Santander Zero DEBIT card

northernstar5

I understand that the Santander Zero DEBIT card can be used to withdraw currency in Europe and Worldwide for free.

Has anybody got experience of this?

I'm wondering whether or not it's worth getting one.

ferf1223

yes, we use ours in the US every trip...whether it's worth getting one or not isn't something I can decide for you, but we like ours especially since our old holiday standby Nationwide changed their terms.

SaveTheEuro

northernstar5 wrote: »

I understand that the Santander Zero DEBIT card can be used to withdraw currency in Europe and Worldwide for free.

Has anybody got experience of this?

I'm wondering whether or not it's worth getting one.

I have had a Santander Zero debit card for a few months, since Nationwide brought in charges for withdrawing currency abroad. It has proved to be an excellent replacement.

Not everybody likes Santander. You might also want to look at the debit cards on offer from the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society and Metro Bank.

northernstar5

Thanks for the comments - Good to hear from people who have used this. I'll probably sort out getting one..

Pedro1874

I have used the Santander Zero CREDIT card for a year or so for worldwide PURCHASES and always get the best exchange rate and NO fees. I used to have a Nationwide DEBIT card for CASH WITHDRAWALS until they started charging but now use a N&P DEBIT card - no charges and best exchange rate. Very happy with both.

sparkyrob

Do you know what the exchange rate is on the Santander Zero debit card?

Foxtbh

sparkyrob wrote: »

Do you know what the exchange rate is on the Santander Zero debit card?

Visa base rate.

ie as close to the proper spot rate as you can reasonably get as a tourist. You probably wont find a better rate, certainly not as conveniently at least.

Fredx

The advice about normal (i.e. not Zero) Santander Debit Card being a Debit Card from hell doesn't take into account a nice little loophole when you are in Spain. It has taken a little time to get this confirmed; the terms and conditions on the website weren't clear, and the branch didn't really know, but a telephone call to them got me the answer...

On the Santander Preferred Account (and I understand, the other adult accounts) you can withdraw cash from Santander ATM machines in Spain without the normal charges (1.5% min £1.99) you get from any other ATM machine (i.e. you get the Euros at the visa base rate) as long as:

• You normally pay into the account over £1000 per month
• You make sure the transaction is on Euros
• It is a Santander ATM

Use it at another ATM or for purchases and you do get charged

thewinemerchant

Hello, just a quick (if pretty irrelevant) question. Does the Santander Zero debit card look any different to their standard-issue Visa debit?

I have 2 accounts with Santander (one for salary & bills, the other for general spending etc.) and I always have to double check I'm using the right card if I have both on me.
If I upgraded one current account to the Zero account would this trivial issue be resolved?

Thanks

Toe-Jam

thewinemerchant wrote: »

Hello, just a quick (if pretty irrelevant) question. Does the Santander Zero debit card look any different to their standard-issue Visa debit?

I have 2 accounts with Santander (one for salary & bills, the other for general spending etc.) and I always have to double check I'm using the right card if I have both on me.
If I upgraded one current account to the Zero account would this trivial issue be resolved?

Thanks

No it looks exactly the same. The Zero Account is just the name of the account, there is nothing different about it except there are not charges.

macalloa

Zero current account with fee free debit card (for use abroad) no longer offered by Santander as of 5th March 2012.

I was in the local branch today - it's history for new applicants.

Presumably existing account holders will still have this benefit ?

Maybe not though - Nationwide did an about turn even with existing clients who had their fee free FlexAccount debit card not so long ago.