can be risky to carry only cash while traveling. It may be wise to have other payment methods available.
  • Traveler’s checks. A somewhat outdated method, traveler’s checks are personal checks in the local currency of the country you’re traveling to. In most cases, you just head to your bank and ask for a traveler’s check in the currency of your choice for a currency exchange fee. But unlike plastic and cash, checks are seldom accepted.
  • Prepaid cards. Don’t want to open a whole checking account for one trip? There are prepaid travel cards, such as the PayPal Prepaid Mastercard® with $0 foreign ATM withdrawal fees. However, most prepaid cards come with foreign transaction fees, often around 3% to 4%, and most charge for loading cash.

Bottom line

You’ll want to be able to spend your money while traveling, whether it’s for getting around, buying souvenirs, booking accommodations or going to restaurants. The best debit cards for traveling have no monthly maintenance fees and don’t charge foreign transaction fees. If none of our best options are for you, compare more of the best checking accounts here.

Frequently asked questions

What is a foreign transaction fee?

Most banks charge a foreign transaction fee when a currency conversion is required. For example, if you make a payment online using your US debit card on an Australian site, your bank needs to exchange USD for AUD to process the payment and will charge you a fee. This fee is usually around 3% of the transaction value, but it varies among banks.

Your bank can charge even more fees when you use a foreign ATM or send an overseas transfer. Plus, it can mark up the cost of a foreign currency and pocket the difference. Because these fees are often charged on top of one another, they can quickly add up if you make regular foreign transactions.

Which bank accounts let me hold multiple currencies?

Some international bank accounts, like Wise and Revolut, allow you to hold multiple currencies.

Can I use my debit card in another country?

You can probably use your existing debit card while traveling to another country, but unless your bank has $0 foreign transaction fees, it might cost you a hefty fee per transaction. You may also want to notify your bank if you travel abroad, as it may flag a foreign transaction as fraudulent and freeze your account.

Should you use a debit card when traveling internationally?

One of the main reasons to avoid using a debit card while traveling internationally is for potential foreign transaction fees, which are common with most checking accounts. But plenty of banks and fintechs with debit cards waive foreign transaction fees, including SoFi, Discover, Revolut and Capital One.

What are some popular debit card issuers overseas?

Visa and Mastercard are two popular debit card issuers overseas. Discover is gaining traction in countries like Ireland and Canada, but it’s still not widely accepted.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Cassidy Horton is a freelance personal finance copywriter and past contributing writer for Finder. Her writing and banking expertise have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Money, The Balance, Money Under 30, Insure.com, and other top digital publishers. She holds a BS in public relations and an MBA from Georgia Southern University. See full bio

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Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

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16 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    JulieJanuary 24, 2019

    I’m about to obtain and load a Debit Card (Master Card Cash Passport) ready to travel from Australia to india. Can I just load it up with AUD or should I be putting in USD.

      AvatarFinder
      ValJanuary 28, 2019Finder

      Hi Julie,

      Thank you for leaving a question. For the MasterCard Cash Passport – you may lock in exchange rates each time you load and reload. Load up to 11 different currencies on one card: USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, THB, CAD, HKD, SGD, JPY, AED and AUD.

      For your question, you may either load AUD or USD whichever is more convenient.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Val

    Default Gravatar
    RAJANovember 11, 2018

    I a m planing to travell to Singapore. Will I be able to use easyshopPlatinum Debit master card of HDFC Bank for purchases And payment towards food ch and taxi fairs or I need to arrange for forex card only

      Default Gravatar
      nikkiangcoNovember 22, 2018

      Hi Raja,

      Thanks for your inquiry and for visiting our page. You may certainly use the easyshop Platinum Debit Mastercard of HDFC Bank for purchases and payment for food, taxi fairs and etc. when you go to Singapore. Call HDFC that you will be travelling to Singapore and inform them of your travel dates so they can activate your card for international transactions. Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

      Best,
      Nikki

    Default Gravatar
    SizweOctober 29, 2018

    Can i withdraw money from any ATM using my South African Standard bank debit card in USA?

      AvatarFinder
      JhezelynOctober 29, 2018Finder

      Hello Sizwe,

      Thank you for your comment.

      According to Standard Bank (South Africa), your card is accepted at over 30 million merchants worldwide. You may use to withdraw from ATM’s overseas, however, please note that fees may apply. Please note that you need to notify the bank in advance if you’re planning to use your card overseas so they won’t need to disturb your trip with a phone call to authenticate your purchases. You can also activate your card for overseas travel in the mobile banking app by letting the bank know your travel dates before you leave.

      To be sure, best to bring with you back up cards and cash.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

    Default Gravatar
    ninaOctober 2, 2018

    How much will fees cost if I withdraw from my asb debit card in Australia

      AvatarFinder
      johnbasanesOctober 3, 2018Finder

      Hi Nina,

      Thank you for leaving a question.

      The ASB Bank Limited NZ has an overseas ATM withdrawal fee of $7.50. Hope this helps!

      Cheers,
      Reggie

    Default Gravatar
    GeneOctober 2, 2018

    I have a child in the Philippines. I am there for a month every 6 months. WesternUnion fees are reasonable but is there a cash or debit card I can load here in the USA for my baby’s mom to use anywhere in the Philippines without those fees? And can she get cash from an ATM without paying fees? Lastly, are there common banks in both the USA and the Philippines?

      AvatarFinder
      JhezelynOctober 5, 2018Finder

      Hello Gene,

      Thank you for your comment.

      Since you’re looking for a prepaid cash card or debit card, you may want to take a look at the prepaid travel money cards.

      These are the cards that you can load up, design when traveling, and can be used in different countries. I have not confirmed that this can be used in the Philippines, however, please do note that most Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Amex can be used in the said country. You can also withdraw cash through an ATM. Please do note that fees when withdrawing money will still depend on the card. The local ATM fees may apply.

      Alternatively, you may also want to take a look at the ways to send money to the Philippines.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

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