NatWest Group Travel Account

Chris_in_Ashtead

When I look at the Travel Account option in my NatWest app it says:

"We're sorry we can't offer you a Travel account at the moment. This is because you hold a Visa debit card on one of your current accounts, or you have a current account that doesn't have an active debit card."

So you can't have a Travel Account if you have a Visa debit card, and you can't have one if you don't.

I guess you need to have a MasterCard debit card to open the account. I don't ever remember being giving a choice as to what kind of debit card I was issued with. I don't know if they can be changed.

sheramber

We are currently switching all Debit Cards to Mastercard. Basically, if you are currently holding a Visa Debit Card it'll be replaced with a newly designed Debit Mastercard ®.

Even if your card isn't due to expire soon, it will still be replaced. Don't worry though, we'll be in touch a week before your new card is due. If you've moved, or you just want to double check we’ve got your contact details right, you can use Online Banking. Or, if you like, give us a call or visit a branch.

https://www.natwest.com/support-centre/general-banking-information/general/when-will-my-debit-mastercard-arrive.html#:~:text=We%20are%20currently%20switching%20all,your%20new%20card%20is%20due.

WillPS

Chris_in_Ashtead said:

When I look at the Travel Account option in my NatWest app it says:

"We're sorry we can't offer you a Travel account at the moment. This is because you hold a Visa debit card on one of your current accounts, or you have a current account that doesn't have an active debit card."

So you can't have a Travel Account if you have a Visa debit card, and you can't have one if you don't.

I guess you need to have a MasterCard debit card to open the account. I don't ever remember being giving a choice as to what kind of debit card I was issued with. I don't know if they can be changed.

That's not what that message is saying. It's saying you won't be able to get it if any of your current account have a Visa Debit or any of your current accounts have no active debit card at all.

In other words you'll only be eligible if all your current accounts have active Mastercard debit cards.

Incidentally, you're also excluded on RBS if you have any accounts open with Holts, Drummonds or Child & Co sort codes.

eDicky

flaneurs_lobster said:

** BUMP **

eDicky said:

When topping up your Travel account with euros, or exchanging euros back to pounds, you will be presented with the current rate we have available.

Lack of transparency typical of such banks, if the rate is anything like their usual offering this travel account is useless from a money saving point of view...

Having just been offered this "extra" on my RBS Reward current account I can offer a small contrary opinion - how can it be a lack of transparency when the exchange rate offered is displayed before any conversion/debit is applied?

Transparency regarding FX rates offered by a product is when the percentage markup applied to the mid-market rate (if any), or alternatively the current rate being offered and visibly available for comparison to the current mid-market rate, is clearly stated in the product information.

Obviously, if you already sign up and use it for a transaction the rate to be used will then have to be displayed. But if you don't know what to expect until then, for me at least that's a lack of transparency.

At the time of my previous post there was no such information available with the product offering; I haven't looked since.