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ATM and Credit Card Conversion Fees
 

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©Croatia Traveller 2005-2008

Once upon a time, experienced travellers never left home without travellers checks. We got used to paying the fees and losing on the exchange rate but then ATMs came along and we thought--whoa!!--pay a few bucks but you get a great exchange rate.

That was so 20th century. Fast forward to now and the little tsunami of currency conversion charges and credit card fees that ripple across your bank statement when you return from a trip!

Yes, banks have gotten wise to the big money lurking in foreign currency transactions by unsuspecting tourists. Not only does your credit card company take a cut every time you withdraw currency from abroad or buy a souvenir with your credit card but so does the issuing bank--at least some of them.

I can't emphasize this strongly enough: even before reserving your flight, hotel or car call your bank and inform yourself on their charges for withdrawing currency or paying by credit card on your Croatian holiday. Not all banks are equal! Take a look at this chart below for a comparision of charges levied by major US banks:

Fee for credit card purchase made in foreign currency* Fee for a debit card purchase made in foreign currency* Fee for an ATM card withdrawal made in a foreign country/currency?*
2 percent charge on point-of-sale purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars No debit cards No ATM cards
Bank of America
3 percent on point-of-sale credit card purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent on point of sale debit card purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) $5 fee and 1 percent of amount withdrawn; waived if using a Global ATM Alliance machine
Citibank
3 percent of credit card purchase after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent on point-of-sale debit card purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) Citigold accounts are charged 1 percent 3 percent of the withdrawal at non-Citibank ATMs Citigold accounts are charged 1 percent No fee for Citibank ATMs
Capital One
0 percent; Capital One does not pass along the 1 percent charged by Visa and MasterCard 0 percent and Capital One does not pass along the 1 percent charged by Visa and MasterCard No fee for accounts with a minimum balance of $1000
Discover
0 percent charged for credit card purchases No debit cards No ATM cards 3 percent standard on cash advances
FifthThird Bank
3 percent of credit card purchase after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent of debit card purchase after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent of the withdrawal
JP Morgan Chase
3 percent on point-of-sale purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent on point-of-sale purchases after conversion to U.S. dollars (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent of the withdrawal
Simmons Bank
3 percent on credit card transactions (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) No fee for debit or ATM transaction except for 1 percent charged by Visa or MasterCard No fee for withdrawal except the network charge
Wachovia
1 percent of credit card purchase charged by Visa / MasterCard 1 percent of debit card purchases charged by Visa / MasterCard 1 percent charged by PLUS network
Washington Mutual
1 percent of credit card purchase charged by Visa or MasterCard 1 percent of credit card purchase charged by Visa / MasterCard 3 percent transaction fee on each ATM withdrawal in addition to the 1 percent charged by Visa or MasterCard
Wells Fargo
3 percent of the transaction amount for credit card purchases (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) 3 percent of the transaction amount for debit card purchases (includes 1 percent for Visa or MasterCard) $5 per withdrawal

source: bankrate.com

Related Pages

Exchanging Money in Croatia

Money in Croatia

Currency Exchange Rate

Travel Costs & Prices in Croatia

The Croatian Kuna

Travellers Checks

ATMs (Cash Machines) in Croatia

Credit Cards in Croatia


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