Best bank for overseas withdrawls?

[Joe Blow]

Hi all,

I use a Westpac account to withdraw money from overseas ATM's but have been getting slammed with 3 separate charges that equal a minimum of $20 per withdrawl! :mad:

Can anyone tell me which bank offers accounts with a much lower overseas ATM transaction charge? I don't mind $10 per withdrawl but $20+ is too much for me to stomach any longer! I can't help thinking about how much beer I'm not drinking as a result of all these excessive charges! :eek:

Account must be connected to the Cirrus network.

[Prawn_86]

Hi Joe,

Is your current account a standard ATM/EFTPOS or is it a credit card? I use an ANZ debit card and have never had any problems withdrawing money, and dont get charged any fee's. Its not the Cirrus network however.

PS - how was the trip to Russia? Perhaps you could give us a few tips? ;)

[Joe Blow]

Hi Joe,

Is your current account a standard ATM/EFTPOS or is it a credit card? I use an ANZ debit card and have never had any problems withdrawing money, and dont get charged any fee's. Its not the Cirrus network however.

PS - how was the trip to Russia? Perhaps you could give us a few tips? ;)

This is a standard ATM/EFTPOS card linked to a regular Australian bank account. It's not a credit card or a Visa debit card. It is, however, linked to the vital Cirrus network that allows you to withdraw cash from ATM's around the world (including Russia!). Read more about Cirrus here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirrus_(interbank_network)

Are you sure your ANZ debit card isn't on the Cirrus network? Turn it over and look for the Cirrus logo beneath the signature panel. If not, which network is it linked to that allows you to withdraw money from overseas ATMs? :confused:

The networks that I see on most overseas ATMs is Cirrus and Maestro.

Anyway, if you can use Visa debit cards for withdrawls at overseas ATMs and not get stung with ridiculous fees I may have to look at them more closely. I'm tired of Westpac's crazy fees that is costing me pints and pints of delicious cold beer!

P.S. Will post in the Russia thread soon. Promise!

[Prawn_86]

My debit card is 'Plus' which is another overseas network.

I know i did have problems with it working in South Korean ATMs, but a lot of people i was there with also had problems with their Cirrus card. All i did to get around that was went into the bank itself and withdrew cash over the counter

[Joe Blow]

My debit card is 'Plus' which is another overseas network.

I know i did have problems with it working in South Korean ATMs, but a lot of people i was there with also had problems with their Cirrus card. All i did to get around that was went into the bank itself and withdrew cash over the counter

I suppose I need Cirrus for peace of mind. You know when you can withdraw money from an ATM in a small town in Russia you are probably pretty safe anywhere. Cirrus supposedly have more than one million ATMs linked in their network and I don't think their is a bigger international ATM network. If I'm wrong I'm happy to be corrected.

So given that Cirrus is a must, can anyone tell me how much they are getting whacked in charges per withdrawl from overseas ATMs with a Cirrus card?

$20+ is far too much for me. I'm prepared to go Visa debit if the fees justify it and if it's linked to Cirrus.

[Prawn_86]

So what did you decide here Joe?

Cirrus linked Visa debit? Or something else?

[buddinghealth]

I've found Westpac really helpful and if you are visiting the UK/Europe they are affiliated with Barclays Bank in the UK which helps. Cirrus is the way to go when paying for things though