Debit card in Europe.

TheDancingCat

I need a debit card for general use in Europe (primarily France) I would like the best regarding rates and charges, obviously, and would like to be able to make online purchases from, for instance, Amazon, Ebay Ikea, etc. I also wish to use ATMs. Would anyone care to make recommendations please. Thank you and have a nice day.

Albermarle

There is a forum for banking, where you will get a lot more responses if you repost your question there.

SiliconChip

Albermarle said:

There is a forum for banking, where you will get a lot more responses if you repost your question there.

But there's no need to even do that until the OP has read the MSE Top travel cards guide, and only then if there are further specific questions to be asked.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/

lr1277

I checked that article and there seems to be one missing fact.
There are 2 types current account with TSB.
The Spend and Save account (ie no monthly fee) does have a fx fee, as shown in the article.
However the Spend and Save Plus current account with a £3 monthly fee has no fx fees, either on withdrawals or purchases.
Both accounts like many accounts without an fx fee, they can’t do anything about the ATM fees.
If you are travelling in Spain, I think I have seen that some Spanish owned UK banks don’t charge an ATM fee if withdrawing cash from certain ATM’s in Spain. Though I don’t remember the details especially whether these cards are fx fee free.
Similarly if travelling in the USA, Chase is fx fee free and there are no ATM charges at Chase ATM machines.

VXman

Chase is good. Mastercard exchange rate, No fees and 1% cash back. It's my go to card for European travelling - and we do 3 months a year other there. Also - in France there are no ATM fees if you use ATMs linked to banks.

badger09

Starling. 

I’ve used it all over the world. No fee though some foreign ATMs impose their own fee. Daily cash withdrawal limit abroad £300. 

DullGreyGuy

Starling or Chase are the most common two recommended given there are no French banks with a notable UK presence. If you were spending more time in Spain or Portugal then Santander would have potentially been better as certain ATMs won't charge their own customers

ColdIron

I use Chase and Starling as a backup. Chase wins because of the 1% cashback on DC foreign spending