Pay No International ATM Fees at These 8 Banks

When you're traveling abroad, taking money out of an ATM is a convenient way to exchange currency. Unfortunately, depending on your bank, using this method to access local currency could also be an expensive option if you're charged additional fees, like an ATM fee and a foreign transaction fee.

The good news is, some banks won't make you pay to use an ATM in a foreign country — and others provide reimbursement for ATM transaction fees. If you're a jet setter and looking for a bank that won’t charge you fees when you use your debit card outside of the United States, this list will help you find the financial institution that's right for you.

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Banks with no international ATM fees

Here are the best banks and best checking accounts that don't charge ATM foreign transaction fees:

• Aspiration
• Betterment
• Charles Schwab
• Capital One
• Alliant Credit Union
• First Republic Bank
• Fidelity
• USAA

Aspiration

If you open an Aspiration Spend & Save Account and choose the Aspiration Plus level of service, then you'll be in luck. Aspiration provides fee reimbursement that makes it possible to use ATMs worldwide. Aspiration credits you $4 for every ATM fee. If your fees end up higher, you can contact their customer support for the appropriate fee credit. You won't be reimbursed for fees charged by Mastercard though. 

Other features of an Aspiration Plus account include:

• No monthly fees, no minimum monthly deposit, and no minimum monthly balance requirements
• Aspiration donates 10% of its earnings to charities
• An annual percentage yield (APY) of up to 3.00% (as of Oct. 11, 2023) with Aspiration Plus
• No overdraft or stop payment fees

Read our detailed Aspiration Spend & Save Account review.

Betterment

You can use your Betterment Checking account debit card at any ATM worldwide where Visa cards are accepted, and Betterment will reimburse any associated fees. It will even reimburse the 1% currency conversion fee from Visa that applies to foreign transactions, purchases, and ATM transactions. That means you can get free ATM access anywhere you travel.

Other features of a Betterment Checking account include:

• A robust mobile app that lets you manage all aspects of your account
• Contactless payment
• No minimum deposit required to open an account

Read our detailed Betterment Checking review.

Charles Schwab

The Schwab Bank high-yield investor checking account is an ideal choice for frequent travelers who want to save on ATM fees. With the investor checking account, you won’t be charged for using an ATM abroad and Charles Schwab will reimburse you whatever the local bank charges. You also won't pay any foreign transaction fees when you use your debit card abroad.

In addition to these great benefits, this Charles Schwab bank account also offers:

• No monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements as long as you've linked your account to a Schwab One brokerage account
• An APY of 0.45% (as of May 23, 2023)
• Travel notices so you'll have uninterrupted access to your money during your trip
• A full-featured mobile app that enables you to deposit and transfer funds from your phone

Capital One

Capital One's 360 Checking Account allows you to use your debit card at more than 39,000 Capital One or Allpoint ATMs without paying ATM fees. This includes ATMs outside of the U.S. With this account, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees on debit card purchases either.

In addition to these perks for travelers, account holders also benefit from:

• No monthly maintenance fees or account minimums
• One free checkbook
• A top-rated, full-featured mobile app to enable you to manage accounts and deposit checks
• An APY of 0.10% (as of Jul. 21, 2023)

Alliant Credit Union

Alliant credit union members with an Alliant Checking or Teen Checking account can make fee-free cash withdrawals at more than 80,000 ATMs worldwide. Plus, account holders are also eligible for a rebate on ATM fees. This rebate maxes out at $20 per month, but it covers withdrawals at foreign ATMs. You will still be charged a 1% Visa foreign transaction fee if you use your debit card to make a withdrawal outside of the U.S., though.

Debit cardholder benefits vary depending on the kind of Alliant checking account you open. The $20 ATM rebate is available on Alliant's high-rate checking account, which also offers:

• No monthly maintenance fee or minimum balance requirements
• An APY of 0.25% (as of May 23, 2023)
• A free Visa debit card and one free box of checks upon account opening
• Alliant's mobile banking app, which includes mobile deposit
• Free overdraft protection if you have a linked Alliant savings account

First Republic Bank

First Republic's ATM Rebate Checking offers a rebate for withdrawal fees charged by other banks, so you can use your debit card to take money out anywhere without worrying about ATM fees. And you won't have to pay foreign transaction fees either, though you aren't reimbursed for foreign currency conversion charges.

There are some other fees you could potentially be hit with though, as well as some benefits for account holders:

• The minimum opening balance is $500
• You must maintain a $3,500 average balance or will incur a $25 monthly service fee
• You'll get your first order of checks for free

Fidelity

Fidelity's Cash Management Account comes with ATM reimbursement, as do Fidelity brokerage accounts. As an account holder, you can withdraw money from more than 1 million ATMs worldwide with your debit card, as long as the ATM has a Visa, Plus, or Star logo. And ATM reimbursement is available no matter where in the world you make your ATM withdrawal. You will owe a 1% foreign transaction fee for foreign transactions, though.

Fidelity's debit card also offers:

• The ability to use Apple Pay
• EMV chip technology for enhanced security
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Worldwide travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• An extended warranty for the first 90 days from the time you make a purchase

USAA

USAA's Classic Checking account is open only to eligible members of the military, veterans, and their families.If you qualify for an account, you can get access to 60,000 USAA-preferred ATMs worldwide with your debit card, and you won’t incur any fees. If you are charged fees at a foreign ATM, you'll be refunded for up to $15 per month. However, you will owe a 1% foreign transaction fee for withdrawals made abroad. A $25 initial deposit is required to open an account.

Other features of USAA's Classic Checking account include:

• No monthly service fees and no minimum balance requirement
• Overdraft protection when you link your account to a USAA savings account or credit card
• Access to USAA Money Manager to help you track your spending

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FAQs about international ATM fees

The final word on international ATM fees

International ATM fees can really add up, especially if you travel often and pay as much as $5 per ATM withdrawal. But with the accounts listed above, you won't have to worry about wasting your money on international ATM fees just to withdraw cash while you travel. So instead of spending your vacation dollars on ATM withdrawal fees, you can spend that extra couple of bucks of U.S. dollars on something fun to make your trip even more memorable.

Disclaimer: All rates and fees are accurate as of May 9, 2023.

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Author Details

Christy Rakoczy Christy Rakoczy has a Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law School with a focus in Business Law, and a Certificate in Business Marketing with an English Degree from The University of Rochester. As a full-time personal finance writer, she writes about all things money-related but her special areas of focus are credit cards, personal loans, student loans, mortgages, smart debt payoff strategies, and retirement and Social Security. Her work has been featured by USA Today, MSN Money, CNN Money and more, and you can learn more at her LinkedIn profile.

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