Is Citi Plus still the best option for overseas cash?

[bernardblack]

Is Citi Plus still the best option for overseas cash? Obviously I haven't done a lot of international travel since 2019.

If I have to open some other account it might be time to get started, since we depart in five weeks.

(I'm set for FX-fee-free purchases, with a US Amex Gold backed with a Coles Rewards Mastercard and a Bundll account which charges to my Dragon Visa.)

 

[Cynicor]

Let's see how long any existing benefits last with NAB.

Going to last longer than closing the account will give you…

 

[mel-world]

Going to last longer than closing the account will give you…

Touche

 

[Blacksheep]

Just checked current rate for AUD to JPY on xe.com is 97.405. HSBC giving 95.51...meh
Only needing maybe 1k AUD converted....nothing earth shattering

 

[Flashback]

Just opened a HSBC Global Everyday Account, seems ok. No monthly fees, can hold up to 10 different currencies. No withdrawal fees as long as the atm accepts Visa. Hopefully the exchange rate should be decent, going to Japan and will need cash in remote areas. Otherwise Latitude CC all the way.
Has anyone else used this account to withdrawal cash?

If it's anything like the UK version, then the rate will be worse than true ForEx free cards like Citibank, uBank etc.

 

[Blacksheep]

A bit off topic, anyone in Sydney knows a decent currency exchange? A couple of my relatives are new to travel and it's too late for them to get a travel card and needs some hard currency as back up. A few 'online' exchanges I've seen have been close to murder and some! Thanks

 

[Duffa]

A timely reminder to NEVER accept either Paypal or the overseas merchant's kind offer to convert their currency to AUD on your behalf!!
4.2% markup - no thank you.
Stick with the Citi Debit Card, in the local overseas currency! Always a better deal. Good old Citi...

 

[SYD]

Citi has been a FAIL in Thailand. Apparently the local Citi brand was bought out by UOB (Singapore) and rebranded (sound familiar?).

Contrary to what I read in some blogs, UOB ATMs still wanted to charge the country wide 220 Baht ($9.50) ATM fee. Every other ATM brand we tried was the same. Double whammy, cash is King in Thailand. Next time will bring wads of AUD…

 

[Cynicor]

Did you try any of the 3 Citi atms? Not sure if they are gone now. And only in Bangkok.
Thailand does suck for this problem. I’ll change $ in SIN if needed

 

[oz_mark]

Citi has been a FAIL in Thailand. Apparently the local Citi brand was bought out by UOB (Singapore) and rebranded (sound familiar?).

Contrary to what I read in some blogs, UOB ATMs still wanted to charge the country wide 220 Baht ($9.50) ATM fee. Every other ATM brand we tried was the same. Double whammy, cash is King in Thailand. Next time will bring wads of AUD…

Citi has been winding down across the region generally.

UOB bought the Citi retail business in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam

DBS has bought the Taiwan business

 

[Pete98765432]

Did you try any of the 3 Citi atms? Not sure if they are gone now. And only in Bangkok.
Thailand does suck for this problem. I’ll change $ in SIN if needed

I used one of these in September and it was still fee free. The branch it was attached to was closed while being renovated into a UOB branch. I assume if it hasn’t happened yet, it will be replaced by a UOB ATM.

 

[marks]

I used the UOB branches in Bangkok at Asoke and had no issues or fees on my statement. The rate was the MC rate. About a month ago

 

[SYD]

I used the UOB branches in Bangkok at Asoke and had no issues or fees on my statement. The rate was the MC rate. About a month ago

We went ahead and used a UOB ATM. Online shows the amount withdrawn (not including ATM fee) but the AUD amount compared to the spot rate wasn’t great, so we assumed that the fee was passed on. If there was no fee, then the effective exchange rate was really coughpy.

Did you try any of the 3 Citi atms? Not sure if they are gone now. And only in Bangkok.

From memory, they weren’t conveniently located so can’t confirm if they still exist either.

Thailand does suck for this problem. I’ll change $ in SIN if needed

Yes! Actually our first time visiting Thailand for years so didn’t realise it was such a problem and we had assumed Citi would work post ING being “enhanced“….

As above, it’s back to old school and bring fresh AUD and change on the ground - the money exchange places - at least in coughet (aka Moscow sur mer) - aren’t too bad.

 

[chodo]

We went ahead and used a UOB ATM. Online shows the amount withdrawn (not including ATM fee) but the AUD amount compared to the spot rate wasn’t great, so we assumed that the fee was passed on. If there was no fee, then the effective exchange rate was really coughpy.

From memory, they weren’t conveniently located so can’t confirm if they still exist either.

Yes! Actually our first time visiting Thailand for years so didn’t realise it was such a problem and we had assumed Citi would work post ING being “enhanced“….

As above, it’s back to old school and bring fresh AUD and change on the ground - the money exchange places - at least in coughet (aka Moscow sur mer) - aren’t too bad.

there's the Citibank building at Asoke which is about as central as you can get?

BTS and MRT both have stations here.

 

[SYD]

there's the Citibank building at Asoke which is about as central as you can get?

BTS and MRT both have stations here.

Yep, still a 40 min each way trip from Pullman G on Silom. Plus the BTS is still cash only - so that wasn’t going to work heading out for cash… At least the MRT you could tap a CC or DC.

Central World would have closer but according to Google both have been rebadged UOB branches (according to the photos).

 

[chodo]

Yep, still a 40 min each way trip from Pullman G on Silom. Plus the BTS is still cash only - so that wasn’t going to work heading out for cash… At least the MRT you could tap a CC or DC.

Central World would have closer but according to Google both have been rebadged UOB branches (according to the photos).

Did a few nights in Silom last month, first time since Covid and couldn’t believe how dead it was, especially the night market at Patpong.

It never seems like 40 minutes from Asoke to Silom - maybe because there’s so much to see?

 

[marks]

It never seems like 40 minutes from Asoke to Silom - maybe because there’s so much to see?

Because you walked it?? Would have been a $5AUD grab ride.

Do I need to take cash to Thailand? - Yes
As much as before? - No

The Citi (or UOB) ATMs are working OK but I'm sure it will be gone or expensive soon. However, there is more & more CC merchants in BKK than ever before. The amount of cash I weas withdrawing or exchanging was significantly lower on this trip. Actually, I think I only needed to once. Amex for work stuff, 28MC for personal or non AMEX vendors.

 

[chodo]

Because you walked it?? Would have been a $5AUD grab ride.

Do I need to take cash to Thailand? - Yes
As much as before? - No

The Citi (or UOB) ATMs are working OK but I'm sure it will be gone or expensive soon. However, there is more & more CC merchants in BKK than ever before. The amount of cash I weas withdrawing or exchanging was significantly lower on this trip. Actually, I think I only needed to once. Amex for work stuff, 28MC for personal or non AMEX vendors.

I didn’t say it took 40 minutes, that was Syd.

 

[SYD]

Because you walked it?? Would have been a $5AUD grab ride.

Yes, according to Google 40mins including MRT or BTS from my Hotel!

Do I need to take cash to Thailand? - Yes
As much as before? - No

Koh Samui we were told everyone takes cards - not sure that was true. Bangkok was a mixed bag. coughet - mostly cash.

The Citi (or UOB) ATMs are working OK but I'm sure it will be gone or expensive soon.

The UOB (and other ATMs) worked with Citi, ING and UBank but ALL wanted to charge ₽220.

 

[stm1sydney]

My ATM withdrawals in July 2023 were fee-free at the ATMs outside UOB's Interchange 21 branch (conveniently, Soi Cowboy is around the corner), but this was probably because that was a legacy Citi branch (still had some Citi signage). Presumably any old non-legacy-Citi UOB ATM would charge the standard Thailand fee.

 

[SeaWolf]

I'm going to be up in Bangkok over New Years so I'll check as well and report back, but even if I am able to use the old Citibank ATMs fee free, it's only going to last a few more months before we lose our Citibank branded cards.
I believe the Aeon bank ATMs might charge a slightly lower fee than the others, but that seems to be the only alternative.