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The Citi Double Cash® Card foreign transaction fee is 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars. Among credit cards that charge foreign transaction fees, 3% is the most common amount.
A 3% fee may not amount to much on a single purchase, but it can add up over the course of a vacation. If you spend $3,000 with the Citi Double Cash® Card while outside the United States, that's $90 in foreign transaction fees.
In this guide, you'll learn when this card charges foreign transaction fees and how to avoid them.
Foreign transaction fees on the Citi Double Cash® Card apply to purchases made outside the United States. You can also incur foreign transaction fees for online purchases with international merchants, even if the purchase itself is being delivered to a U.S. address. The rule is that if a foreign bank is involved in the transaction, there will be a foreign transaction fee.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay
Up to 2% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
20,000 ThankYou® Points
This card combines a top-notch balance transfer offer for 18 months with best-in-class unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. There's no introductory APR for purchases, so you'll need to pay those off in full every month if you want to avoid interest charges.
After that, Citi adds the 3% foreign transaction fee. For example, if you buy a souvenir for 10 euros, Mastercard would convert it to U.S. dollars, and then Citi would charge an additional 3% of that amount.
Many international merchants offer a payment option called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This allows you to pay for the purchase in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. It's better to decline this option.
Even if you accept DCC and pay in U.S. dollars, you'll still incur a foreign transaction fee. DCC doesn't help you avoid that surcharge. It also typically offers poor exchange rates for consumers. You'll likely get a much better rate and pay less overall if you let the payment networks for your credit cards handle the currency conversion.
In the United States, the Citi Double Cash® Card offers excellent value. With its cash back rate, it's one of the best rewards cards for everyday use. It can earn you an unlimited 2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay.
Since one of this card's biggest benefits is cash back, there's little reason to use it abroad, unless it's an emergency. To avoid unnecessary fees, bring a credit card with no foreign transaction fees when traveling internationally. If you need help finding one, check out The Ascent's guide to the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards.
If you're a frequent traveler, you may want to consider travel credit cards. Most of them don't have a foreign transaction fee, and they can help you save on your travel expenses. But if you want to stick to cash rewards, there are also some cash back cards with no foreign transaction fees.
Here are some other questions we've answered:
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
|
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
|
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
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Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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.
|
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Yes, you can use your Citi Double Cash® Card internationally, but it charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is worth it if you want to earn a high cash back rate on purchases or refinance debt. It has a competitive cash back rate (2% cash back: 1% when you buy plus 1% as you pay) and a long balance transfer offer.
You don't need to notify Citi when you travel, but it's a good idea to avoid potentially having transactions flagged as fraud. Here's how to set up a travel notice with your Citi card:
You can also set up a travel notice over the phone by calling the number on the back of your Citi credit card.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Mastercard.