If you’re heading abroad, you’ll need to make sure that you’re spending your money wisely. While the things you’re likely to spend money on can’t always be controlled, the way in which you spend it can be. That’s where WeSwap comes into play. It’s a prepaid Mastercard that’s designed specifically for travel.
What is WeSwap?
WeSwap’s Mastercard allows travellers to spend money anywhere in the world, swapping Sterling for Euros, Dollars and 15 other currencies. As well as being able to swap money into any currency, users’ home WeSwap matches travellers heading in opposite directions and directly swaps their travel money. Based in London, WeSwap was fully launched in 2015 and currently supports 18 different currencies.
Read on to find out more about what WeSwap has to offer, and whether you should get your travel money through them before you go abroad.
How does WeSwap work?
WeSwap simply swaps your currency directly with other travellers. Here’s a step by step guide to how the process works:
Load. Each customer gets a WeSwap card. You load it up securely with £s using your debit card or online account (you don’t need one).
Swap. You then select which currency you need. WeSwap takes care of then swapping the money with other travellers.
Spend (& enjoy!). Once this has been done, your card will now have some new currency on it. The card is then ready to use worldwide wherever MasterCard is accepted.
What currencies can I order through WeSwap?
Here’s a list of some of the main currencies that are available with WeSwap:
For your security as well as WeSwap’s, there are some limits on how much you can load onto your WeSwap card – and how much you can carry on your card at once.
Minimum you can load: £50 or equivalent in other currencies.
Maximum single load: £3,000 or equivalent or equivalent in other currencies.
Maximum you can load in one year: £12,000 or equivalent in other currencies. This means that you cannot load more than £12,000 during any given year.
Maximum you can carry at one time: £6,000 across all currencies. This means that you cannot have more than £6,000 on your WeSwap card at any time.
Remember, it’s free to load your WeSwap card.
How soon can I get my money?
Perhaps the biggest downfall of WeSwap is the fact that you have to wait for your card to arrive. This takes 3-5 days.
WeSwap can be a great option if you’re planning a trip in advance, but less convenient for those who forget their travel money and need a quick solution just before they jet off.
How safe is my money?
Money is uploaded securely through your bank’s online payment services – so this aspect of the transfer is totally secure.
Are there any fees I might have to pay?
It’s completely free to use your WeSwap MasterCard online or at point of sale.
Where you should expect to incur fees is at ATMs. You are able to withdraw twice a day for free if the withdrawal is £200 or more. Smaller withdrawals will incur a charge.
It’s a good idea to withdraw larger amounts less often. (This is a general rule of thumb for all travel money providers!)
It’s always free to use your card to spend at shops and restaurants, so it’s recommended that you pay with your WeSwap card rather than with cash whenever possible.
Here’s a table of the additional fees WeSwap may charge:
Additional Fee
How much you will pay
Swap*
2.49% of the transaction amount
Replacement Card
£4.95
Chargeback Fee
£10
Administration Fee**
–
Inactivity Fee***
£2
Refund Fee
£5
Stamp Duty****
€5
*This applies to wallet swaps or when you do a swap at the point of sale.
**This fee is chargeable under certain rare circumstances (if you request an additional service from us which we normally do not provide), but we will always notify you in advance if and when the fee applies.
***Monthly fee applied after 12 consecutive months of inactivity.
****Annual fee for residents of the Republic of Ireland only. This is deducted from the balance on the account, or from the first load of the year.
What’s the alternative?
A strong alternative to getting your travel money with WeSwap is to do so with a digital banking app. Leaders in this field, such as Starling, Revolut and Monzo, offer travel money with zero transaction and withdrawal fees. It can also be managed from anywhere in the world, and “topped up” easily and for free, as this is done in exactly the same way standard bank transfers are.
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15 Responses
FionaJune 20, 2019
My daughter is going to stockholm to a festival and we have just learnt that it is cash free and she needs a prepaid card….will she be able to use it multiple times in a day at foodstalls/bars etc?
Finder
fayemanuelJune 21, 2019Finder
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder.
Your daughter can make up to 15 transactions per 24-hour period using her WeSwap card. In most case’s she can spend the full balance on her card.
I hope that helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Faye
ClarkeFebruary 28, 2019
Hi!
I’m in the UK.
I’m going to Thailand and Vietnam.
Their currency is not listed. How would the transaction work and should I load the card in Euros or Sterling?
Thanks
Finder
JoshuaMarch 3, 2019Finder
Hi Clarke,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Since Thailand and Vietnam are not part of the supported currencies, WeSwap would charge you a flat 2% fee when you withdraw cash from an ATM in those countries. You would need to load GBP or Sterling to your card.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
sibyllaNovember 11, 2018
Hello. I’m travelling through Central America for three months. So would the WeSwap card be good for this? I’m concerned that my bank debit card may not be accepted at ATMs.
Finder
CharisseNovember 15, 2018Finder
Hi Sibylla,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
WeSwap now works in any country, wherever the Mastercard acceptance mark is displayed so you should be able to use it in Central America.
You can use WeSwap to convert your GBP into any of their 18 supported currencies in advance or as you go. Simply load up your card with your home currency and use it for spending while you are in Central America. WeSwap charges a 2% instant conversion fee.
Click on the “Go to site” button on this page, above to go to WeSwap’s website and learn more about its features.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
JoanneOctober 19, 2018
Hi, we will go on a holiday tomorrow and the money is still in £ in my WeSwap account. Can I use my card in France like this or does it have to be converted over to Euros to be able to use it in France?
Finder
CharisseOctober 20, 2018Finder
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
Aside from being able to swap your local currency to any other currencies supported by WeSwap wallet, you can also use your WeSwap Mastercard to spend in France using your GBP and it will be automatically converted to Euros on the spot. WeSwap will be using the Mastercard foreign exchange rate, which is the same fee as their 2% instant swap fee.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
SimomSeptember 12, 2018
What atm can I use in the USA without been charged a fee for taking out $250
Finder
joelmarceloSeptember 13, 2018Finder
Hi Simon
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
You will not be paying for any fees if you withdraw £250 from an ATM or it’s equivalent in USD. You are able to withdraw twice a day for free if the withdrawal is £200 or more. For smaller withdrawals, you will incur a charge of £1.50 per withdrawal. As a rule of thumb for travel money cards, always withdraw larger amounts less frequently to incur less fees.
Cheers,
Joel
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My daughter is going to stockholm to a festival and we have just learnt that it is cash free and she needs a prepaid card….will she be able to use it multiple times in a day at foodstalls/bars etc?
Hi Fiona,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder.
Your daughter can make up to 15 transactions per 24-hour period using her WeSwap card. In most case’s she can spend the full balance on her card.
I hope that helps.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us again if you have additional questions.
Cheers,
Faye
Hi!
I’m in the UK.
I’m going to Thailand and Vietnam.
Their currency is not listed. How would the transaction work and should I load the card in Euros or Sterling?
Thanks
Hi Clarke,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Since Thailand and Vietnam are not part of the supported currencies, WeSwap would charge you a flat 2% fee when you withdraw cash from an ATM in those countries. You would need to load GBP or Sterling to your card.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hello. I’m travelling through Central America for three months. So would the WeSwap card be good for this? I’m concerned that my bank debit card may not be accepted at ATMs.
Hi Sibylla,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
WeSwap now works in any country, wherever the Mastercard acceptance mark is displayed so you should be able to use it in Central America.
You can use WeSwap to convert your GBP into any of their 18 supported currencies in advance or as you go. Simply load up your card with your home currency and use it for spending while you are in Central America. WeSwap charges a 2% instant conversion fee.
Click on the “Go to site” button on this page, above to go to WeSwap’s website and learn more about its features.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
Hi, we will go on a holiday tomorrow and the money is still in £ in my WeSwap account. Can I use my card in France like this or does it have to be converted over to Euros to be able to use it in France?
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for reaching out to finder.
Aside from being able to swap your local currency to any other currencies supported by WeSwap wallet, you can also use your WeSwap Mastercard to spend in France using your GBP and it will be automatically converted to Euros on the spot. WeSwap will be using the Mastercard foreign exchange rate, which is the same fee as their 2% instant swap fee.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Charisse
What atm can I use in the USA without been charged a fee for taking out $250
Hi Simon
Thanks for leaving a question on finder.
You will not be paying for any fees if you withdraw £250 from an ATM or it’s equivalent in USD. You are able to withdraw twice a day for free if the withdrawal is £200 or more. For smaller withdrawals, you will incur a charge of £1.50 per withdrawal. As a rule of thumb for travel money cards, always withdraw larger amounts less frequently to incur less fees.
Cheers,
Joel