Account | Country | Network | Type | Overseas Foreign ATM fees | International ATM surcharge rebates | Foreign currency transaction fees | annual/ monthly fees | notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maquarie Transaction Account | Australia | Mastercard | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
Mebank SpendME Account | Australia | Visa | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
UBank Spend Account | Australia | Visa | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
Suncorp Bank Everyday Options Account | Australia | Visa | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
UP Everyday | Australia | Mastercard | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
Bankwest Easy Transaction Account | Australia | Mastercard | Debit | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | |
HSBC Everyday Global Account | Australia | Visa | Debit | 0 | none, but surcharge free withdrawals at HSBC ATMs worldwide (40 countries) | 0 | 0 | use their own currency conversion rates instead of Visa's |
Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card | Australia | Mastercard | Credit | 1.53% interest per month | - | 0 | 0 | |
Bankwest Zero Platinum | Australia | Mastercard | Credit | 2%, min. $4 + 1.67% interest per month | - | 0 | 0 | |
28 Degrees Platinum | Australia | Mastercard | Credit | 3%, min. $4 + 1.67% interest per month | - | 0 | 0 | |
Revolut | Australia & New Zealand | Visa | Prepaid | $350 per month free, then 2% | - | $2000 per month free, then 0.5% | 0 | own exchange rates. 1% markup on weekends. |
Wise | Australia & New Zealand | Visa | Prepaid | $350 per month free | - | min. 0.43% for 40+ currencies, 0 for the rest | 0 | own exchange rates for 40+ currencies, Visa rates for the rest, see terms. |
Wirex | Australia & New Zealand | Visa | Prepaid | 400 AUD per month free, 2% thereafter | - | 0 | 0 | top-up fees apply |
ASB Fastcash Card | New Zealand | Plus (Visa) | ATM | 0 | - | 1.1% | 0 | |
ICBC Transaction Account | New Zealand | China UnionPay | Debit | $4 | - | 0 | $12 annually for the debit card | |
Westpac Everyday Account | New Zealand | Mastercard | Debit | 0 for Global ATM Alliance (40+ countries), $3 elsewhere | none, but surcharge free at Global ATM Alliance | 1.95% | $10 annually for the debit card | |
Westpac Fee Free Mastercard | New Zealand | Mastercard | Credit | 1.53% interest per month | - | 0 | 0 | |
Flightcentre | New Zealand | Mastercard | Credit | $3 + interest | - | 0 | $50 annually | |
ICBC Dual Currency Credit Card | New Zealand | China UnionPay | Credit | $4 + 1.66% interest per month | - | 0 | $30 annually | Application only in branch in Auckland. |
Recommendations:
For Australians, any of the listed accounts is good. If you’re still under 18, go for the Maquarie or SpendME account which can be opened 14 and over.
The best credit card is the Bendigo Ready card, because it lacks a cash advance fee and is thus also useful as a backup for ATM access.
If you’re from New Zealand, Revolut is your best option since arriving in 2023. Flightcentre and Westpac are the best credit cards available for spending abroad.