Free ATM withdrawals when abroad

Jordyn_2

Apart from Nationwide, can anyone tell me of another bank which does not charge for withdrawing cash from an ATM when on holiday abroad?

Thanks,

Jordyn

gt94sss2

Nationwide is the best choice if overseas.

There are some other banks (e.g. HSBC) who won't change you a 'transaction charge' if you use your debit card in an ATM but like most(all?) debit cards apart from Nationwide they do apply some foreign exchange loading.

Other banks are worse (like Lloyds) and charge a 'transaction charge' as well as the foreign exchange loading.

Regards
Sunil

ramagel

The Post Office?

Working Lunch did a spot on this very topic recently ... the program may even still be available via their woefully under promoted (!) Broadband Player.

If not there may be some info on the website in a different format. I just deleted the recording last night, but I had a backlog so I can't be sure when it was broadcast.

Biggles

The Post Office credit card doesn't charge a foreign exchange loading, but does make a cash withdrawal charge, leaving you no better off. They don't have a debit card, obviously.

You can't get a Nationwide account?

ramagel

Biggles wrote: »

The Post Office credit card doesn't charge a foreign exchange loading, but does make a cash withdrawal charge, leaving you no better off. They don't have a debit card, obviously.

I'm pretty sure it was just Nationwide that had neither, then. Double check Working Lunch. Or one of the comparison sites, perhaps.

olly300

Nationwide makes a cash withdrawal charge on their credit card. A friend of mine got confused over her cards on holiday and was charged for taking money out on her credit card. She phoned Nationwide when she got her bill and they told her that it was ONLY on their debit card they didn't charge for making cash withdrawals aboard.

The Working Lunch program from what I can remember showed that ALL credit card companies charge you for a cash withdrawal at an ATM. However the the credit card companies that didn't charge you for foriegn exchange loading where Saga, Post Office and Nationwide.

Can't find clear up to date information on the Working Lunch site but found this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2007/nov/03/banks.foreigncurrency (I found older articles in other board sheets that state the same thing.)

ramagel

olly300 wrote: »

The Working Lunch program from what I can remember showed that ALL credit card companies charge you for a cash withdrawal at an ATM.

I think you might well be right, Olly. What the Mrs does before she goes is to 'pre-load' her credit card with her anticipated spend so that although she pays a (say) £1.50 charge, she doesn't pay any interest on the cash withdrawal as she's already in credit.