Up joins exclusive club by ditching debit card fees for international travellers

Flights, accommodation, food and sightseeing - the list of expenses for an international trip can really add up, so the last thing travellers will want to see on their bank statements is a list of fees for using their debit card abroad. 

Well in good news for Up Bank customers, the neobank has become the latest in a growing number of Australian banks to ditch pesky, travel-associated fees altogether. 

While the Up EveryDay Account and linked Mastercard Debit card already featured a 0% foreign exchange commission, Up has now removed the $5 international ATM withdrawal fee that’s been in place since the account was launched. 

RELATED: Neobanks 86 400 and Up top charts amid savings rates crash

That means Aussie travellers using an Up debit card won’t be hit with a fee from Up when withdrawing money from an overseas ATM, though it’s worth noting that ATM providers themselves may still charge a fee. 

“It’s encouraging to see more and more banks, including Up, making it easier and cheaper for Australian travellers to spend their own money abroad without being penalised,” said Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont.  

“After all, as anyone who’s travelled overseas will know, the fees for regularly using a debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash can quickly start to add up over time.”

The fee-free travellers club 

As Lamont stated though, Up are just the latest Australian bank to offer 0% foreign exchange commission as well as free international ATM withdrawals for Aussie travellers on select debit cards. It still remains a relatively exclusive club. 

Of the 178 bank accounts currently being tracked in the Mozo database, just ten (including the Up Everyday Account) offer both of these travel-friendly features. The current list includes:

To put that into perspective, the average foreign exchange commission in the Mozo database (for bank accounts) is 2.71% while the average fee for a withdrawal using an international ATM is $3.37.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Big Four banks all fare worse than the Mozo average. 

Australian travellers using a debit card linked with an ANZ Access Advantage Account, Commonwealth Bank Smart Access Account, NAB Classic Banking Account or Westpac Choice Account can expect to fork out a 3.00% foreign exchange commission and a $5 international ATM withdrawal fee.  

RELATED: Digital banking and neobanks

Ready to make a fresh start to 2020 with a new debit card and bank account? Get started today by checking out some of the hot offers in the table below, or check out our Up Everyday Account review for even more information about Up’s account features and fees.