Best UK debit cards and banks to use abroad with no foreign transaction fees (2024)

Whether you’re buying something from overseas in a foreign currency or taking out cash on holiday abroad, you’re often charged when using your debit card for international transactions. You can save money by choosing a debit card that charges no or low foreign transaction fees to use for this purpose. We also have separate guides for credit cards to use overseas and prepaid travel cards that you can top-up before you go.

UK debit and prepaid cards from banks with no foreign transaction fees when abroad

Our expert says: Finding the best fee-free options for foreign transactions

"Paying fees when you make foreign transactions with your debit card needn’t be a fact of life. There’s a good selection of cards that lets you save money on these. The Chase current account charges no fees for both overseas cash withdrawals as well as overseas card transactions, as does Starling Bank.

There’s also the Monese pre-paid multi-currency card, which has no foreign transaction fees on its Classic and Premium plans up to set limits for cash withdrawals. You’ll pay a monthly fee for these though.

App-based bank Revolut gives you fee-free foreign card transactions and cash withdrawals on weekdays up to a total of £1,000 a month on its free Standard plan. You can withdraw £200 a month from cash machines before you start paying fees. The big banks generally charge relatively high fees on at least their free accounts.

Alternatively, you can use credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fees to make overseas purchases. These include Santander’s All in One credit card and cards from the Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest. It’s not generally a good idea to use a credit card to withdraw cash as you’ll usually pay a fee for this and there’s no interest-free period as with purchases. It can also affect your credit score. However, there are some that let you withdraw cash abroad cheaply."

Cathy Hudson

Money expert

Best debit cards to use abroad

Finder’s best debit cards to use abroad for 2024

Our expert says: How we chose these cards

"To choose the best card for each category shown above, our experts analysed app ratings, overseas fees, exchange rates, customer service, account access and extra features. In this particular case, these were selected from our list of debit cards that have no fees for being used abroad, not the whole market. If we show any ‘promoted’ picks, these are based on factors that include special features or offers and the commission we receive. If we show any ‘best’ picks, there are our banking editor’s top picks for different categories and are chosen based on factors that include cost, purpose, rewards and extras. What you need from a debit card is personal, so these picks are just a guide to help you with your decision."

Kate Steere

Editor

Other reviews of debit cards with low or no foreign transaction fees

What is a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that’s applied by your bank whenever a currency conversion is required. For example, if you make a payment online using your UK debit card on a US website, your bank needs to exchange pounds sterling to US dollars to process the payment, and it might charge you a fee for this.

The foreign transaction fee is usually around 3% of the transaction value. This can end up being costly if you’re making a large purchase, or if you’re spending abroad on a regular basis. For example, if you bought something on a US website for £300 and the bank applied a 3% foreign transaction fee, you’d be hit with a £9 fee. This may not seem like much, but if you’re making payments like these every month, it can quickly add up.

What are debit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

You usually receive a debit card when you open a current account. You can use this card to access the money in your account to make everyday purchases in-store or online and withdraw cash from an ATM. Depending on the provider, some debit cards won’t charge a foreign transaction fee when you spend on them abroad or make a purchase on an overseas website. Using one of these cards could save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

What are the benefits of using debit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from using a debit card with no foreign transaction fees:

• Save money on international purchases made online. Debit card foreign transaction fees typically vary from 2-3% of the transaction value. If you often buy things from overseas websites, a debit card with no foreign transaction fees could lead to significant savings.
• Save money when using your card overseas. The same applies when travelling internationally. Debit cards with no foreign transaction fees let you use your card overseas just as you would at home and so you won’t have to worry about transaction fees. Not only will this save you money, but it will save you the hassle of getting a travel debit card just for your trip.
• Global and easy. If you have a Mastercard or Visa debit card, you can use your card in over 200 countries and territories across the world. You’ll be able to use it wherever you see the Mastercard or Visa sign.
• No overspending and no interest accruing. Unlike a credit card, a debit card only lets you access the cash in your current account. This can help keep your spending in check as you’re only spending what you actually have available in your account. You also won’t rack up interest on your spending, as you would with a credit card.
• Keeping it simple. A debit card gives you a simple way to access your own money, no matter where you go. You don’t have to worry about loading foreign currency onto your card, you don’t have to exchange cheques for cash and you don’t have to worry about applying for a credit card.

What fees are normally involved when using a debit card for international purchases?

Although using your debit card when overseas gives you quick and easy access to money, it pays to find out just how much you’ll end up paying in other fees and costs. Some cards might charge the following:

• Foreign transaction fee. This fee is a combination of what your card provider charges along with what the payment processor charges. You might have to pay this fee when you use your card to pay in foreign currency, which your card provider converts into pound sterling. It is usually between 2% and 3% of the transaction value.

• Overseas ATM fees. When using your debit card to withdraw money from an overseas cash machine, your card provider might charge a fee for the privilege. Again, this is likely to be around 3% and it will be on top of the foreign transaction fee. In some cases, the ATM you’re using might charge a separate fee.
• Foreign exchange rate margin. Banks make money by adding a margin (or a markup) on top of the real exchange rate when transferring one currency into another. Each bank will charge a different margin, so will offer different exchange rates. While this cost is not as transparent, if your bank is offering a poor exchange rate, you could be losing money when using your debit card overseas.

Case study: Susan chose Starling for its lack of fees on spending abroad

"I chose Starling because I was attracted by the monthly interest rate on any balances held in a current account. Also the lack of fees that are normally charged on any foreign transactions or cash withdrawals abroad.

If there’s one thing you’d tell a friend who’s thinking of getting this, what would it be?

It would be the fact that I would not be charged interest on foreign transactions like restaurant bills, holiday shopping and cash withdrawals whilst on holiday."

Susan Boyle

Cambridge

How do these debit cards compare to prepaid travel money cards or credit cards?

There are multiple options to consider when it comes to spending money overseas. Here’s how debit cards compare to popular alternatives like prepaid travel money cards and credit cards:

• Credit cards, like debit cards, attract foreign transaction fees and ATM withdrawal charges. However, unlike debit cards, they also usually charge interest if you don’t pay back the balance in full each month. What’s more, if you use your credit card for cash withdrawals, interest is usually charged from the date of the transaction – even if you clear your balance that month.

  Credit cards can give you access to extra funds outside of your available debit balance, which can come in handy during emergencies. But this also means you need to watch what you spend as it can be easy to spend more than you can afford to repay.

  You can compare credit cards with no foreign transaction fees here.

  Finder's pick

  Santander All in One Credit Card

  Finder Rating:4.5/5

  ★★★★★

  Check eligibility

  15months

  0% interest on balance transfers

  0%

  Balance transfer fee

  15months

  0% interest on purchases

  29.8%

  Representative APR

  • Info
  • Details

  With no foreign usage fees and generous 0% interest periods on purchases and balance transfers, the Santander All in One credit card can help you keep your holiday spending costs down, and give you more time to pay it off.

  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Over a year to spread the cost of purchases
  • Earn 0.5% cashback
  • No balance transfer fee
  • 15 months of no interest on balance transfers

  • Account fee of £3 per month
  • Minimum annual income requirement of least £10,500
  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible

  Minimum income	10500
  Residency	UK Resident for more than 36 months
  Availability	Available to new customers
  Foreign usage charge (EU)	0%
  Cash advance fee	29.9%

  Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).

• A prepaid travel money card gives you the ability to load multiple currencies onto a single card to avoid currency conversion fees, and you can lock exchange rates in place before you travel. Depending on the card you’re using, you might be charged a fee when loading funds on the card or withdrawing money from cashpoints.

  Make sure you compare your options as different travel money cards will offer different exchange rates and load fees. You can compare some prepaid travel money cards here.

Bank accounts and debit cards to avoid when travelling

Although it can be easy and convenient to stick with your existing bank account and use your existing debit card for purchases and cash withdrawals on holiday abroad, doing so could work out to be very expensive. Some debit cards charge a foreign transaction fee of around 2.99% on all overseas purchases. So, if you were to pay for a meal costing £100, this would add an extra £2.99 to your bill that your bank would pocket. It might not sound like a huge sum, but it can quickly add up each time you spend over the course of your holiday.

What’s more, if you withdrew £100 cash on your card abroad, you’d be charged the 2.99% foreign transaction fee (£2.99), plus a cash advance fee on top. This cash advance fee is also often around 2.99%, so that’s another £2.99 to pay. In total, your £100 cash withdrawal would cost you £5.98.

What are the pros and cons of using a debit card with no foreign transaction fees?

Learn more about the disadvtanges of using a debit card abroad.

Bottom line

There’s no need to pay foreign transaction fees when you’re using your debit card abroad or buying something from an overseas website. There are a number of fee-free options to choose from that will save you money. Otherwise, you could end up paying fees of up to 3% of the value of the transaction, which will add to your costs significantly, especially if you’re on holiday abroad for days or weeks.

Frequently asked questions

• Yes, you would. This is because your bank would convert pound sterling to the currency the website charges you.

• You may have to pay a foreign transaction fee in such a case, even if you’re making a payment in pounds sterling, if the merchant accepting the payment is overseas.

• Yes. Both Visa and Mastercard offer overseas debit card replacements.

• Yes, as if you withdraw cash with a credit card most will charge a foreign transaction fee and interest from day one, although there are some overseas credit cards that let you withdraw cash cheaply. It will also be recorded on your credit record. Choose a debit card with no fee or one of the best credit cards for using abroad to save money on withdrawing cash.

• Yes, most banks let you withdraw up to £300 or £500 a day on your card, although this can vary between their different accounts, so you should bear this in mind if you’re planning to use your card to withdraw cash on holiday.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Rachel Wait, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.

Written by

Matthew Boyle

Publisher

Matthew Boyle is a banking and mortgages publisher at Finder. He has a 7-year history of publishing helpful guides to assist consumers in making better decisions. In his spare time, you will find him walking in the Norfolk countryside admiring the local wildlife. See full bio

Matthew's expertise

Matthew has written 295 Finder guides across topics including:

• Helping first-time buyers apply for a mortgage
• Comparing bank accounts and highlighting useful features
• Publishing easy-to-understand guides