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Best Banks for International Travel for 2024

Review Updated
Brittney Myers
By: Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Brittney Myers
Writer

Brittney started her writing career in the world of science, putting her physics degree to good use. Her journey into finance started with building her personal credit, but soon grew into a borderline obsession with credit cards and travel rewards. For the last 7 years, she has enjoyed the ability to share her expertise with readers, as well as the opportunity to interview companies and individuals making an impact on our financial lives. She wholly believe most problems can be solved with the right research -- and a good spreadsheet -- and she specializes in translating complex financial topics into actionable advice to help educate and empower readers.

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Our Banking Expert

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. APYs are subject to change at any time without notice.

The best banks for international travel make it easy to access and manage your money from anywhere in the world. And they do so without charging you an arm and a leg in extra fees.

Here are our top picks for the best international travel accounts, as well as some things to consider when making your own choice.

  • Our team of experts assessed 100+ banking institutions
  • We evaluate all banking institutions across the same 4 key criteria: annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks
  • Our bank ratings are never influenced by our advertising partners
  • We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased

Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column.

Compare checking accounts

We recommend comparing checking accounts to make sure you're getting the best fit for you. Here's a list of our favorite accounts.

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How to find the best bank for your international travels

Finding the best bank for international travel is essentially a two-step process. You need to not only choose a bank, but also a bank account. So, consider what you want from your bank -- as well as what you need from your bank account.

The banking experience

The first choice you'll need to make is the type of bank you want: an online-only bank or one with brick-and-mortar branches. This choice may depend mostly on how much banking you'll do in the U.S. versus abroad. If you're rarely going to be stateside, for instance, then the number of domestic branches isn't particularly important.

Learn more: Online vs. Brick-and-Mortar Banks

Another factor is the size of the institution. Larger banks may have more experience with international transactions than smaller banks and credit unions. They also likely have more resources to put in things like 24/7 customer service lines.

Accounts and services

The types of accounts and services you need your bank to offer will depend on how you plan to use it. You may simply want somewhere to keep your money so you can access cash while abroad. In that case, look for a basic checking account with useful features like ATM fee reimbursement and no foreign transaction fees.

In other cases, you may need additional services. For example, you may want the option to send wire transfers between accounts and countries without excess fees. Or you may want to use the same bank for all of your financial needs both home and abroad. In the latter situation, you should explore the bank's savings accounts and lending options.

Debit cards and ATMs

At a minimum, you're going to want an account you can access at an ATM. You may also need to make the occasional purchase. This means your bank should offer debit cards that work everywhere, meaning they operate on one of the four major networks:

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Discover
  • American Express

Physically, your debit card needs to have an EMV chip, as many countries no longer accept cards with magnetic strips, even at ATMs. It should also be enabled for contactless payments, which is quickly becoming the norm throughout the U.K. and Europe.

Maintenance and transaction fees

In addition to exploring the types of accounts a bank offers, consider the cost of those accounts. Bank accounts come with a range of fees, from service fees to maintain your account to transaction fees to use it. Most of these fees apply whether you're using the account at home or abroad, but some fees are particularly important when traveling.

  • Monthly service fees: Many banks will charge a monthly service or maintenance fee to keep your account open. These range widely depending on the type of account. In general, the more features the account has, the more it will cost you to keep it open.
  • ATM fees: Both your bank and the ATM owner (if not your bank) can charge a fee to withdraw money. Some banks offer fee-free ATM use domestically, but charge a fee internationally. Others will not only waive fees at home, but reimburse ATM fees while traveling.
  • Foreign transaction fees: The fees can apply any time you: Make a withdrawal in a foreign currency, make a debit card purchase in a foreign currency, or make a debit card purchase that routes through a foreign bank. Your bank may charge them for every account, only charge for certain accounts, or waive them entirely.

All of these fees can add up to a big expense just to have access to your own money while traveling internationally. On the bright side, many of these fees can be avoided.

Related: Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Account and card security

You always want your bank to have good security, but some features become even more important when you're frequently away from home. For instance, good banks for travel make it easy to freeze your debit cards and/or accounts if your cards are lost or stolen. It should also be easy to report a lost or stolen card through the mobile app from wherever you are.

Another key security feature is two-factor authentication for your bank's login. This is the system where you need to use both your password and a special code sent by text message or automated call to log into your account. It adds an extra layer of security in case your mobile device or computer is lost or stolen in transit.

Customer service

It's always a good idea to choose a bank with solid customer service -- even small issues can feel big when your money is in jeopardy. But it's downright vital when there's a literal ocean between you and the nearest branch.

Perhaps the most important feature is a bank that offers 24/7 customer support. Banks with traditional 9-to-5 hours are fine when you're in the same zip code, but they can be inconvenient (at best) when you're in a time zone that's 12 hours ahead. At the very least, secure email or online chat support is a must.

More details about the best banks for travelers

Rates as of Aug 23, 2024

Fidelity Cash Management Account

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Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Read Review
APY
2.72%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • Rate paid on easy-to-access cash is higher than you're likely to earn with a typical checking or savings account
  • $0 minimum opening deposit
  • No monthly service fee
  • FDIC insured
  • Robust enough to serve as your primary checking account
  • No limit on the number of ATM fee reimbursements you receive
  • Well-rated mobile app
  • APY is lower than many cash management accounts and high-yield savings accounts
  • There may not be a physical location near you

The Fidelity Cash Management Account looks a lot like a checking account, but it's not. Picture it as a brokerage account waiting room. It's where your uninvested cash sits while you decide what you want to do with it. The cool part is that Fidelity pays you interest on the money while it sits in the waiting room.

Betterment Checking

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Member FDIC.
Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 3.50 out of 5 stars.
3.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Read Review
APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
$0
  • No monthly fees, ATM and foreign transaction fees reimbursed
  • Cash back rewards
  • Robust mobile app
  • Wide range of financial services
  • No APY
  • No physical locations

Betterment Checking is a no-fee account, with generous debit card cash back rewards, and 100% of foreign transaction and ATM fees are reimbursed. It also offers a robust mobile app to help you manage your finances and take advantage of its popular robo-advisor platform. However, it may not be a good fit for those who want to speak to someone face to face and have the need to deposit cash.

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner

Schwab Bank Investor Checking™

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Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Read Review
APY
0.45%
Min. To Earn APY
$0.01
  • Competitive APY
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No monthly maintenance fees
  • Unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide
  • Great customer service
  • Free linked investment account with checking account
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions
  • Physical locations for investment services

Schwab is known for its investing platform, but also offers a no-fee checking account with a competitive APY and benefits for those who travel. There are no foreign transaction fees, unlimited ATM fee rebates, and it offers the Schwab Security Guarantee. This means the bank will cover losses in any of your Schwab accounts due to unauthorized activity. The account is best for those who want to manage their investment accounts and checking accounts in one place.

Capital One 360 Checking

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Member FDIC.
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
= Good
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Read Review
APY
0.10%
Min. To Earn APY
$1
  • Branches and Capital One Cafes in some states
  • Variety of accounts
  • Robust digital platform and app
  • Great customer service
  • Higher APY available at other financial institutions

Capital One 360 Checking has quickly become one of the top contenders in the online banking industry. Its no-fee, no-minimum account and access to more than 70,000 fee-free ATMs make it a great option for frequent travelers. Account holders can add cash to their 360 Checking account at any of the 9,600 CVS locations. If account holders need help in person, they can visit hundreds of branches throughout the U.S., including a growing number of Capital One Cafes. Capital One also has a robust mobile app and online banking tools.

HSBC Premier Checking

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Member FDIC.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Read Review
APY
0.01%
Min. To Earn APY
$5
  • Worldwide fee-free ATM access
  • Savings account included
  • Customers get special rates on home loans
  • Maintenance fee

HSBC Premier Checking offers access to global privileges and preferred rates for up to four family members. Account holders can access all international HSBC ATMs worldwide with no fee and are eligible for up to five third-party ATM rebates per month within the U.S. There are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made with the HSBC Premier Debit World Mastercard® card and card holders receive priority service and emergency financial support at HSBC locations around the globe. Account holders can make fee-free transfers of up to $200,000 in 27 countries, giving customers greater flexibility when traveling overseas.

Varo Online Bank Account

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Member FDIC.
Read Review
APY
0%
Min. To Earn APY
N/A
  • Get access to your paycheck up to two days early
  • No fees
  • Works with Zelle
  • Large fee-free ATM network
  • Free credit score tracker
  • Earn cash back with debit purchases from select brands
  • Doesn't earn interest
  • Only 1 branch location nationwide (in Utah)

Varo checking account customers can use their Varo Bank Visa® Debit Card virtually anywhere Visa is accepted worldwide. Varo also doesn't charge foreign transaction fees for purchases made with your debit card in other countries. You can access cash from more than 40,000 Allpoint ATMs in the U.S., making it easy to stock up on cash before your trip abroad to avoid poor exchange rates and additional fees.

Our bank and credit union methodology

Our methodology for scoring banks and credit unions revolves around evaluating key aspects such as annual percentage yield (APY), brand reputation, fees and minimum requirements, and additional perks.

These criteria are weighted differently across various account types, ensuring a comprehensive assessment that reflects the competitive landscape and economic conditions.

We strictly feature products that offer federal insurance and high customer satisfaction, keeping our recommendations unbiased by advertiser influence. This robust evaluation process helps us generate balanced, reliable best-of lists that guide consumers to top financial products.

Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates bank accounts.

Banks we monitor

  • Alliant, Ally, All America Bank, American First Credit Union, American Express® National Bank, Arvest Bank, Aspiration, Axos Bank, B2 Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Betterment, Bluevine, BMO Bank, Bread Financial, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIT, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Savings Bank, Columbia Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Copper, Cross River Bank, Customers Bank, Discover® Bank, E*TRADEEdward Jones, EverBank, Fidelity, Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation Bank, First Internet Bank of Indiana, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flushing Bank, Freedom Bank, Generations Bank, GN Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenlight, Harborstone Credit Union, HSBC, Huntington Bank, Ivella, Jenius Bank, Kabbage by American Express, KeyBank, Laurel Road, LendingClub, Liberty Bank, Liberty Federal Credit Union, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Mercury, Municipal Credit Union, Mutual of Omaha, My Banking Direct, NASA Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Bank, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC Bank, New York Community Bank, NexBank, Northpointe Bank, Novo, OceanFirst Bank, Old National Bank, ONE Finance, OneUnited Bank, Oxygen, Pacific Western Bank, PNC Bank, Ponce Bank, Popular Direct, Presidential Bank, Prime Alliance Bank, Quontic, Radius, Raisin, Redneck Bank, Regions Bank, Relay, Republic Bank of Chicago, Revolut, Salem Five Bank, Sallie Mae, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Simple, SoFi®, Synchrony Bank, Tab Bank, TD Bank, Third Federal, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB, Upgrade, USAA, Valley Bank, Vanguard, Varo Bank, Vio Bank, Wealthfront, Wells Fargo, Western Alliance Bank, and Zeta.

FAQs

  • Capital One is one of the few banks that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees on both its debit and credit products by default. Not many other major banks have a blanket policy of no foreign transaction fees. That said, a number of banks will offer specific accounts that waive foreign transaction fees. For example, TD Bank's basic checking account has a 3% foreign transaction fee, but its mid-tier option has a 0% fee. Charles Schwab's only checking account also waives foreign transaction fees.

  • The best banks for international travel share a few common features:

    • Easy to use: They have comprehensive digital banking options that are easy to navigate and provide all the services you need in one place.
    • Affordable: If you're traveling internationally, look for a bank that will reimburse your ATMs fees while abroad. You also want a debit card that won't charge foreign transaction fees for purchases in foreign currencies.
    • Secure: A lot can go wrong while traveling. Good banks make it easy to report lost or stolen cards, freeze your accounts, and get replacement cards wherever you are. Their mobile app should also offer extra security features like two-factor authentication and biometric sign-in in case your device winds up in the wrong hands.

  • Many large financial institutions operate in multiple countries. However, banking regulations can vary significantly from place to place, and there are strict regulations in place about moving money from country to country. As such, few banks operate consumer branches in multiple countries.

    In other words, you'll have a hard time finding a U.S. bank that operates regular bank branches in other countries. The alternative is to use a U.S.-based bank that offers great digital banking options and low fees on services like foreign ATM withdrawals and purchases in foreign currencies.