Best UK Bank for Travelling Abroad

pred02

Hi,

I recently went abroad and checked my Natwest Current account statements noticing they charged me £2.00 for each international transaction and a fee. What is the best UK bank for traveling abroad?

In the US I used FirstIB and Charles Schwab as they did not have fees on international withdrawls when using your debit card?

Thanks!

dzug1

Assuming debit cards Metro Bank and Cumberland Buliding Society. For the latter you have to live in their branch area, for the latter to be able to visit London.

traineepensioner

Hi,

Like the OP, I'm also looking for an account that doesn't charge for cash withdrawals in Europe. I used to use my Nationwide flex account but they're about to charge for using it abroad, so I'm now looking to close the account.

I've applied for a Halifax clarity credit card for goods & services but using it for cash withdrawals means I'll end up paying interest and you can't load the card before you go.

I don't live near London or in Cumbria, so the Metro bank & Cumberland BS are out.

There must be an account out there that doesn't take a tip, or take money for the shareholders bubbly, when you withdraw your own money abroad

ManAtHome

traineepensioner wrote: »

I've applied for a Halifax clarity credit card for goods & services but using it for cash withdrawals means I'll end up paying interest and you can't load the card before you go.

Yes, but you'll only pay around 1/4 percent a week for cash withdrawals (assuming you get the 'most people' 13% pa rate).

If you're intending to be away months rather than weeks, either set up a DD to repay in full each month or pay it off in chunks via internet banking.

Bit more of a pain than the NW debit card, but much better than using other debit/credit cards.

pred02

I'm going to bump this thread as I am pretty confident there must be a product that has low or no fees on international withdrawls. I travel often to the euro-zone and overseas, does not any of the high street banks do an international current account where they do not charge for withdrawls in Euros, etc?

In the US there are plenty of banks and products that cater for international travellers.

Azrael_1701

dzug1 wrote: »

Assuming debit cards Metro Bank and Cumberland Buliding Society. For the latter you have to live in their branch area, for the latter to be able to visit London.

Fixed for you:

dzug1 wrote: »

Assuming debit cards Metro Bank and Cumberland Buliding Society. For the latter you have to live in their branch area, for the former to be able to visit London.

Sceptic001

How about Norwich & Peterborough Gold Account?

m1974m

pred02 wrote: »

I'm going to bump this thread as I am pretty confident there must be a product that has low or no fees on international withdrawls. I travel often to the euro-zone and overseas, does not any of the high street banks do an international current account where they do not charge for withdrawls in Euros, etc?

In the US there are plenty of banks and products that cater for international travellers.

As others have mentioned Metro Bank are a good option which I use. You only have to visit London once to open the account and you get a debit card printed as you wait. You do not have to live in London. Also the branches are expanding to places such as High Wycombe and Borehamwood and they aim to expand further nationally over time.

knightstyle

We have just spent 5 months in France and used a Halifax Clarity card for everything, paid in full each month from our UK current account. Worked great with no charges and a good exchange rate for purchases. Similar for cash but interest charged from withdrawal to payment. So we would withdraw minimum amount of cash, try to pay for everything with the card, and make a payment of just over the cash withdrawal on the same day. This meant we hardly paid any interest for all the time we were there. Plus if you have a Halifax current account, we haven't, you get £5 a month reward which will repay any small interest fee. FREE banking abroad!!!