ATM Exchange Rates

[The_Munchmaster]

Exactly. C'mon Moo, keep up. :grin:

[cavanami]

Yeah Moo...oppps, that was me that started the on/off shore

[Mike Goodtime]

In the USA, banks say to get a debit card if you are going to use an ATM, etc. Yes, I know there are fees... I don't know if the USA Banks have something called a Nationwide Flex Account as mentioned above.

[simie]

MG, Nationwide is the largest building society in the UK that now operates in the same way as a bank. Flex account is just the name of their current account facility. But unlike most of the banks they don't charge for ATM withdrawls abroad.

Simie.

[mongatu]

There are some US banks and credit unions that don't charge any fees for foreign atm withdrawals, but the rub is that MasterCard and Visa, which usually are the processors for these cards, do add in a 1% charge, which isn't too bad, but it's not as good as cash, although the convenience and safety of the ATM may be worth 1%.

 

As far as credit cards, the best US card for overseas usage is Captial One, which last time I used it, was still not even imposing the usual minimum 1% Visa foreign transaction charge.

 

One final thing: When using credit cards in Thailand, make sure you are being charged in Baht and not your home currency. The exchange rate is much worse if you charged in your home currency while abroad. Most of the time credit card charges are in Baht, but not always. For example, Pattaya International Hospital will charge your credit card in your home currency by default unless you instruct them to charge you in Baht.

 

(And, no, it's not my first choice of hospital.)