Santander 123 Credit Card No Charges for Foreign Transactions if a Select Customer

chris1955

I have just discovered and confirmed with Santander Customer Services that as a Select Customer there are no foreign transaction fees when you make a purchase abroad in the local currency.
Does that make it as good as one of best cards i.e. Halifax Clarity assuming you don't withdraw cash on it?

Roger1

'Select' is a word used by Nationwide for the Nationwide Select Visa card. I've not heard it used in connection with Santander.

Santander used to offer their Zero MasterCard with zero f/x charges. This is not available to new applicants.

ManAtHome

Makes it as good for purchases yes, but Clarity still a better all-rounder. Pretty sure there are a few no-foreign-fees cards around with no annual fees, but if you already have the Santander... why not.

PeacefulWaters

As said above, good for purchases, bad for cash. Here's a link.

You also need to be well off to qualify.

Pay at least £5,000 per month into your current account (excluding transfers from other Santander accounts); or

Maintain £75,000 in any Santander investment(s), savings or current account; or

Have a property worth at least £500,000 with a Santander mortgage.

EssexExile

You don't have to be wealthy to be Santander Select, they let me in! I don't meet any of those criteria.

benjus

There are several credit cards that are fee-free for purchases abroad - it's not a particularly hard thing to find.

Finding a card that's good for cash withdrawals abroad is harder, and this card doesn't help with that.

Roger1

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Here's a link.

Thanks, I learn something every day from MSE.

The Santander Select account offers a

Gold Visa debit card (depending on your circumstances), giving you fee-free cash withdrawals in selected countries abroad [*] and an increased daily cash machine withdrawal limit of £750 at home and abroad.

This card also seems to go with the 1-2-3 current account with more modest application requirements.

http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/select/products/123-current-account


[*] = Santander-branded ATMs only - care required, I guess.

Using your debit card abroad

With the Santander Gold Visa debit card, you can benefit from free withdrawals at Santander ATMs in selected countries abroad. We will waive the 2.75% foreign exchange fee as well as the £1.99/ 1.5% cash handling fee when you use Santander branded ATMs in Spain, Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, the USA and when you use Santander ATMs in Brazil which display "Cirrus" and "Plus" brands. If your Visa debit card is not a Santander Select Gold Visa debit card you may be charged a foreign exchange fee as well as a cash handling fee for using it abroad.

dollywops

chris1955 wrote: »

I have just discovered and confirmed with Santander Customer Services that as a Select Customer there are no foreign transaction fees when you make a purchase abroad in the local currency.
Does that make it as good as one of best cards i.e. Halifax Clarity assuming you don't withdraw cash on it?

There is also an annual fee for this card. Free for 1st year, then £24 thereafter - something, I found out last week, and had completely forgotten about. I also applied for the gold debit card and it arrived within the week.