Overseas Transactions - Points

[TheFootballCritic]

Hi,

I was just wondering if Citibank is the only bank that offers additional points for overseas transactions?

 

[gregff]

Citibank "enhanced" their cards recently to remove bonus points for o/s transactions, except for their two most expensive cards - Citi Emerates World Mastercard and Citi Prestige Visa.
Amex Platinum Charge and Reserve and possibly, some other Amex direct issued cards, offer points bonuses for o/s transactions.
Qantas Cash and Velocity prepaid cards give an increased 1:1 earn for o/s transactions as opposed to their 0.5/1 earn on domestic transactions.
I dont think ANZ, CBA or WBC give points bonuses for o/s transactions, but I maybe wrong.

 

[TheFootballCritic]

Thanks gregff.

I am currently using the Citibank Prestige Visa however not been happy since the introduction of their 'International Transaction Fee' and looking to see whatever alternatives I might have.

 

[DeKa]

I am currently using the Citibank Prestige Visa however not been happy since the introduction of their 'International Transaction Fee' and looking to see whatever alternatives I might have.

They always had this fee .. just it used to be built into the transaction line item.
There are two recent changes: the fee went up from 3.3 to 3.4% and the fee is now charged on AUD transactions when the merchant is overseas .. 99% of the time you should not have let a merchant overseas charge you in AUD anyway, as then you'd be hit with a hidden DCC charge.

 

[burmans]

Of course you always have the option of going with a CC or debit card that does not kill you on the fee/exchange rate but does not give points. Given the poor return on overseas spend I think I'll be opting for the 28 degrees or the Citi Plus in the future, whereas I have used the Citi Signature in the past a fair bit.

 

[TheFootballCritic]

The percentage increase didn't necessarily bother me however the added charges to AUD transactions when the merchant was overseas has been a bit of a hiccup. There was no hidden DCC charges regarding my business but the charges for 10-20k worth of AUD transaction fee's is a nuisance.

Is Citibank the only bank to offer this sort of charge on AUD international charges?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Of course you always have the option of going with a CC or debit card that does not kill you on the fee/exchange rate but does not give points. Given the poor return on overseas spend I think I'll be opting for the 28 degrees or the Citi Plus in the future, whereas I have used the Citi Signature in the past a fair bit.

Given the changes for international spend in less points and more fees on my CitiSig I am "shudder" considering swithing to sans-points transactions when I need to use plastic.

Does anyone have views on which is currently best (including that the below are yearly fee free) for spending:

* Citibank Plus Debit Card (plus is good for fee free ATM access overseas for cash).
* 28 Degrees
* Bankwest
* Or another?

I have the first already, used to have the second (axed it when ATM fees came in), but do not yet have the third yet

 

[DeKa]

The percentage increase didn't necessarily bother me however the added charges to AUD transactions when the merchant was overseas has been a bit of a hiccup. There was no hidden DCC charges regarding my business but the charges for 10-20k worth of AUD transaction fee's is a nuisance.

Is Citibank the only bank to offer this sort of charge on AUD international charges?

Actually they were one of the few who did not charge a fee on AUD when the merchant was overseas. They joined the pack.

 

[gregff]

Actually they were one of the few who did not charge a fee on AUD when the merchant was overseas. They joined the pack.

And Citibank credit cards have one of the highest commission rates (conversion fee) (3.4%) within the pack!

 

[get me outta here]

Buried deep somewhere here I remember seeing an answer comparison on that very question, and maybe someone will have compared it very recently, but the outcomes was that they were all pretty much the same. It's just that BW gives points too.

Given the changes for international spend in less points and more fees on my CitiSig I am "shudder" considering swithing to sans-points transactions when I need to use plastic.

Does anyone have views on which is currently best (including that the below are yearly fee free) for spending:

* Citibank Plus Debit Card (plus is good for fee free ATM access overseas for cash).
* 28 Degrees
* Bankwest
* Or another?

I have the first already, used to have the second (axed it when ATM fees came in), but do not yet have the third yet

 

[illumination]

Given the changes for international spend in less points and more fees on my CitiSig I am "shudder" considering swithing to sans-points transactions when I need to use plastic.

Does anyone have views on which is currently best (including that the below are yearly fee free) for spending:

* Citibank Plus Debit Card (plus is good for fee free ATM access overseas for cash).
* 28 Degrees
* Bankwest
* Or another?

I have the first already, used to have the second (axed it when ATM fees came in), but do not yet have the third yet

I don't know why you axed the 28 Degrees just because ATM fees came in seeing as they don't charge an annual fee and it's just a good card to have up your sleeve (unless you needed to free up your liabilities/didn't want an unnecessary card).

AFAIK, These are the only cards that don't charge for overseas transactions:

- Citibank Plus Debit Card (the only debit card that doesn't charge)
- 28 Degrees
- Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard%
- Coles Mastercard Rewards ($89/FlyBuys)^*
- Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard ($140/Bankwest More Points)*%
- Bankwest Qantas Platinum Mastercard ($160/Qantas Points)*%

^ Cheapest card that doesn't charge extra on international transaction/forex rates that rewards points
* Earns rewards points
% Includes Travel Insurance

The Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard is just an elite version of the 28 Degrees (which is also harder to get due to higher salary requirement + higher minimum credit limit), so there isno need to get it unless you really want the additional features over 28 Degrees, but is also the card with the most features of all the free ones.

Whether or not these cards are worth the annual fee really depends on how much you would be using the card on foreign transactions.

 

[Isochronous]

Agreed. Although I never use my 28 Degrees anymore because I have the Bankwest World which earns QFF and has all the same benefits and more

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I don't know why you axed the 28 Degrees just because ATM fees came in seeing as they don't charge an annual fee and it's just a good card to have up your sleeve (unless you needed to free up your liabilities/didn't want an unnecessary card).

.

It was/is a case of yes me having a lot of cc/debit cards and as part of this I prune from from time to time, and I was no longer using the 28 degrees at all.

At the time I was happy with my CitiPlus for getting cash overseas and amongst my various cc cards there was various point earns (ie Citibank 3 points per $ and various cards with good boni of flights/accommodation etc spend)which made it to me a better deal to take the points as being worth more than the cost of the additional fees.

 

[get me outta here]

This is what I do. Although, this reminds me to let 28Degees know I am travelling as its my back up card.

When the BW More card is mentioned, is this synonymous with the World card?

Agreed. Although I never use my 28 Degrees anymore because I have the Bankwest World which earns QFF and has all the same benefits and more

 

[kko]

When the BW More card is mentioned, is this synonymous with the World card?

It's not. It doesn't have the option to upgrade to the World MasterCard and it collects BankWest rewards (https://www.bankwestmorerewards.com.au/) which TTBOMK are not transferable to any airlines.