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.)

 

[SYD]

Citi has sold many of its other offshore books to other banks (e.g., Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam), so there are fewer Citi oveseas ATMs anyway.

Yeah, I’m most interested in the US. Apart from Citi ATMs there was also Walgreens or is it CVS (maybe both). Anyway, I’d be surprised if they still work…

 

[Stealthflyer]

Citi has sold many of its other offshore books to other banks (e.g., Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam), so there are fewer Citi oveseas ATMs anyway.

Why would Citibank be an exception to the fee free ATM withdrawals?

 

[oz_mark]

Why would Citibank be an exception to the fee free ATM withdrawals?

They weren't, but you could withdraw from Citi ATMs without the operator fee.

 

[Stealthflyer]

They weren't, but you could withdraw from Citi ATMs without the operator fee.

Ah I see.

 

[Zinger]

Just wondering if anyone has moved to either Macquarie Bank or to Bankwest and has used the account at foreign ATMs or funds transfers in foreign businesses.

I'd be interested to hear of your experiences with exchange rates and customer service from either of those two banks.

Also I'd like to hear if you have decided continue with NAB and have used the card overseas.

 

[kamchatsky]

NAB somehow sent me two cards even though I only had 1 Citibank account. I activated both of them but I don't really understand why they sent me two cards instead of one. Anyway, I will wait for others here to use it to see if the international fees are indeed waived, as I won't be using it anytime soon.

 

[Rich]

NAB somehow sent me two cards even though I only had 1 Citibank account. I activated both of them but I don't really understand why they sent me two cards instead of one. Anyway, I will wait for others here to use it to see if the international fees are indeed waived, as I won't be using it anytime soon.

I just used the NAB card in Bali at a couple of ATMs and there were no fees.

 

[Lynda2475]

I've been using Macquarie Bank txn card in parallel to Citibank for a couple of years.

Good exchange rate on purchases, and in countries where fee free ATM's are plentiful like the UK had no issues getting cash out.

The app uses an authenticator app so no need to be able to receive sms when traveling.

On trip to NZ last weekend apart from taxi on Citibank card (and I did this because I knew it was being cancelled come Feb so little opportunity for fraud, the only time I've ever had fraudulent transactions on any card have been after taxi use), I was cashless and used Macquarie card everywhere without issue.

 

[RealtimeY]

I'd be interested to hear of your experiences with exchange rates and customer service from either of those two banks.

Excellent on both counts. The mobile app is great too. I now carry two Macquarie cards overseas in case I lose one.

 

[mel-world]

Just used NAB (ex Citi) card at CITI ATM in Singapore. Exchanged at interbank rate so no exchange fee but charged separately the S$3 ATM fee = AUD 3.44. So no longer getting that fee waived.

 

[serfty]

Just used NAB (ex Citi) card at CITI ATM in Singapore. Exchanged at interbank rate so no exchange fee but charged separately the S$3 ATM fee = AUD 3.44. So no longer getting that fee waived.

I don't believe the Citi Card ever waived/rebated ATM fees. The only one I knew of was ING and that stopped a few months ago.

 

[Black Duck]

I don't believe the Citi Card ever waived/rebated ATM fees. The only one I knew of was ING and that stopped a few months ago.

Actual citi ATM's were fee free. Other ATM's then you paid the fee.

 

[serfty]

Actual citi ATM's were fee free. Other ATM's then you paid the fee.

Yes, apologies to @mel-world, I missed that specificity re Citi ATMs.

Never used Citi as ING used to do the trick (.... anywhere).

(FWIW in SE Asia, CIMB ATM's generally have no fee )

 

[QF_Flyer]

One of the other advantages of Citibank Plus was that you could do fee-free ATM withdrawals at oveseas Citi ATMs. While NAB might not charge you for foreign withdrawals on the Citibank Plus successor card, the overseas ATM operator is likely to do so.

What are the alternatives? Are their other 'global' banks with Australian subsidiaries and ATMs in other markets that don't charge you 3% for forex conversion and don't charge you ATM fees? HSBC or ING?

Citi won't charge a fee, and neither will NAB for legacies. If the overseas ATM charges a fee, you pay it. It was only ING that rebated that, and they cut it to max 5x per month ages ago, then axed it altogether late last year.

In reality it's (ING) still just as good as the Citi/NAB card if you jump through the hoops - I do, because 5.5% on the linked saver is about the best on the market for easy access.

 

[Pete98765432]

In reality it's (ING) still just as good as the Citi/NAB card if you jump through the hoops - I do, because 5.5% on the linked saver is about the best on the market for easy access.

Nearly but not quite as good. ING charges $5 per overseas ATM withdrawal. If you jump through the hoops they will rebate this charge up to 5 times a month. No rebate for the sixth and subsequent withdrawals.

 

[SYD]

Nearly but not quite as good. ING charges $5 per overseas ATM withdrawal. If you jump through the hoops they will rebate this charge up to 5 times a month. No rebate for the sixth and subsequent withdrawals.

Which normally wouldn’t be a problem?

Unless you’re travelling in multiple countries in rapid succession and needed to withdrawn more than once?

 

[Pete98765432]

Which normally wouldn’t be a problem?

Unless you’re travelling in multiple countries in rapid succession and needed to withdrawn more than once?

I agree that it wouldn’t normally be a problem but it is something to be aware of.

 

[SYD]

I agree that it wouldn’t normally be a problem but it is something to be aware of.

I have ING for the best in class Savings interest rate but UBank isn’t far behind and has no limitations on fee free ATM withdrawals OS…(I have both).

 

[QF_Flyer]

Nearly but not quite as good. ING charges $5 per overseas ATM withdrawal. If you jump through the hoops they will rebate this charge up to 5 times a month. No rebate for the sixth and subsequent withdrawals.

Fair point. I rarely make more than 1 or 2 ATM withdrawals, but a good thing to note.

 

[theblank]

Just wondering if anyone has moved to either Macquarie Bank or to Bankwest and has used the account at foreign ATMs or funds transfers in foreign businesses.

I'd be interested to hear of your experiences with exchange rates and customer service from either of those two banks.

Also I'd like to hear if you have decided continue with NAB and have used the card overseas.

If the product says there are no overseas transaction fees, then there isnt any. Its that simple. I have used Citi, NAB, MQ, ING, Wise and something else. There was nothing special or different about any of them. (of course ING is now a dud)

there is no customer service needed for a simple bank account. They are all free bank accounts, get them all, costs you nothing and if you dont like the colour, chuck it out.