If you decide to use your card abroad you have two main options.
You can either withdraw cash from an ATM machine or you can pay for goods using your debit or credit card. If you use a card, you’ll be subject to a fee from your bank.
Cash withdrawal charges
While withdrawing cash from ATM machines using your debit/credit card may office excellent exchange rates you will most likely incur a load fee.
This is known as ERTF (exchange rate transaction fee) and a cash withdrawal fee.
Debit and credit cards
The load fee is a fee that almost all debit/credit cards will charge you and is typically between 2 and 3% of your transaction amount.
This charge usually has no minimum or maximum charge.
The cash withdrawal fee is also typical to most debit cards and can come in two forms, either a set charge or a percentage of a transaction amount.
The percentages are typically around 2% but they do have a maximum and minimum cahrge, usually the minimum is around £2 and the maximum £5.
Set charges are typically between £1 and £2.
Important note for credit cards:
If you don’t pay your balance in full after withdrawing cash then you will be charged a high rate of interest, you should really avoid this.
Charges for making purchases
The same load fee you see when withdrawing cash from ATM machines applies to making payments for both debit and credit cards.
The cash withdrawal fee will not apply but many debit cards have purchase transaction fees also.
Making purchases on credit cards abroad will not usually incur a a transaction fee but you will of course be charged the loading fees.
Charges for credit cards as of August 2016:
| Credit Card Provider | Foreign Usage Charge (EU) | Foreign Usage Charge (Worldwide) |
| AA | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| American Express | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| Bank of Ireland UK | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| Bank of Scotland | 2.95% | 2.95% |
| Barclaycard | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| Capital One Bank | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| Clydesdale Bank | 2.95% | 2.95% |
| Creation | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| Danske Bank | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| first direct | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| First Trust Bank (NI) | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| Santander | 2.95% Nil – 123 Credit Card |
2.95% Nil – 123 Credit Card |
| Smile | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| Tesco Bank | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| The Co-operative Bank | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| TSB | 2.95% | 2.95% |
| Ulster Bank | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| Vanquis Bank | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| Virgin Money | 2.99% | 2.99% |
| Yorkshire Bank | 2.95% | 2.95% |
| Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk – correct as of 11/07/2016 | ||
Charges for debit cards as of August 2016:
| Bank or Building Society | ATM Commission Charge/ Fee (per cash withdrawal in addition to withdrawal fee) | ATM Cash Withdrawal Charge/ Fee (per withdrawal) | Spending Commission Charge/ Fee per purchase (non-sterling) | Spending Charge/ Fee per purchase (non-sterling) |
| Bank of Scotland | 2.99% | 1.50% (min £2.00, max £4.50) |
2.99% | £1.00 |
| Barclays | 2.99% | £1.50 | 2.99% | Nil |
| Citibank | 2.75% | 2.00% (min £2.00, max £5.00) |
2.75% | Nil |
| Clydesdale Bank | Nil | 3.75% (min £1.50) |
Nil | 2.75% (Min £1.50) |
| Coventry Building Society | Nil | 2.00% | Nil | Nil |
| Cumberland BS | Nil | 2.50% (Nil for Cumberland Plus Account) |
Nil | 2.50% (Nil for Cumberland Plus Account) |
| Danske Bank | 2.75% | £1.25 | 2.75% | £0.75 |
| first direct | 2.75% | 2.00% (min £1.75, max £5.00) |
2.75% | Nil |
| First Trust Bank (NI) | 2.75% | 1.50% | 2.75% | Nil |
| Halifax | 2.75% | £1.50 | 2.75% | £1.50 |
| HSBC | 2.75% | 2.00% (min £1.75, max £5.00) (Nil on Premier and Advance accounts) |
2.75% | Nil |
| Lloyds TSB | 2.99% | 1.50% (min £2.00, max £4.50) |
2.99% | £1.00 (Nil on Platinum account) |
| M&S Bank | 2.75% | Nil | 2.75% | Nil |
| Metro Bank | Nil in Europe
1.90% elsewhere |
Nil in Europe
£1.00 elsewhere |
Nil in Europe
1.90% elsewhere |
Nil |
| Nationwide BS | 2.00% | £1 for each withdrawal | 2.00% | Nil |
| NatWest | 2.75% | 2.00% (min £2.00, max £5.00) |
Nil | 2.75% (min £1.00) |
| Norwich & Peterborough Building Society | Nil | Nil (£2.00 for Gold Start Account) |
Nil | Nil (£0.75 for Gold Start Account) |
| Post Office Money | 2.75% | £1.50 | 2.75% | Nil |
| Royal Bank of Scotland | 2.75% | 2.00% (min £2.00, max £5.00) |
2.75% | £1.25 |
| Santander | 2.75% | 1.50% (min £1.99) |
2.75% | £1.25 |
| The Co-operative Bank | 2.00% (min £2.00) |
2.75% | Nil | 2.75% |
| Tesco Bank | 2.75% | 1.00% | 2.75% | Nil |
| TSB | 2.99% | 2.00% (min £1.50, max £4.50) |
2.99% | £1.00 |
| Ulster | 2.65% | 2.25% (min £2.00, max £5.00) |
2.65% | £0.75 |
| Yorkshire Bank | Nil | 3.75% (min £1.50) |
Nil | 2.75% (min £1.50) |
| Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk – correct as of 11/07/2016 | ||||
* Don’t forget that a fee is also charged when you make cash withdrawals.
Things you shouldn’t do with your credit or debit card
Never go to an exchange office abroad and give them your debit card to exchange money into their currency as they will offer you a lower rate and you still get all of the charges you can expect from your UK card supplier.
It’s almost always cheaper to withdraw cash from an ATM abroad than to go to an exchange office abroad and charge to your card.
