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The Best Travel Cards And Bank Accounts For Kiwi Travellers

published by Bren

Last updated: May 23, 2023

QUICK SUMMARY

The best travel card for Kiwis right now is the Wise debit card.

To be frank, it's in a league of its own right now and there is nothing close to it.

It allows you to load NZD and exchange it to all other major currencies at a fair rate (better than any NZ bank rate).

It also allows you to get bank account numbers (!) in other currencies, so you can receive payments in those currencies.

Finally, it's all manageable within a very modern and easy-to-use app.

If you do not wish to sign up for a Wise card and want to just use your NZ bank, the best option right now is ASB. 

Their fees for ATM withdrawals are the lowest, so you can get yourself cash in practically any country in the world without losing too much in fees.

This article is a part of my travel tips series for New Zealand travellers. If you're not from NZ, this post won't apply to you. You can see the rest of the Kiwi traveller guides by clicking  here .

As a New Zealander, trying to find the best travel cards and banking options has been a frustrating affair. Why? There's just not that much to choose from.

Banks in larger countries are faced with higher competition and are forced to give their customers bundles of perks, while in NZ the banks enjoy a nice oligopoly which leaves us at the mercy of a few big players.

What that means is we never enjoy double and triple frequent flyer point deals, large signup bonuses, zero foreign transaction fees and ATM fee refunds. We don't have great travel credit cards or reward schemes. Very unlikely that you'll be getting free lounge passes or New Year bonus points.

However, there are still a few good options for us Kiwi travellers. And of course, it's still important that you don't lose money. With the wrong setup, you can end up paying hundreds in fees for currency conversions, overseas ATMs, interest, monthly and annual fees and more.

That's what I'm gonna help you with today.

In this post I'll break down the best travel cards, bank accounts, and some other lesser known options, and show you how over ten years of full time travel, I've managed to keep my bank fees down, gain several free flights on Airpoints, all while enjoying affordable and easy access to all my money, in various currencies, anywhere in the world.

Note: This is a long post with a lot of numbers. If you don't care for the analysis and just want to know what cards/accounts to get, you can skip straight to the bottom.

Part 1: Getting rid of ATM fees

The main way I access money while travelling is via ATM.

Not everyone knows this, but you can use ATM's overseas exactly the same way you use them in New Zealand. You get cash in the local currency, usually get a very good rate, and it comes straight out of your normal NZ bank account. It's very safe and easy.

In many countries, I never use a credit card or travel card at all. I just visit the ATM once or twice during my trip, and use cash for everything.

However! If you don't set up your bank accounts right, this can end up costing you a lot in fees.

Here's an example of when it doesn't work out so well for you:

I wanted to withdraw 10,000 Philippine pesos, which is around $265 NZD. At the time of this withdrawal, the interbank exchange rate (the 'real' rate that banks use) was around 38, and I was given 38.34.

So instead of paying $265, I paid $266.04.

That's a pretty good rate. At one of those currency exchanger booths, you'd lose 2-3% off that at least.

However, let's look at the fees here:

Offshore service margins: This is a fee they charge for withdrawing foreign currency, and will usually be between 1-2%. In my case, the fee is 1.1%, or $2.93 (that's actually low for a NZ bank).

Overseas ATM Fee: This is a fee charged for using an ATM outside your banking network. It usually ranges between $5-$10. In this case it's $7.50 (quite high).

Local ATM Fee: This is a fee the local bank will charge for using their ATM (everyone takes a cut!) As you can see, I wanted 10,000 pesos, but got charged 10,200. That extra 200 is the usage fee (around $5.50).

So for one $265 withdrawal I've been charged $3 in service margins, $7.50 by my NZ bank and $5.50 by the local bank whose ATM I'm using.

That's a total of $16 for one withdrawal. If I do that once a week it's going to add up to around $700 a year - not cool.

So, how do we avoid this?

Choose a bank with no foreign ATM fees

When I first wrote this article a few years ago, the only bank that offered free foreign ATM withdrawals was Westpac, through their membership with the Global ATM Alliance .

Things have changed since then.

In early 2018, ANZ announced they were waiving ATM fees both in NZ and overseas, and ASB followed suit later in the year and BNZ not long after that. Meaning most banks in New Zealand now waive all foreign ATM withdrawal fees.

However, if you really want to see who gives the best deal, we need to add up all the fees involved:

Overseas ATM fee summary (updated May 2020)

As you can see, ASB is easily the front runner here. But what we really care about are actual dollar amounts.

Here's what your fees will look like when making the following withdrawals at an overseas ATM:

This picture was a lot more complicated just one or two years ago, but now there's no contest when it comes to the best bank for NZ travellers: ASB .

The bank account I use is their Streamline account , which is managed entirely online, has a free EFTPOS card, and no fees.

How do you use a NZ EFTPOS card at an ATM overseas?

To use your NZ EFTPOS card at overseas ATMs, it works exactly the same as it does back home.

As long as your Eftpos card has a PLUS, Cirrus or Maestro symbol on the back, you can use it at almost any ATM in the world.

Check the back of your card and you should see one of those symbols, most NZ cards are either PLUS or Cirrus. 

For example, here's the back of my ASB card with the PLUS symbol:

Then when you visit an ATM, you'll see a sticker that shows what cards they accept, it will look like this:

Since those symbols are displayed there, it means your EFTPOS card will work just fine.

Just put it in, enter your PIN and away you go.

It's also really important to remember not to choose "credit" when you make your withdrawal. Choose check or savings or whichever your bank account is connected to.

If you choose credit, it will not be an EFTPOS withdrawal but a cash advance on your credit card. That incurs interest, a worse fx rate and maybe some other fees as well.

Part 2: Prepaid debit cards/travel cards

These types of cards the best travel cards available today when it comes to fees/usability.

They allow you to pre load different currencies (around 9 different ones) onto a prepaid Visa or Mastercard, meaning you can make purchases/ATM withdrawals in those currencies without paying the foreign exchange fees.

Some also offer free ATM withdrawals.

The 3 main ones available to New Zealanders are the Air NZ Onesmart, The Travelex Cash Passport, The Wise Debit Card and the Loaded for Travel card.

First off, Loaded For Travel has been phased out. You might still see people using them, but they're no longer being issued as of 2020. So that one is out. 

Let's compare the other three. We'll look at the foreign exchange rate, the fees, and the overall ease of use for each card.

As a benchmark, right now the NZD/USD rate is 0.6185, so we'll base our analysis below on this:

The  Air NZ Onesmart card is a Mastercard debit card by Air New Zealand. It is managed via your Airpoints account and is pretty easy to use.

When looking at the rate, here's what you'll get when loading $1,000 NZD into USD.

$1,000 NZD gives us $595 USD.

That's not very good.

With an interbank rate of 0.6185, that means they're taking a cut of   3.7% (that's a lot).

There is also a load fee of 1.5%, a currency conversion fee when you use the card of 2.5%, and a $1 monthly fee. 

However the Onesmart does give you other perks, such as earning Air NZ Airpoints on your purchases and 3 free ATM withdrawals a month.

Getting the card is free.

Travelex Cash Passport

The Cash Passport is a travel debit card available from Travelex. You may have seen their currency exchange booths and ATMs in the airports. 

Here's their current rate when loading $1,000 NZD to USD:

$1,000 NZD gives us $605 USD.

That's better than the Onesmart (which gave us $595).

The rate is 0.6055, compared to the interbank rate of 0.6185, so they're taking a cut of 2.1%. Not extravagant, but not great either.

Travelex also has a bunch of other fees:

•  $10 initial load fee
•  1% subsequent load fee
• $4 monthly inactivity fee
•  $10 closure fee).

Looking at that you're already guaranteed $20 in fees to simply open and close an account. ATM withdrawals are free.

Could still be better than a Onesmart, depending how often you plan on using it.

Wise Debit Card

Wise is a European money transfer service, but started offering debit cards and "borderless" bank accounts a few years later. 

Their debit card came out around 2018 for Kiwis.

I've been using it and it's been pretty great. 

Here's what rate you get for loading $1,000 NZD to USD.

At a rate of 0.6186, that almost exactly matches the interbank rate to four decimal places (actually slightly better).

So the currency exchange fee they are taking is zero. That's amazing.

Of course they also have a fee like the previous cards, which here works out to $7.83, or 0.7%. That's really low!

Ordering a card is not free; it costs $14 NZD. 

After that there are no monthly fees, and you get free ATM withdrawals of $350 per month (2% thereafter).

There are also many other perks to owning a Wise card - you can open bank accounts in various currencies, get an IBAN number, and receive money in foreign currencies too.

So which prepaid travel card is the best?

Let's put all that info together and see if we can get a winner:

First, the Onesmart exchange rate is so crap that I would disregard it altogether - there is no way you would save money with it when you're losing 3.7% every time you load money.

That leaves Travelex and Wise.

Because the exchange rate is also rather terrible for Travelex (and literally perfect for Wise), that would be enough for me to recommend Wise outright.

Add in the fact that Wise has no closure fee, no inactivity fee, no monthly fee, and the cheapest load fee by far, and it's a no brainer.

The $14 set up fee is the one downside, but it is a one-off, and over the long run is easily worth it. In fact, you will make that back in savings the first time you load money.

Travelex also ran into financial problems in early 2020 , and it seems risky to have money stored on one of their travel cards right now. Them disappearing is not impossible.

So easy decision here: Best prepaid travel card for Kiwis is the Wise Debit Card.

You can sign up for yours here .

Part 3: The best travel credit card for Kiwis

Let's move onto travel credit cards.

The trick with credit cards is to minimise your fees, never pay interest, and try and earn some reward points along the way.

We'll start with fees. What are some of the fees you typically pay with credit cards?

Here's an example:

For this particular transaction, I purchased a $111 USD air ticket on Cambodia Angkor Air.

On that date the interbank rate was 0.875, and they gave me 0.873. That's good. 

But you'll also see I got charged fees of $3.18; around 2.5%.

I personally do not want to add 2.5% to everything I buy, just because I'm using plastic.

Unfortunately there is currently no bank in New Zealand that offers a credit card without foreign transaction fees , so this is unavoidable.

However, having a credit card is very handy during your travels, so I think it's a good idea to always have one on you, even if our options aren't great in NZ.

Since there are literally hundreds of different cards available in New Zealand, I'm not going to compare them all. What I will do is compare a few "free" credit cards to see which gives us the best deal.

The following credits cards all have no annual fee and are reasonably easy to get approved for:

All are pretty similar across the board.

The main differentiator is the ASB Visa Light has no cash advance fee, meaning any ATM withdrawals are free. They should be free anyway on your EFTPOS account, but have this as a safety net is great as well.

The other thing is the AMEX Airpoints card is free and gives you a chance to earn Airpoints, plus you get a $50 signup bonus - that's also important and I'll address that more later.

Let's take a look out how these fees actually translate into numbers. These are the fees you would pay if you made the corresponding purchases or ATM withdrawals:

The ASB credit card is best if you'll need to make ATM withdrawals.

The Kiwibank card is best if you'll want to make actual purchases.

This is under the assumption you pay the bill on time and don't incur any interest.

Either way, credit cards should be a backup only , and you should use your ASB EFTPOS for ATM withdrawals and Wise debit card for purchases on the road wherever possible.

Don't forget about Airpoints!

This is more a tip for while you're in New Zealand, but make sure you're taking advantage of Airpoints!!

If the average New Zealander uses an Airpoints credit card in their day-to-day life, they should easily get a free air ticket to Aussie or Bali each year.

If you're after a good, cheap, fast-earning Airpoints card to use, the American Express Airpoints card is the easy winner.

It's the only zero-fee Airpoints card there is , plus the Airpoints earn rate is even better than some of the more expensive cards from the NZ banks. I'd highly, highly recommend applying for it today while it's around. Often they also have a $50 signup bonus, which makes it an absolute no brainer. Check here if the bonus is on offer and to get your free card .

For a more thorough breakdown of Airpoints cards in New Zealand - I've got an entire guide which analyses every single Airpoints card available in New Zealand. You can check it out here.

Another credit card tip: Paying in NZD (if it's a good deal!)

Sometimes shops and websites will ask if you want to pay in NZD instead of local currency.

This can be a good idea sometimes. 

Whenever the shopkeeper asks if you'd like to pay in NZD, always ask what the amount will be. Then pull out your phone and do a quick conversion (I use the Oanda app) and check if it's a fair amount.

Nine times out of ten they will be taking a big commission on the exchange rate. That means even though you'll avoid FX fees on your credit card, you'll end up paying more to the shop and it will probably end up costing you more overall.

There are good opportunities to do this though. Take a look at this example.

This is a hotel booking form from one of my favourite booking sites,  Agoda . It's for a hotel in Bangkok:

Their prices are USD listed ($88.55), however they also give me the option to pay in NZD ($102.25).

If I choose to pay in NZD, I'll be getting a conversion rate of 0.866, compared to the current interbank rate of 0.867.

That's very good, and much better than what AMEX will give me if I pay in USD and let them convert it (it was around 2.5%, remember?)

Therefore I often make online bookings in NZD (assuming the rate is good), which eliminates foreign transaction fees, and also lets me earn some Airpoints along the way.

In the case that it's better to pay with USD, just use your Wise debit card.

Summary for the best travel credit card:

There is no 'good' travel credit card in NZ (that I know of).

However, it's always good to have one anyway. My recommendations are:

• An ASB VISA Light as a backup.
• An  AMEX Airpoints card to earn the $50 signup bonus, and earn Airpoints on all NZD purchases.
• For everything else, use the Wise Debit Card .

So which travel cards/bank accounts do I use?

Here's the summary of what I use currently to keep my fees as low as possible and money as easily accessible on the road.

The main card I use while travelling is my Wise Card . Nothing else is anywhere near as good. 

However, as backups:

• I have an ASB Streamline Account (no fees), which I use to withdraw larger amounts of money from ATMs. I have never visited a country where I could not do this.
• I have an  Airpoints American Express (no annual fee), which also has no fees and earns me Airpoints. I barely use this while travelling, but I use it for pretty much everything I buy while in New Zealand . If you're not already, I'd highly recommend signing up for one today and start stacking Airpoints! I also recommend you read my guide on travel hacking for Kiwis .
• Lastly, I carry a small amount of USD in cash for emergencies. 

Between these options I manage to keep my bank fees almost non existent - in fact you might have noticed every single card has no annual fee.

I also get to earn a few frequent flyer points along the way. Pretty good, no?

What should you use?

If you're on a shorter trip (say 2 weeks - 1 month), it becomes much less important what card you will use.

If you're just going to Australia, you can simply use your NZ Eftpos card to get money from ATMs. You can even use your ANZ and Westpac cards and their equivalent ATM in Australia.

If you're going on a longer trip, or travelling around the world, you absolutely need a Wise card . That option can hold you down in almost every country. Keep an ASB Eftpos card handy, and possibly one other bank account too as a backup.

Best of luck in your travels and as always, if you have any questions, drop them in the comments below. 

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Another great usuful post Bren! I have done some researched on it myself and thought that the best option for me is ANZ (i have been a custumer for a long time anyway) and a Loaded for travel, which I manage to use a lot as an EFTPOS card to avoid withdrawn fees, also the exchange rate was much better than cash passaport everytime time I looked and I really like the fact that the maximum load fee is NZ$ 10, depending on how much you want to load that can really make a difference. I avoid inactitve fees using my card now and then in NZ and plan on using it for the 2 years the card is valid for so wont pay to cancel it. I heard, but have not verified, that if you put money into your normal credit card, as in paying it more that you owe, you dont pay international transaction fees, It would be pretty good if it is true but I am still very jealous of canadians and americans with their awsome deals and rewards!!!

I also heard that you don’t pay fees if you credit card is loaded with cash, but I double checked this with ASB and they said it doesn’t work like that. Otherwise I would definitely be doing that. I haven’t checked with the other banks though. Doesn’t Loaded for Travel cost $6 per ATM withdrawal? At least that’s what their website says.

I feel like I remember reading in your elance post that you worked in finance or something before.. not surprising looking at all these graphs and charts lol!

Yes, I can obsess about dollars and cents sometimes… 🙂

Great post – thanks for doing all that research and sharing it with everyone. I’m on ASB and whenever I travelled I would just withdraw and didn’t give those fees much thought but next time I travel I’ll think about getting a Westpac card. Although bank fees are a pain – a better way to think of it is at least we have banks and don’t have to carry suitcases of cash everywhere we go! So you can look at those fees as payment for their services such as keeping our money safe 🙂

That’ true, and I don’t mind paying bank fees at all, however, $13 just to get my own money out of an ATM – that’s a bit much for me. I know it doesn’t cost the bank that much, because if ANZ and Westpac can let you do it for free and still stay in business, I’m sure the other banks too 🙂 I’m also with ASB, however I’ll be winding down my accounts with them soon and shifting to ANZ (and I’m already with Westpac). Glad you found this helpful, and happy travels 🙂

Yes, they do charge $6, I didn’t express myself very well. What I meant is that I tried to pay with my card as much as I can instead of getting cash from an ATM. For the amount of money I loaded for my Italy trip I would have to withdraw cash many times for Loaded for travel to be more expensive than Cash passport because of the loading fee and exchange rate difference. So I guess it depends on the trip, I had a spreadsheet with all the fess and some scenario testing to help me chose 🙂

Ahh I get you, yes the exchange was quite a bit better on the LFT card. All depends on how you plan on using it I guess.

Thanks for that info Bren. I emailed you through a question in regards to the money situation about a month ago and wanted to thank you for your reply. My partner and I decided to go with the westpac credit card and the Air NZ Onesmart card as we already had both of these. Thanks for all the other informative blogs. Off to Indonesia next week to start our backpacking adventure around asia!

Hi Alan, you’re welcome, enjoy Indonesia and all the rest Asia has to offer!

Hey Bren – this post couldn’t have come at a better time for me, so thank you! I’m an ANZ customer and will be travelling through Asia. I was going to go with a Loaded for Travel card (so at least I could have baht for Thailand and USD for Cambodia) but the $6 ATM withdrawal fee is ludicrous! I’m looking into just taking my debit card and sticking to ANZ ATMs, as per your suggestion – do you know if they still charge the currency conversion fees?

Yes I believe they do, I know Westpac does anyway. I don’t think any bank in NZ lets you off those, but the rate can differ (ASB is only 1.1%, compared to Westpac’s 2.5%

Hey, thanks so much for this post! With the Global Alliance/Westpac account – do you know if there are fees if you use the eftpos card like an eftpos card overseas, or would it just be the offshore service margin charged? And the same question in regards to the prepaid credit cards – if you used them like an eftpos/credit card, are there any fees? I presume there is not offshore service charge because the money has already been changed to the local currency…

As far as I know the Westpac card can only be used for ATM withdrawals. As for the prepaid cards, there will be no fees if you have money loaded in the correct currency. Hope that helps!

Hi Bren – I’m off to the States for a month and was planning on using my Westpac eftpos card at bank of America ATMs (global alliance bank) to withdraw cash, and then was tossing up between using my Westpac debit plus card or a Onesmart card for any credit card transactions. What would you recommend? Would hotels, car rentals etc accept the Onesmart card? Also, do you know (from your experience) whether the States is a cash friendly place to visit or do merchants prefer credit cards? Thanks!

Yes I was also using my Westpac card in the States, there are no ATM withdrawal fees but they do charge a currency conversion fee when you make a withdrawal which was quite hefty at 2.5%. Sometimes it was cheaper to use my ASB card if withdrawing a large amount, which charges $7.50 + 1.1%.

If you’re only going for a month it will probably be cheaper to use your debit plus instead of activating a Onesmart. The Onesmart doesn’t give as good exchange rates, and plus, it’s biggest advantages are the free ATM withdrawals which you can get on your Westpac anyway.

To answer your other questions, the Onesmart should be accepted anywhere that accepts Mastercard. Most of the states should be card friendly – depends on the city I guess. It’s a big place!

Hope that helps, Bren

Have you done any research on opening up accounts with international banks? I know a lot of my American friends use Charles Schwab. They offer great interest rates and no fees for overseas ATM withdrawals.

I’ve been meaning to check into it for some time now but haven’t gotten around to it.

I haven’t looked into it but I think you need a US residency to open a Charles Schwab. Most American travellers I know use them also, they’re very good.

Hey Bren! Thanks for sharing this 🙂 We are also from NZ and last years atm fees in Vietnam were such a bum for 5 months! so now were more prepared 🙂 keep sharing, good stuff!

Hey Kate, no worries! I think there’s an ANZ in Vietnam if you’re heading back. As a side note I’m moving to Cash Passport over Onesmart because the exchange rate is better, in case you’re going that route.

This post was exactly what I have been looking for. Joining ANZ however does not seem very helpful as to get to the ATM locations would cost me more than the fees required normally, the ATMS are too far and few. Thanks for this post however very helpful and informative.

I am planning on using the westpac card in most of my journey through Europe and USA but I will be doing a bit of travel in Asia first so I have just done a bit of research, and looking at Westpac, BNZ, ANZ and Kiwibank they all charge 2.5% plus the ATM withdrawal fee Which varies from $5.00 to $7.50. In this case would the AirNZ onesmart card not be the best option as they charge minimal fees and includes 3 free withdrawals per month potentially saving you $22.50 a month. As stated above I would not really be willing to go with the ANZ card as it seems to be a bit awkward to get to the ATM locations.

Are there other hidden transaction costs that I am not seeing here with the onesmart card? Would like to know your thought.

Regards, Stevo

Gday Stevo, the thing with the Onesmart is it doesn’t give a very good exchange rate, so this adds up over time. On a big withdrawal the difference can be up to $20 or $30. Last I checked ASB only charges 1.1% plus $7.50 – in USA and Europe, where you can make quite big withdrawals, this can work out better than Westpac’s 2.5% even after the $8 fee is waived for alliance ATM’s. I have an ASB, a Westpac and a Onesmart and I cycle them, depending on the situation. Annoying, I know.

Hi Bren, thanks for your post!! I’ve been searching online for days trying to find info about NZ travel/credit cards. My eyes hurt. Real bad! My problem is that I’m travelling to South America, where the currencies aren’t an option on any of the travel cards … and if I had NZD on the Travel Cards, the huge 5.75% conversion will likely wipe out any benefit of no ATM fees in the long run.

After my own research comparing foreign curency conversion rates, atm withdrawl fees and card fees, I’m leaning towards opening a westpac debit account, simply to avoid the ATM fees. My question to you, is whether you have travelled SA and whether you had any trouble finding the global banks aligned with Westpac to avoid fees???

I will also keep my ASB cards as the give a marginally better conversation rate than westpac. (2.1% so I’m interested how you get 1.1%!!)

Thanks in advance. Megan 🙂

I’ve been to SA a few times but the global alliance doesn’t have great reach throughout the continent. I’d say it’s best to use a cash passport or an ASB. As for the service margin – this is from ASB Fastnet – ** The Offshore Service Margin is 1.10% for a FastCash overseas withdrawal and 2.10% for a Visa Debit overseas transaction. 

In other words, withdraw from your ASB checking account rather than your credit account.

Hi Bren, heres a scenario… i am in Spain and log onto Google NZ and book accommodation with my NZ credit/or debit card buying in NZD (obviously) and paying no foriegn currency changes. (Because the bank see’s a NZ transaction being processed in NZ even though i am in Spain)…. hows that sound? And is it possible?

Cheers Graham

Hi Graham. Usually the website is very clear on which currency you’re being charged in. It’s possible to book accommodation in NZD on international sites and I do it often (e.g. hotels.com, agoda). And yes, that will avoid the foreign currency rates. The only thing to look out for is to make sure you’re getting a fair exchange rate. Cross check the price you’re given with current rates and see if it’s a reasonable conversion.

Hi Bren, Just been reading your useful article. Regarding credit cards. I have a Warehouse Credit card and overseas transaction fees are only 1% ! This is easily the cheapest. Check it out! Cheers Paul

PS I am in the process of contacting Charles Swarb bank USA re opening a no fees chequeing ac in USA for a Kiwi resident. I will post on their reply.

Hi Paul. Nice find. I probably won’t be using my credit card too much overseas until they bring one out with 0% foreign transaction fees + Airpoints. Until then I pay with most things in cash. Do let me know what Charles Schwab say!

Hi Bren, Just had an online chat session with Charles Schwab. It is possible to open an account with them for free chequeing and them also providing a Visa card ! (don’t know limit though) BUT the catch is to open an International account the minimum deposit is US$10000!

Hey I’ve been booking in NZ dollars on the accommodation sites and I still get charged the 2.5%(WPac) charge every time. It has after all been converted from a currency that is not mine at some stage!! Westpac credit cards WERE free if your card was in credit but they axed that about 6-7 years ago!!

If the site charges you in NZD it shouldn’t incur a charge. I don’t have a Wpac credit card so can’t say if what is happening to you is normal, but on my Kiwibank and ASB I’m getting charged in NZD with no currency conversion.

Hi and thank you! I am going to Cambodia and so got myself a ANZ account for free ATM cash withdrawals but will have to pay 2.5% conversion. My Kiwibank Air NZ mastercard only charges 1.85% conversion but $6 for ATM use abroad PLUS it says possible extra charge from the overseas bank you withdraw from. Any experience of this double ATM charge in Cambodia please? Difficult to work out which option will cost less.

I’ve been using my Kiwibank Mastercard more and more just because the fee is relatively low and it’s convenient. I don’t remember if the local ATM charged fees in Cambodia. ANZ banks are there but I only saw one or two. They use USD there too. If you’re only there a short time take some USD and you may only need to make one withdrawal, so the cost should be negligible.

Awesome article. I didn’t know about the Westpac online account – this is really helpful, thank you!

Great article. We are getting slammed in Central and South America using our ANZ australia account, so have switched back to kiwibank (unfortunately not much cash on that side of the ditch). ANZ Australia and Westpac Australia both charge a 3% (!!!) foreign currency conversion fee for ATM withdrawals and CC purchases, plus the spread on the conversion (usually quite low) plus the ATM fees (not for CC obviously).

Kiwibank charges 1.7% which is pretty decent. I have an ASB account but left the card at home unfortunately, didn’t realise their rate was 1.1%.

To answer the global alliance questions, the only countries in Central and South America that are included are Mexico (apparently difficult to find but I never tried), Peru and Chile. We are only in Ecuador so can’t comment on the latter two but will hopefully chase them down when we are there.

We’ve found the best way to avoid getting screwed over was actually the cash we withdrew (AUD) and got changed to USD before leaving NZ at a little Chinese currency conversion place in Newmarket (spread was about 1.5% I think). Many places accept USD here and if you look, you can find good conversion rates in some countries and at most borders (be careful, a tired me got done at the Colombia/Ecuador border because I wasn’t paying attention, but the rate WOULD have been good!). Nicaragua for example was the best, they basically converted at the mid-market rate everywhere.

Also, had a look at the Charles Schwab thing. You can sign up as a non-US resident, but I believe you need a minimum $25k USD and also looks like there’s a tonne of paperwork, so not for us at current, but maybe kiwis planning on travelling can look into this if they have time. Our US friends are always rubbing it in our faces…

Thanks again JC

Yes, Ecuador is great because they use the USD. Westpac is only okay because you don’t get charged the $8 ATM fee, but they still charge currency conversion at 2.5%. ASB is still the best I know of for that region. Just try and take your money out in big chunks to keep the number of withdrawals as low as possible.

Hi Bren I live in the USA and I have a ASB card that I use! What is the best option for me to cut down on offshore fees?

If you live there you should open a US bank account!! They are far superior to anything we have.

Hi Bren, thank you for the article. Appreciate the work you have put in explaining these financial issues to a lay person like me. Can I ask if you know of the best travel card for Thai Baht? I will be heading to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos but most of my time will be in Thailand. I bank with ASB and have a Visa Debit Card. Thanks,

Hi Colm, Thailand is not great for Kiwis when it comes to currency. I would suggest just taking one big lump sum out on your ASB cheque account, it will cost you $7.50 + 1.1%. Alternatively you could do it in Cambodia, because the ATMs there give USD, then you can change that to local currency in the other countries.

Hi Bren, Great information here about the charges on the cards and the best ones to use overseas, but the other side to this is the customer service backup when things go wrong. I am currently in Spain and have a Loadedfortravel card (for the second year running) and it’s has been great and cheap however it has been skimmed and all money gone. I have contacted Kiwibank many times over the last 10 days and they have been so unresponsive and I cannot believe the lack of response to this serious situation. There systems and customer support are obviously not sophisticated enough to deal with problems when things go wrong. People really need to check the support they will get before deciding on which card to use. They should definitely use one of the bigger banks and not Kiwibank and Loadedfortravel.

Hi Louise, thanks for the tip. I’ve never used that card so I’m not sure what your recourse could be. However, if you don’t have any luck with Kiwibank maybe your travel insurance will help you out.

Really good information thanks! Just wanted to let people know if they travel to Singapore and Malaysia, moneychangers are very heavily regulated by the respective governments. Rates only vary by a small amount OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT and are much better than anything you’ll get with a credit card, there are also no fees. But NEVER ever change your cash at the airport, the rates are terrible and nobody local would ever do that! There are moneychangers in most medium to large shopping centres/malls. In Singapore for example, just take the MRT train 10 minutes (at a cost of no more than $1.60) to Expo Station and use the moneychanger in the shopping centre next to the station entrance… You could also pick up some inexpensive but great local food in the food court at the same time!

This is so helpful, thank you so much! Unfortunately, I’m living long term in Indonesia but unable to open a local bank account. THere’s no option for any pre-loaded travel cards in Indonesian rupiah. I get charged about a total of $10NZD for every withdrawal (which I try and minimise but it is difficult). I don’t suppose you have come across any extra information about money saving tips for this region? I’m with ASB and generally use my ASB visa for all withdrawals etc. Love this blog post!

Try open an ANZ account. I believe they have branches in Indonesia.

Hi guys, I leave for Singapore coming Saturday and then 12 hours later leave for South Africa, Just wanted to know with about $3500 spending money, should I exchange some cash here in New Zealand and load some on a card? Which is best please? I would also lie to know whether I should just use a card in Singapore since I don’t plan to spend much there?

If it were me, I would just withdraw everything from ATMs in South Africa. You can either just use your eftpos card or if you prefer you can get a travel card. However, if you’re planning on spending all that money in SA and you prefer to use plastic, then you could get a travel card and load it all as South African Rand. Loaded for Travel is probably the best card for that amount of money as there is no load fee. If you’re only in Singapore for 12 hours you probably won’t even leave the airport, and you can use any major currency in the airport. If you do leave you could just change a little currency in the city, won’t be a big deal if it’s just a small amount. Have fun!

Hi Bren Wow what a lot of info, it’s all very overwhelming, but like you, I hate banks getting anymore money than necessary. We are off to the UK, Europe and Dubai and am just debating how much cash to carry vs loading my Onesmart. We can get an exemption of fees at the airport for buying currency but are the exchange rates worse than at the local branches, wondering if it’s worth our while? We also bank with ASB and hadn’t even considered just using an ATM card. Decisions decisions, any hot tips for Europe would be much appreciated. Regards

It really depends on so many things – Euro UK and Dubai probably means you can use plastic a lot and if you’re planning on loading a lot of money the Loaded For Travel card can work well because there is no load fee. There are Global Alliance ATMs in UK and Europe so you can use Westpac for free ATM withdrawals but they charge 2% conversion fee anyway which can add up to quite a lot. But try and figure out which one will work best based on your budget. ASB is fine too – they charge 1.1% but charge a flat $7.50 per withdrawal, so it can still work out cheaper than Westpac depending on how big your withdrawals are. Onesmart is probably not a good idea as the rates are usually really bad on that.

Great tips Bren My ASB Visa Platinum reward card has a 2.1% foreign currency fee but then that is offset by the accumulation of 1% true reward benefit so I’m thinking that using that card extensively where ever it is accepted is a better option at 1.1% net, than paying cash by using a Westpac Card at Alliance ATMs which has a 2.5% foreign currency fee. This assumes that the retailer/supplier has not applied an additional local credit card fee in the credit card transaction. What am I missing?

This is true as long as you account for your True Reward Fee and your Platinum card account fee and if the country you’re visiting accepts cards everywhere. The reason I like using cash is because a lot of the places I go to are cash only (markets, street food, cabs etc) and I don’t need to carry my card everywhere. Plus I often use my ASB cash card over my Westpac at ATMs these days, as the fee usually works out lower. Crunch some numbers and if it works out cheaper for you to go Visa then go for it!

The Gem onecard Visa now has a currency conversion fee of 1.9% and foreign ATM and cash advance fee of only $1.50! This means you have to get over $750NZD from an ATM before the ASB EFTPOS card wins. By simply prepaying your credit card you avoid the interest on the cash advance. It costs $65/yr but free for the first 12 months. I’m planning on travelling to Nepal with this card and then cancel it at a later date in preference to using my Air New Zealand American Express Card for Airpoints 🙂 What are your thoughts on that plan?

Sounds good! Also if you don’t mind micro-managing your cards (opening and cancelling constantly) you could keep this up for quite a while, as most credit cards in NZ have “special” signups where they’ll waive the annual fee for a year and give you all sorts of other bonuses (Airpoints etc). Just gotta keep an eye out!

Also the Warehouse Purple Card has similar rates but has no annual fee – check that one out too 😉

Slightly different thread but the lounge benefits of the Amex card rocks! Recently had a 7 hour stop in Sydney and the lounge pass was worth it’s weight in gold. The free food and grog was spectacular,we were like kids in a candy store. Nearly worth flying to Sydney for lunch!

Which Amex card have you got?

Thanks for great info Bren. Used Westpac alliance to withdraw cash on last trip mainly in France and Italy. This time it is Croatia and Greece – seems no global alliance ATM options there and no ANZ branches. Any tips?

I usually just use an ASB eftpos card and will take the max withdrawal out of the ATM. Because Greece uses the euro it’s not a big deal if you have some leftover – you can just keep it for another trip or it’s easy enough to change back if you need to. Croatia uses the kuna so a little more tricky – depends on how long you’re staying there. If it’s just a few days, exchange a little euro at a currency exchange with a decent rate. Not perfect but will get the job done.

Hi Bren. What a can of worms this is. You’ve done a great job here of letting people communicate ideas and ask questions. I’m heading away shortly to Britain, Europe and the States for a total of 4 months. Fortunate to have a son in England who will get me Euros and Pounds, which has the disadvantage of carrying a lot of cash, but which avoids a lot of fees. I can load up my ASB Visa so that it is in credit and any overseas ATM withdrawals come out at Fastcash rates of 1.1% which is comparatively pretty good I think. I’m still trying to work out if ASB is the best option as credit card. Because we’re away for such a long time I’ll still be making a lot of CC purchases. I’ll get True Rewards points but I’d love to pick your brains to find out if you’re aware of a better solution. Thanks heaps

I had a friend who used the Loaded for Travel debit card. Because she was buying everything with plastic it worked out best for her – it has a low loading fee and she never did ATM withdrawals. Also look into the Warehouse purple cards – they’re pretty good!

Thanks so much for all your advice Bren on this site, it has really helped me a lot on my travels. Can I ask for your thoughts here…im going to North Cyprus for 8-10weeks. They use Turkish lira, but also evidently Euro and English Pounds are accepted. I have an ANZ debit card and a Onesmsrt Card. I’m in Finland at the moment. What should I do money wise.. I leave next week. I am not making money so am always using NZ dollars as my main source.

For that period of time I would probably avoid using your Onesmart. The exchange rate will catch up with you a lot. I you’re comfortable carrying around a large amount of cash, I would just take a big withdrawal in Finland and try and use cash. Although in Cyprus you could probably just use your card to pay for most things – I’m not sure though as I’ve never been there.

Thanks for the reply. Wish I had known about your site sooner! I am planning to try and be away for at least 12 months. Unfortunately I didn’t realize Onesmart had such high fees. Sorry to ask another two questions…so am I actually better off using my ANZ eftpos visa debit card in atm machines rather than converting NZ dollars to euros on my Onesmart card and then using that to withdraw money. Also is it worth it now or is it even possible to change to another travel wallet now or perhaps i shouldn’t bother. Thanks Been in advance for your suggestions..working out the money side of things when travelling is not my strong point! I’m hoping to do volunteer work through work away to keep me going

I actually haven’t checked the Onesmart exchange rate since a few years back so it might have improved. Maybe you can go and compare the rate you’re getting from Onesmart with the rate ANZ gives you. But with the data I have it looks like your ANZ card would be better for actually paying for things with your card. If you’re doing ATM withdrawals, you could probably use either card without much difference. ANZ would give you a better rate but Onesmart ATM withdrawals are free, so it will probably even out. Again it really depends on how much you withdraw and how often.

Thanks heaps for your article. I am travelling to Switzerland for 6 weeks shortly and I am wanting to know the best way to get money and pay for things while over there. Since swiss francs isn’t a currency used on travel cards, is it best just to use an eftpos card? I am wondering if it is better just to use my Westpac eftpos card at shops since doing this or using an ATM will have the 2.5% fee but if i use an ATM I will get charged an additional $3 per transaction?

Thanks for your help. Ben

You can’t use an EFTPOS card to buy things there, only to withdraw from an ATM. The best card to use at an ATM would be an ASB EFTPOS card. Westpac is expensive to use at ATMs. If you want to pay with plastic I’d get a Kiwibank Mastercard Zero. Otherwise it might even be worth getting Swiss Francs from the bank in New Zealand and taking them with you. You’ll need to check what rate you get though and see if it’s fair.

Thanks for your help Bren

Just finished my 3 year trip and boy this kinda info woulda been usefull. Had to make do with ANZ Eftpos (very useful in Asia overall most places for compatibility) ASB Debit visa (unfortunately has 2.1% fx, will be changing to mastercard which has lower), BNZ Credit classic (only for online), and the AIRNZ Onesmart, which I didn’t find that useful except in the key countries it had currencies for, I found it hard to find many atms which were compatible with this card compared to my other cards, but with the recent provider change for AIRNZ maybe that has changed. It is now a Platinum Mastercard if you notice, and has the Mastercard Platinum Benefits also like inclusive travel insurance etc. Though wondering when it’s $150 standard platinum card fee a year will kick in.

ASB EFTPOS is still the best I know of for standard ATM withdrawals. $7.50 + 1.1%. Minimise that standard $7.50 with big withdrawals, so especially in Europe just take out 1,000+ EUR at a time and the fee isn’t too bad. Warehouse Money Card also offers pretty cheap cash advances now – I’ve just got one of those.

Gah correction been looking at this and Travel insurance only for Platinum Visa, though there are some standard fraud benefits as standard http://www.mastercard.com/sam/en/guide_to_benefits/

Thanks for the article. For a 2 week trip in Aussie, would a Kiwibank Zero MasterCard, some cash and/or Cash Passport be necessary? I feel my ASB visa debit card and extra cash would be more than enough.

Two weeks in Aussie shouldn’t be complicated – I would just use my ASB card. I believe if you have a Westpac or ANZ card you can use those ATM’s for free (I think).

Hey Bren, What an extremely useful blog – thanks for sharing! My partner and I are about to start about 9-12 months backpacking through SEA/India so this been really helpful to figure out what to do with our money. We’re both ASB customers so have the eftpos & ASB Visa Light to work with. Will also look to open an ANZ account in case we find those ATMs for eftpos. In terms of credit cards, I think we are only really interested in ones that will earn Airpoints as we’ll stick to cash. Can I ask whats the benefit of having a Kiwibank and AMEX that earn Airpoints? Why not stick to one, e.g. the AMEX which has no fees? Thanks heaps!!

A lot of people don’t accept AMEX overseas, that’s the main reason. Plus it’s prudent to have a backup.

Hi Bren, Thanks so much for this post – so, so helpful! I’m planning to travel to America (and Mexico and Cuba), Southeast Asia and Europe/UK for around 8 months. I assume I’ll mostly be withdrawing cash but will probably want something to use as an EFTPOS. I’m currently planning to use the Cash Passport for the US because the exchange rate iand it’d be good to have something to use as an eftpos. I’m now thinking I’ll use either the ASB or the Westpac for withdrawals in Asia and Europe – I’m not sure how much I’ll withdraw each time at the moment which is where I’m a bit stuck. Would you recommend getting a Westpac for the smaller withdrawals (which I already have an account with) and an ASB Streamline account for the larger withdrawals? I was also wondering if you have any idea how often the ATM’s overseas have their own additional fee for use?

If you plan on doing lots of small withdrawals definitely take a Westpac card with you. The ATM fee really just depends, kind of 50-50. More often in some countries than others. For example Thailand always has it. Europe less common.

Heading over to Europe for a couple of months, and thinking I’ll get a Westpac card for the ATM withdrawals. Just wondering if you know what the usual limit at European ATM’s is? When I went around Asia, I remember only being able to get $200-$300 max from the ATM at a time.

The most I ever tried to take out was 1,000 euros and it worked fine.

If you’re planning on doing big withdrawals like that though, use an ASB card, it’s cheaper as you’ll see from my tables above.

Hi Bren, thanks for tips and the graphs above:) Any tips or advice when travelling to South Africa for 4 months in terms of which bank/bank card to use etc. ? Thank you.

Either a Westpac card at ABSA ATMs for small withdrawals, or ASB eftpos card for large withdrawals.

Hey Bren, great article! I’m trying to find a good travel money debit card for the inlaws but this seems to be impossible in NZ! I can’t believe how good we have it here in Aus. When I compared the Air NZ card (which won Canstar 5 star rating…. goes to show how bias they are) with the Mastercard spot rate, the spread was more than 4%!! Is there any debit visa/mastercard at the moment which is your personal go to?

For multiple currency cards, NZ really has nothing good. I just use my regular banking card.

Just got a Westpac Account. Had a lot of interesting questions. One being “Am i a US citizen” Enquired to bank employee about this. She states the US has a right to request access to your bank account details if it deems it necessary to. This is an agreement 3 years ago many countries have signed up to just to allow the US (no other country mind you) to allow snooping on your bank account details if they want. Doens’t sound right to me.

Should only apply to US citizens.

Hi Bren, This was a great read. I’m heading to Spain soon on a working holiday visa. I’ll be travelling Europe and the UK, so predominantly Euros and Pounds will be my currency over the next year. After reading your article I’ll be switching from Kiwibank to ASB to get an eftpos card just for large ATM withdrawals. I’m concerned whether I should get a travel money card (I’m thinking Loaded for Travel) or a debit card (through ASB) when I’ll be paying by card over there or paying online for flights, accommodation etc.. What would you suggest? I’m new to the nomad life so your advice would be appreciated. Cheers Dominic

Hi Dominic. Since you’re actually going to be living in Spain, I’d recommend getting an N26 account if you’re after a debit/credit card. It’s an online bank based in Germany. You can sign up on your NZ passport, like I’ve done. That way you can pay everything in Euros on your N26 Mastercard, plus you’ll have an IBAN to get paid. You do need a European address to sign up, so you’ll need to wait until you get to Spain, but your ASB should hold you down while you wait. Getting my card was really quick (just a few days). It’ll be perfect for travelling Europe too!

Hi there, great post. From Monday 26 March, ANZ removed the $5 fee for using ATMs overseas. This would make an ANZ eftpos card the best for use worldwide when withdrawing amounts < $500. Cheers.

Thanks! That’s great news. I’ll update this post.

Great resource. Thanks. Not much choice in NZ but you have made it easier for me. to make my decision on travel cards and ATM withdrawals. Luckily have an ANZ no fee eftpos card and a no fee credit card. Learned a lot about the so called “hidden fees”. Thanks.

Great blogg for kiwis, Really good work on here, thank you.

The AMX air points card you use in NZ only, Would i still be able to use this overseas for retail purchases and online purchases(air tickets etc) and gain air points or do you only get points when buying in nz?

You can definitely use it overseas and get Airpoints on it, it’s just you will also pay foreign exchange fees on everything.

Hi Bren, I am about to go to Oz for an extremely short trip so was trying to find out how to get cash out using my eftpos card. Looked on a number of sites before stumbling on to your blog. This is the most helpful article i have found! Wish I had found it earlier! thank you Bren.

You’re welcome!

Firstly, you’re an absolute legend for putting all this info together – super helpful!

I’m about to head off to Europe on a four month trip, will be spending most of the time in Italy, Hungary, Croatia and the UK.

It looks like an ANZ/ASB account will be best for ATM withdrawals. However, I’m still working out whether to use an Amex, Mastercard Zero or Loaded for Travel card for purchases.

Taking into account the airpoints it would seem that the Amex would be the best option (e.g. 2.5% fee offset by 1airpoint/$100).

This is compared to: – Mastercard Zero (1.85%); and – Loaded for Travel (LFT rate for UK/Italy (supported countries) and 2.5% for Hungary/Croatia (unsupported countries)).

Just wondering whether you can see any reason why, when factoring in airpoints earned, the Amex wouldn’t be the preferable option for purchases?

Only thing I can think of is that the AMEX might not be accepted everywhere. So it would be good to have the Mastercard on hand just in case. But definitely get the Amex anyway since it’s free. If you have access to a European address, I’d highly recommend getting a N26 account . That will give you a Mastercard in Euros you can use on European soil.

Great, will do. Thanks mate!

When I use my kiwibank platinum MasterCard on international transactions, I get charged a 1.0% currency conversion fee plus a 0.85% foreign currency txn fee…… how do you get 2.5%?

I’m going to Europe in 3 weeks for about 4 weeks, was going to try and spend as much as possible using the credit card (1.85% doesn’t seem too bad plus accumulate an airpoints dollar for every $75 spent (1.3% payback). Airpoints accumulation only applies to transactions not cash withdrawals though. Was also planning to load it up with credit and do $6 + 1.85% atm withdrawals for when they don’t accept credit card etc. Am I missing something? It seemed like the way to go but after reading this post I’m not entirely sure….. any tips would be greatly appreciated as I’ve got 3 weeks to get an alternate plan sorted!

Cheers Antony

Hey Antony. The Kiwibank 2.5% is when you use your Kiwibank EFTPOS card to make an ATM withdrawal. For Kiwibank credit cards it’s 1.85% (you can see credit card fees summarised in Part 3 of the guide). If you’re only going for four weeks, your plan should be fine. I’d use an ANZ EFTPOS card or a Warehouse Visa for ATM withdrawals, or an ASB Eftpos card if you plan on making a big withdrawal ($1,000+).

how come you use transfer wise over the normal ASB international transfer option. It looks more expensive (ASB has a flat $15 transfer fee)

Am i missing some key points?

Cheers in advance

Hey Joel, I use TW because last time I sent money using the ASB service they took a huge chunk off the other end. Not sure if it was the Aussie bank or ASB but it was around another $30-$40 chopped of when it arrived in my Aussie account. Also, Transferwise fees are much lower if you use the bank deposit option over the credit card option, and faster. Definitely will be less than $15. Just much better overall!

Totally confused! going to New Zealand, Australia and Figi. What is my best option?

Probably use an ANZ Eftpost card.

Thank you for all your hard work!

Hi Bren, thanks for your posts. Found this one great and the shengen visa one too. We are travelling to Spain in sept to spent the next year cruising the Med on a boat, then sailing to the Carribean, thru the Panama Canal, and back down to NZ through French Polynesia. It sounds like our ASB eftpos card will be fine for atm withdrawals, and our Kiwibank Mastercard for credit card, but I’m also I nterested in the N26 card you mention. You say we need a “European address” to get this. How strict is this? Like, can I use the address of a marina we will be at for a week or so? Or maybe my cousins address in Spain? Will they need proof that I live there or anything? Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers!

Your cousins address will probably be fine, as long as you have access to the mail there. Just give it a try, if you can’t get it you can’t get it – no harm in trying!

Hi Bren. Do you have to give proof of address when signing up for an N26 card? Or can I just use a friends address or address of a place I am staying at? Cheers.

You need to give an address where you can receive mail, but I don’t think I had to submit a document as proof of address.

Hi Bren, I’m planning on a trip in South America. I’ve already got an ASB card and am tossing up between another Westpac or ANZ bank card. My understanding of the new ANZ fee update is that they’ve waived their oversea withdrawal fees BUT that doesn’t mean that I won’t be charged the local ATM fees. However, with a Westpac global alliance banks, the Westpac overseas + local ATM fees are both waved. So potentially this can be a better deal (although less coverage) compared with the ANZ card. I’m wondering what has been your experience in regards to the local ATM fees around South America region. Thanks for your blog, it has been very informative

Hey Michael,

Just get them both. Both banks have free accounts, and you can easily move money between them with internet banking.

Hi Bren, we are off to India for three weeks. Very hard to find information on the best way to access money while there. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Take some USD with you, take an ANZ eftpos card to use at ATMs and a standard Mastercard or Visa as a backup. India is a very well travelled country, you should be fine 🙂

Hi Bren We are travelling to Europe in March and plan to be away for a minimum of 2 years motorcycling around so won’t have a permanent address over there as such Our plan was to transfer funds from our NZ bank account to a travel card on a monthly basis to use as we need to as we don’t intend to maintain a NZ based credit card at all Interested in your thoughts/suggestions

Did you check out my post on N26? https://brenontheroad.com/n26-review-the-ultimate-bank-for-travellers/

Apply for it as soon as you arrive in Europe (or if you have a friend/family address you can use there, use that and apply now). For two years on the road, it is hands down the best option and will save you tons of money.

Hi Bren, I just opened an account at TransferWise, using my NZ address, so now I am wondering if I can still open an N26 account using an address in Sweden I have access to. We are going to be in Europe for a couple of months next year so would love to have that N26 card…but given how closely they work together, have I shot myself in the foot? Thanks very much

I did it, and it worked fine. They’re not the same company, so legally they’re not allowed to share your details with each other.

Hi Bren, as others have said – great post thanks!

I just wanted to double check with you what you think the best approach for us will be. We are taking our four kids to Europe and the UK to travel in a motorhome for 8 months and will travel as cheap as poss but it will add up. Currently we are Westpac and Kiwibank customers. It sounds like the best approach for us would be to withdraw large amounts of cash on an asb eftpos card as we travel so as to minimise fees. Is this still the case you think? And what credit card would you recommend for Europe and the UK? We currently only hold Westpac platinum I think. Thanks again, Kev

For that period of time, I HIGHLY recommend signing up for N26 when you arrive (you’ll need a mailing address). I have a full guide on that here: https://brenontheroad.com/n26-review-the-ultimate-bank-for-travellers/

Having a N26 account will make banking a complete non-issue while you’re there, you’ll have a Mastercard that works in all of the EU (and actually the world) with no fees. I use that card exclusively now on all my travels worldwide.

As for your backups, I would take an ASB Eftpos, and then just any credit card, Westpac would be fine.

Just came across this a week before flying out – too late to get the Warehouse Visa unfortunately, but will be in the UK in a few months so a reminder to sign up for an N26 account in now in my calendar! Thanks for all the time put in to writing these posts, they are really helpful.

No problem!

This is a great post, thanks. Yes, NZ is really behind the curve on this one. I am only 21 and live in Beijing at the moment, but have been in Europe for a few months for research purposes. I am with Westpac and I have to say… I’ve paid HUNDREDS in fees, largely foreign currency conversion fees. Not good. Not that great a bank to be with if one plans on leaving NZ long term/frequently, as I do. As I enter adulthood, I’ll be sure to make the switch. I shiver to think of the costs… 21 y/olds do not have hundreds to just blow on fees, in my experience.

Definitely get N26 next time you’re there! Or if you have access to an address there you could apply for one now.

Hi Bren, thanks so much for all your great articles, it’s a real help having some NZ specific stuff out there. FWIW I found out that ASB has just removed their $7.50 overseas withdrawal fee on all their cards, so when doing ATM withdrawal with a Fastcash card you just pay 1.1% offshore service margin plus whatever the ATM provider’s fee is.

Yes I always read something about that, but couldn’t find it officially on ASB’s website at the time. I’ll update!

Hey Brendon, thanks for the great tips. Just wondering is it possible to start up a foreign currency account and transfer money into it (using transferwise) then use a card issued for that currency? Do any big international banks like HSBC offer cards for their foreign currency accounts?

The closest to this is going to be the N26 card that I mentioned in the post. It’s what I use. I transfer NZD into it using Transferwise and now I use my N26 card for literally everything while travelling (and even in NZ sometimes).

Thanks for a great post! I am living in NZ but going traveling around Europe soon and I want to get a n26 card. In the opening account process it asks what country you live in, and if you put NZ it doesn’t let you set up an account. There doesn’t seem to be a space for a shipping address in Europe. Is it possible to put that I “live” in a European country (the country that I have the shipping address in)? Do they ask for proof of address? I know it’s possible to get a n26 card as a NZer but I can’t seem to get past the initial stage!

Yep, list that as your living address. The proof of address will be they send the card to that address and you receive it 🙂

Hey, just wanted to say a big thank you for your very informative post. Travelling through Asia soon and you have definitely helped clarify some things and provided some great advice. Don’t normally comment on things, but you deserve it here for all the hard work you’ve put in to this guide. Cheers

This is such a good post. I used to work in FX and one thing I would add is if you want cash; ask if places will price beat the banks/ other local stores.This can save you $100s and I’ve seen people get the margin down to like under 1% by shopping around. (If you want to buy foreign, you want the HIGHEST rate; if you want to swap foreign for nzd, you want the LOWEST rate.)

Ask which places?

Great article! seems now that Onesmart has surpassed Cash passport for exchange rates though!

Cash passport 1NZD = 0.5658Euro Onesmart . 1NZD = 0.5715Euro

After this i assume Onesmarts would tend to be the preferable option in this case? would you agree? obviously losing out on every withdrawal after 3 free per month.

Would like your thoughts on this.

I’m not a fan of either card to be honest but yes I’d take whichever one gave the best rate.

Hi Bren, Great article very informative! Just wanting to check again have you found out whether ASB has definitely waived the $7.50 overseas ATM fees. I looked really hard on their website I couldn’t find anything relating to the $7.50 fee only the 1.1% FX fees. Just wanting to know do you if you have any further information re: ASB. Thanks again.

Yes it’s been phased out.

Bren, the Transferwise card coming to NZ has got banks acting…BNZ’s fee is now $0 and many others have been cut recently. Check out https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/best-credit-card-overseas-fees.html

Nice. I’ve already ordered my TWise card!

Given that a non-card holder can’t contact Wise, I’m hoping that, as a result of your inquiries, you might be able to answer one query about the Wise card that I have:

 Are the limits for transactions cumulative e.g. monthly limit for chip and pin N$17500, ATM $5250, PayWave/Contactless $7K? This would allow a total spend of NZ$29750.

The reason why I ask is that my wife and I will be going on our last overseas trip (we are retired), which will be to Europe, and we want to take a travel card/debit card loaded with Euros, and for the first month, we will need approx. NZ$20K. If the limits are cumulative, we should be OK so long as we can control when we use PayWave/contactless – the monthly contactless limit is miserly.

We are concerned that the only support is via online, which wouldn’t be great when you’re overseas and need help, especially if urgent – but we realise that this is just the way it would have to be if we were to opt for the WISE card. We need to make a decision. We note the many bad reviews of Travelex and Westpac, including as to support and difficulty with top ups, and if we were to use my ANZ VISA credit card, we would be hit by poor fx rates and fees for every transaction.

To be honest I’m not sure, I believe the daily spend limit is 2k (so 60k per month) and for Europe you can pay by card pretty much everywhere. If you’re concerned I would just apply for 2 accounts (you and your wife apply for one each) and then you have a backup too, and it’s easy to transfer funds between Wise accounts. In my experience Wise support is very good, much better than any NZ bank, especially when you’re overseas. Enjoy your trip!!!

Tena Koe Bren

Love you analysis I have recently got a flight centre Mastercard as it has no international transaction fees. Could this be the first only New Zealand credit card with no international transaction fees?

We have travelled to Europe a few times in the last 10 years, and have always found your advice on how to deal with money and bankcards etc just so invaluable – thankyou! Clear, informative, and easy to follow….and I hate fees!!

We are leaving from NZ for France and Switzerland this year, and have a Wises card each now (new for us) and our ASB visa although don't use credit cards unless emergency. (Last trip in 2017, did ATM withdrawals though Westpac ATM in Europe because of their free ATM option at that time.) My question is with a credit card, you do not compare Westpac credit card as an option, is it right it has a 1.95% FX fee? (lower that asb visa?). Is ASB credit card still better in your opinion?

We will use our ASB cashflow card to withdraw at ATM's this trip, as the off-shore margin fee is lower at 1.1% and now doesn't have the other ATM fee anymore – is that correct? Also have Wises free for first two $350 ATM withdrawals in a month.

In summary, we will have some cash when we leave, will have cash loaded on Wises in Euro and Swiss francs (our 2 countries visiting), and will use ASB cashflow for ATM withdrawals for cash (with Wises as a backup). For emergencies ASB credit card (altho am interested in Westpac credit card comparison?). I guess my main question too is – is it better during everyday travelling to pay with cash withdrawn on ASB cashflow at ATM, or Wises card e.g.at a cafe for example.?

If you could answer these couple of questions, I would be most appreciative. Kind regards

I have Wise and ASB, if I do ATM withdrawals I usually use ASB, but for 90% of things in Europe I just use the Wise card.

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The Ultimate Guide To The Best Debit Cards For Traveling

This page may contain affiliate links which means I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase with them. This helps keep the site running and the travel tips coming! For more info, check out my Privacy Policy & Disclosure .

Having the right debit card for traveling is extremely important as it can mean the difference between:

• A stressful experience because your card doesn’t work in your destination / you blew your budget because you didn’t account for hidden fees most banks charge you.
• Being able to pay for things easily both online as well as in person while also saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on fees that you don’t need to pay.

The second option sounds much better, right?

Well the truth is that most banks will charge you fees for foreign transactions, foreign currency conversions, and foreign ATM withdrawals, and if you only travel once a year, the amount you lose on them might not be that much, but if you travel more often than that, you could be losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year on these fees!  

In addition, some banks still haven’t caught up to the 21st century and the debit cards that they give you might not even work in other countries because they lack basic functionalities such as a chip & 4-digit number PIN, contactless payments, and Visa or Mastercard integration.

However, there are banks out there that offer no-fee 21st century debit cards that are perfect for traveling.  When it comes to finding the right one for you, it depends on where you live.  

If your current bank offers a card that has all those functionalities and also none of the fees I mentioned earlier, then great!  But most standard banks won’t so you might have to look for a different one.

Luckily for you, I have put together a guide to the best debit cards and bank accounts you can get no matter where you live in the world!

Important information about debit cards:

• Try to limit the amount of payments you make with your debit card since it’s your money that is lost if something happens.  Use it to take out cash and use credit cards for payments if you can as they are safer since you aren’t technically paying with your own money when you use a credit card.
• If you do choose to make payments, always choose to pay in the local currency because the exchange rate offered by Visa & Mastercard will always be better than the one offered by foreign merchants.  The same goes for ATMs.  I go into more detail about this in my Guide to Getting Cash While Traveling .
• If your bank offers this feature, lock your card using the mobile app when you’re not using it to prevent fraud.
• Keep a backup debit card hidden in your luggage in case something happens to your main one and know what to do if your card is lost, stolen, or copied.  See #6 in my Guide to Money Management While Traveling for all the steps you should take.

Table of Contents

Best Travel Debit Card in the USA

Charles Schwab Bank

Charles Schwab Bank’s debit card is often recommended by travelers because of its lack of fees and the fact that any fees you have to pay when using any ATM in the world get refunded to you!  

This is a feature that not many banks offer so this is why they stand out above the rest.  If you’re a US resident, you definitely need to look into getting your hands on this bank account and debit card.

Note: if preventing fraud is a priority and you are looking for a card that has instant notifications for transactions + the ability to freeze & unfreeze your card instantly from the mobile app, check out N26 below .

• No monthly account fees
• No foreign transaction fees
• No foreign currency conversion fees
• No foreign ATM withdrawal fees
• ATM fees imposed by ATMs themselves worldwide get refunded to you by the bank (huge benefit)
• Visa debit card & a US Dollar checking account
• Can sign up online

Eligibility

• You need to be a US resident (with proof of residence) and have a US address (no P.O. boxes) to open an account.
• If you are outside the US when opening an account, you must do it using a VPN or else risk requiring a visit to a branch in person.
• You also have to open a brokerage account with them at the same time to use the checking account.  However, it’s free and you don’t even have to touch it if you don’t want to.

Best Travel Debit Card in Canada

While not technically a bank, what STACK offers is the best option for Canadian travelers since there is no Canadian bank that has a similar offering.  

Signing up with STACK gets you a free reloadable Canadian Dollar Mastercard that doesn’t have any foreign transaction, currency conversion, or ATM withdrawal fees.  You can also fund it quickly and easily with e-transfers. Think of it kinda like a prepaid debit card. 

• Sign up using this link and receive $5 for free! (You must click the link with a mobile device to get your $5).
• No foreign transaction fees (max 15 in-person transactions per day)
• No foreign ATM withdrawal fees (max 2 withdrawals per day, max $500 per withdrawal, max $2,000 a month)
• Instant push notifications for any transactions
• Instantly freeze and unfreeze your card anytime from the app
• Contactless Mastercard with a chip & PIN
• Digital wallet compatible
• Easily load the card instantly using e-transfers
• Discounts at certain Canadian retailers
• You need to have a Canadian address (no P.O. boxes) to open an account.  You might be able to use a friend’s address.
• It is not available in Quebec (yet). Use a friend’s address in another part of Canada until they offer it in Quebec

Best Travel Debit Card in the UK

Starling Bank

There are a few different options available in the UK, but the absolute best option is Starling Bank thanks to the fact that it doesn’t charge you any fees whatsoever for your travel needs.  

Other similar UK banks like Monzo and Monese have limits to the amount of ATM withdrawals you can make, charging you extra fees for going over those limits. This is why Starling Bank stands out as the best choice for UK residents.

• In addition to British Pounds, you can also hold Euros in your account and even make purchases in Euros using the same card 
• Contactless Mastercard debit card with a chip & PIN
• You need to have a UK address (no P.O. boxes) to open an account.  They may also ask for proof of address information so you might not be able to use a friend’s account.

Best Travel Debit Card in Australia

HSBC Everyday Global Account

There are a few decent banking options in Australia, but the HSBC Everyday Global Account takes the cake not only because there are no fees to use it, but also thanks to the fact that it lets you hold a total of 10 different currencies in your account!  

You can choose to pre-load your account with a certain currency before traveling or use your main currency and benefit from no foreign currency conversion fees.

• In addition to Australian Dollars, you can hold 9 other currencies in your account: US Dollars, British Pounds, Euros, Hong Kong Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Japanese Yen, New Zealand Dollars, Singapore Dollars, and Chinese Yuan
• Contactless Visa debit card with a chip & PIN
• You need to have an Australian phone number and address (no P.O. boxes) to open an account.  If you don’t live in Australia, you might be able to open an account by visiting the nearest HSBC bank to you or by simply using a friend’s phone number and address. 

Best Travel Debit Card in Europe

If you live in Europe (or even if you don’t, see below), you gotta go with N26 .  They don’t offer completely free accounts, but compared to all the others available, they are the best.

You are able to open a Euro account with N26 in any one of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  

Note: they used to be available in the UK, but have left ever since Brexit.  

And even if you don’t live in any of those countries, you can ask a friend living in one of them if you can use their address to receive the card, after which you can change the address no problem!

*N26 has also expanded to the US, but Charles Schwab  is still the better travel bank account and debit card for Americans to use for the time being unless your priority is fraud prevention, in which case N26 is best since it has instant notifications for transactions + the ability to freeze & unfreeze your card instantly from the mobile app.

• No monthly account fees for the standard account (9.90 EUR for N26 You & 16.90 EUR for N26 Metal)
• Free ATM withdrawals in Euros* (See Eligibility)  
• Foreign currency ATM withdrawals come with a 1.7% fee (this fee is waived if you pay for a premium account)
• Free cash withdrawals and deposits at select stores across Germany, Austria, and Italy using their CASH26 feature (deposits over 100 EUR a month get charged a 1.5% fee)
• TransferWise integration for cheaper transfers than most banks
• Online account and customer support also available in Spanish, French, German, & Italian
• Premium accounts come with Travel Insurance, Car Rental Insurance, and even Mobile Phone Theft Insurance!
• The number of free ATM withdrawals in Euros that you get depends on the country you sign up in.  Signing up in Austria or Italy gets you unlimited free withdrawals in Euros, whereas signing up in any of the other countries gets you 5 free ATM withdrawals in Euros in Eurozone countries (and only 3 of them if you sign up in Germany), after which they will cost you 2 EUR per withdrawal.
• You need to have an address (no P.O. boxes) in one of the eligible countries to open an account.  You can easily use a friend’s address when creating your account to receive the card and then change the address in your account once you get it without any issues.  Try to get a friend in Austria or Italy for the unlimited free withdrawals!

Best Travel Debit Card in the Rest of the World

TransferWise Borderless Account

Even if you don’t live in any of the countries I just mentioned or you just want another alternative, you should consider opening a TransferWise Borderless Account.  

In addition to super low international transfer fees, you can keep money in more than 50 different currencies in your account as well as have real bank accounts for the USA, UK, Eurozone, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland which also let you receive payments in those currencies like a local!

You also get a contactless Mastercard debit card which you can use to make purchases and take out cash anywhere in the world.  Whenever you use that card, if you already have the currency in your account, you don’t get charged any fees and if you don’t have it, you only get charged a small conversion fee, making it a great option for travelers.  

Sign up  using this link  and get a no-fee international transfer of up to £500!

Keep in mind that TransferWise is only able to send cards to residents of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, or the USA (but you can always use a friend’s address to get the card as well).

• Foreign currency conversion fees range from 0.24% – 3.69% depending on the currencies involved, but are typically under 2%
• Free ATM withdrawals up to $250 USD (or your currency’s equivalent) per month if you have the currency you’re withdrawing on your balance.  After that, a 2% withdrawal fee will be charged
• Can keep money in 50+ different currencies in your account
• Real bank account details for the USA, UK, Eurozone, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland
• Online account and customer support also available in Mandarin, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Polish, Romanian, and Hungarian.
• You need to have an address (no P.O. boxes) in one of the eligible countries to open an account.  You can easily use a friend’s address when creating your account to receive the card and then change the address once you get it without any issues.
• The Mastercard debit card is free, but you need to have a minimum of $20 USD (or the equivalent in another currency) in your account before you can order it unless you’re in Australia, in which case you don’t need a minimum balance to get the card.

And that’s all there is to it!

Having the right debit card while traveling can make a world of difference when it comes to all those annoying fees that most banks charge.  Don’t be afraid to get a debit card from more than one bank on this list either! It doesn’t hurt to have the best option for every currency possible.

Let me know in the comments below if this guide helped you find the right debit card for your travels and if there are any similar or better cards or banks in your country, let me know so I can update the list!  

And if you want to add a credit card to your wallet as well, check out my Guide to the Best Credit Cards for Traveling .

About The Author

Hi there,  I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my  About page   and find me on social media.

Hi there, I’m Sebastian , founder and creator of Travel Done Simple. Since I turned 20, I have lived in 5 different countries and traveled to over 40 others! You can learn more about me on my About page   and find me on social media.

I’m Sebastian , the founder and creator of Travel Done Simple! I was born in Europe and raised in Canada, but I now consider myself to be a citizen of the world. When I’m not busy exploring new destinations, I’m here giving you the best travel tips so you can do the same! 

You can learn more about me on my About page and if it’s your first time on my site,  start here !

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ASB travel money card review 2024

If you’ve got a trip overseas planned – or if you like to shop online with international retailers – a travel money card can be an appealing option, as it can make budgeting, spending and cash withdrawals easier. If you pick a card with broad multi-currency functionality, low fees, and good exchange rates, you could also save money.

ASB used to offer a dedicated travel money card called the ASB Cash Passport. However, ASB Cash Passport has been withdrawn and is no longer available for new customers.

Instead, we’ve got full details about 3 popular alternatives for travellers from New Zealand: the ANZ debit card ,  the Westpac travel card and the Wise travel money card. Use this guide to learn more and compare them, to see which works best for you.

What happened to the ASB Cash Passport card?

The ASB Cash Passport card was a convenient travel money card which allowed you to top up in NZD and convert your funds to a selection of foreign currencies for overseas spending and withdrawals. However, ASB stopped offering this product back in 2019. Instead, alternative cards are available in New Zealand – we’ll look at a couple of them in just a moment.

Who is a travel money card for?

Before we look at alternative ways to spend in foreign currencies, let’s consider why a travel money card might be a good idea in the first place. Different providers have different card types – including dedicated travel money cards from non-bank providers like Wise, and travel money cards from banks, like the Westpac Global Currency card. An alternative is just to use your normal debit card overseas – an approach proposed by ANZ.

Here are a few potential benefits to using a travel money card, to help you decide if it’s right for you:

• Usually, travel money cards are issued on globally accepted networks for convenient spending and withdrawals
• Some travel money cards let you hold and exchange multiple currencies in a dedicated account
• Picking a travel money card with the mid-market rate and low fees can save you money
• Some travel money cards have additional international features like options to send and receive foreign currencies
• Many travel money cards have some options for free or low cost international ATM withdrawals

Alternatives to ASB Cash Passport card

So, ASB can’t help when it comes to a travel money card. Instead you might consider an alternative, such as a travel money card from Wise or Westpac, or a standard debit card from ANZ.

Each of these card options has their own benefits – which suits you might simply come down to your personal preference and where you’re travelling to. To give an overview, here’s a quick comparison of how these providers line up on some key features:

Information taken from Westpac Global Currency card desktop site and fee information , Wise pricing page , ANZ money transfers and ANZ New Zealand ; correct at time of writing, 27th July 2023

As you can see, the 3 cards we’ve picked to profile here all have their own great features, which could suit you depending on what you need from a payment card for travel.

ANZ customers who already have a debit or EFTPOS card, and who don’t want to order a new card specifically for travel, can continue to transact as usual overseas, with a 1.3% foreign transaction fee. Alternatively, Westpac’s travel money card has handy features and supports 9 currencies for holding and exchange.

Finally, if you’re looking for a card that can come with you on more or less any trip you make, with 140+ supported countries and holding facilities for 40+ currencies, Wise may suit you. As well as convenient ways to send, spend, hold, exchange and receive foreign currencies, you also get mid-market exchange rates and low fees.

ANZ does not have a dedicated travel money card available – instead, it recommends just using your normal ANZ debit or EFTPOS card when you travel for spending and withdrawals. You’ll only be able to hold your money in NZD in most cases, but when you transact in a foreign currency, your funds are converted using the network rate at the point of payment, with a 1.3% foreign transaction fee applicable. This option has the advantage that you don’t need to apply for a new card if you already bank with ANZ – but the 1.3% fee does push up costs overall.

More about the ANZ card

Wise international debit cards are offered alongside multi-currency accounts you can use to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, and receive payments in 9 currencies. You can spend with your card in 140+ countries globally, wherever the network is accepted – and if you ever need to send a global payment you can do that too, with 160+ countries covered and low fees from 0.43%.

One of the biggest advantages of Wise is that you get the mid-market exchange rate every time you convert funds to send or spend – and there’s no foreign transaction fee to worry about, either.

Westpac’s Global Currency card can be used to hold and spend 9 foreign currencies. You’ll be able to top up in NZD and convert to the currency you need in your destination. There’s no fee to spend a currency you hold in your account, although fees may apply at the point of conversion. If you don’t have enough balance in the right currency to cover the costs of a particular transaction, or if you’re spending an unsupported currency, foreign transaction fees of 2.95% are added to the cost of your payment.

More about the Westpac card

How to get a travel money card

Travel money cards from specialist providers are usually ordered online or through an app, for delivery by post to your home address. You’ll need to complete a verification step for security, but this can generally be done with just your phone.

What documents you’ll need

Usually to get a travel money card, you’ll be prompted to complete a verification step, by uploading copies of a couple of key documents. This is similar to when you open a bank account, and one of the ways banks and specialist travel money card providers keep customers safe.

Generally the documents needed are:

• Your passport as proof of ID
• Your driving licence or similar as proof of address

How to use a travel money  card?

Use your travel money card wherever the card’s network is accepted, for payments and withdrawals, in person and online. Just tap and pay if contactless is supported – or use your card and PIN in the payment terminal if not.

How to withdraw cash with a travel money card?

Make a cash withdrawal locally on arrival at your destination from any ATM that supports your card network. This has the advantage that you don’t need to carry lots of cash, and some cards also offer cheap or free international withdrawals.

Are travel money cards safe?

Specific travel money cards are safe as long as you pick a reputable and regulated provider. As your funds are separate from your NZD everyday account, there’s an extra level of security compared to using your normal card, too.

Conclusion: Is a travel money card worth it?

Whether it’s worth getting a travel money card will depend on where you’re headed, and your personal preferences. If you’re thinking of using your normal card overseas, check the foreign transaction fees before spending. ANZ has a pretty low 1.3% fee but other banks may charge as much as 3%, pushing up costs.

A travel money card can help you cut costs when spending in foreign currencies, and may make it easier to manage your budget for travel. Westpac’s Global Currency card supports 9 popular currencies, while Wise covers 40+. Both are convenient and easy to use – compare these options with our handy guide, to see if either suits your specific needs.

ASB Cash Passport card review FAQ

ASB withdrew the Cash Passport card in 2019. Alternate travel money cards are available from banks like Westpac’s and specialist non-bank services like Wise.

How does a travel money card work?

Travel money cards usually let you top up funds in NZD and convert to the currency you need for spending. You’ll then usually find there’s no fee to spend a currency you have in your account, although foreign transaction or conversion charges may apply for unsupported currency spending.

Are there any alternatives to an ASB Cash Passport card?

Yes. New Zealand customers may choose a dedicated travel money card from Westpac if you want to stick with a bank – or a global specialist like Wise if you’re looking for an alternative.

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Asb credit card travel insurance.

You might already have access to overseas travel insurance if you've got an ASB Visa Platinum Rewards credit card. Find out how to activate it correctly.

Check activation Make a claim

Benefits at a glance

• Access to a wide range of benefits – from lost luggage to cancelled flights and medical emergencies
• Emergency assistance that you can call from anywhere in the world 24/7
• Cover for you, your spouse and your dependent children when they're travelling with you
• Protect your travel plans and get peace of mind when heading overseas

How ASB credit card travel insurance works

You can access up to 90 days travel insurance per overseas return trip on an ASB Visa Platinum Rewards card. And if you're travelling with your spouse or your dependent children, they're included too (as long as all of the terms and conditions  are met).

The ASB Visa Platinum Travel Insurance policy provides cover for a wide range of benefits. Here are some examples, but please read the policy wording  for full details:

• Medical and emergency evacuations.
• Cancellation of your trip due to an unexpected event.
• Lost or stolen luggage, including luggage delays of 12 hours or more.
• Accidental death or personal injury.

How to activate your travel insurance

To activate your travel insurance you simply need to pay for at least 50% of your overseas return travel tickets using your ASB Visa Platinum Rewards credit card. Remember to keep any receipts, emails, bank statements or other proof that you've activated your travel insurance. If you make a claim, we'll need to see this.

You can check activation of your travel insurance or purchase additional cover by visiting www.asbtravel.co.nz .

Here are several other quick and easy ways to activate your travel insurance prior to leaving New Zealand:

• Use your True Rewards dollars , Airpoints or other frequent flyer points to buy your overseas return travel tickets. If you don't have enough True Rewards dollars or frequent flyer points for the whole amount, you can use another activation method to pay at least 50% of the balance to qualify for cover.
• Get a cash advance from your ASB Visa Platinum Rewards account and on the same day use these funds to pay for at least 50% of your overseas return travel tickets.
• Pay for at least 50% of your overseas return travel tickets from your ASB bank account if you're unable to use your ASB Visa Platinum Rewards credit card to pay for your tickets, or there's an additional charge for using your credit card (your travel provider must give you written confirmation that your credit card is not acceptable or would incur an additional charge).
• Travel on return overseas tickets that you've won in a prize draw or competition.

Important information you need to know

• Pre-existing conditions aren't automatically covered. If you'd like to apply for a pre-existing condition to be covered, please apply at www.asbtravel.co.nz now.
• There is no cover for any personal items, money or documents that have been mislaid or forgotten, for example left on transport or in a hotel room or other accommodation.
• For ASB Visa Platinum Rewards cardholders aged 76 and over, you are not eligible for cover under the base policy however can purchase additional cover.
• There are a number of exclusions which apply to this policy, please see the policy document  for details.
• It's a good idea to check travel advisories when you're travelling overseas. You can check these at safetravel.govt.nz to see how your travel will be affected.

Which company underwrites this policy?

ASB has chosen AIG to underwrite our ASB Visa Platinum Rewards Travel Insurance. This means they'll answer your policy questions and be on hand to help if you call emergency assistance or make a claim.

Get started today

If you haven't already got an  ASB Visa Platinum Rewards credit card ,  apply for one now . 

02. Understand

Read the applicable travel insurance policy document  to get a full understanding of what is and isn't covered and how to make a claim.

03. Activate

To make sure you are covered, you need to activate your ASB Visa Platinum Travel Insurance and keep proof of activation in case you need to claim.  You can check activation online at www.asbtravel.co.nz .

If you need to make a claim, request this through the Digital Claim Portal or call AIG Travel on 0800 660 141 or +64 (4) 916 6312 .

Calling from New Zealand

For enquiries and claims in New Zealand, please call AIG.

0800 660 141

Calling from overseas

If you're overseas and you need emergency or medical assistance, please call AIG Travel.

+64 4 916 6312

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Top tips and travel essentials.

Before you leave check out or travel guide. It Includes great tips for keeping safe before and during your trip, as well as money tips for when you’re overseas.

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ASB's lending criteria and terms apply. Interest rate on cash advances currently 22.95% p.a applies. Interest rates may change. Fees apply, refer to asb.co.nz for details. Fees may change. Refer to asb.co.nz for other fees and charges. Please refer to the ASB Visa Platinum Travel Insurance Policy for full details. If you are 76 years of age or over, you are not eligible for cover under the base policy, but may be able to purchase Mature Age cover to receive travel insurance benefits. Other exclusions and limitations apply.

ASB's Credit Card Conditions of Use  and ASB Rewards Programme Terms apply. Everyday Rewards programme terms and conditions apply.

Credit Cards › ASB credit card travel insurance

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Policy Benefits

On this page you can view your Schedule of Benefits for a quick summary of available cover and download your policy wording for the full terms, conditions and exclusions that will be applicable to your trip.

To view the Schedule of Benefits for your applicable card click the +. This is a summary only and all cover is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions included in the full policy wording. 

Download the pdf policy wording  and carefully read that document to understand what you are, and what you are not covered for during your trip.

ASB Visa Platinum Rewards Travel Insurance Policy

The compensation, Sum Insured and limit of liability applicable under each section of this policy, for insured persons for each period of travel.

You must pay the first $200 of each and every claim arising from the same event under Sections 1, 2 & 3.

• Asb Visa Platinum Rewards Travel Insurance Policy Aig 2023 213KB pdf
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ASB Visa Platinum Travel Insurance (‘Insurance’) is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions (for example business travel, age limitations etc.) and activation criteria contained in the policy document. You should read the Policy Wording and Schedule of Benefits considering your personal circumstances, prior to making any decision to acquire the product. The Insurance is provided to ASB Visa Platinum Rewards cardholders by AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited (‘AIG’) under an agreement with ASB. ASB does not underwrite the Insurance, is not an agent of AIG, and does not guarantee the obligations of AIG. Premiums are payable for policy extensions such as pre-existing cover, duration extension and specified items.

This portal is owned and managed by AIG for the purposes only of delivering AIG insurance services. ASB does not have access to this portal, does not collect any personal information via this portal and has no liability in relation to this portal. For more information about AIG’s privacy practices, please check AIG’s privacy statement at www.aig.co.nz/privacy-policy .

The AIG Logo is a registered trademark. Insurance products and services are provided by AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited.  

Load up to eight foreign currencies plus New Zealand Dollars on your OneSmart card before your trip, and earn Airpoints Dollars 1  whenever you spend 2 . An easy and secure way to manage your travel money, OneSmart can be used worldwide, anywhere Mastercard® is accepted³ .

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Why use OneSmart?

How does OneSmart work?

Request onesmart.

It's free to request a card . Once you receive your card, activate it and set a PIN.

Load in NZD or lock in up to eight foreign currencies at a set exchange rate*.

Start spending

The card will automatically detect which country you are in.

Earn Airpoints Dollars

Collect 1 Airpoints Dollar for every NZD$100 spent overseas and every NZD$200 spent in New Zealand on eligible purchases. 

Download the OneSmart app

Onesmart mastercard priceless® specials.

• No initial card fee
• No load/reload fee for bank transfers (1-2 business days to load) 
• 1.5% fee for debit card loads (instant load)
• First three international ATM withdrawals are free each month with charges  applying to subsequent withdrawals. Note that some ATM operators may charge additional withdrawal fees
• Domestic ATM withdrawal fee: NZD $2
• Currency conversion fee: 2.5% of transaction value
• Monthly fee: NZD $1 (if there are funds in your account) 

If you have any questions about your OneSmart card, contact the OneSmart Customer Service Centre on 0800 787 555 or +64 (9) 377 8535 , or check out our frequently asked questions .

OneSmart is an unsecured debt security issued by EML Payment Solutions Limited (8079483) (the "Issuer"). OneSmart is not guaranteed by any person. EML is solely responsible for the repayment of your OneSmart facility. View the Product Disclosure Statement for more detail . Information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs and you should consider the appropriateness of the information about the OneSmart facility before making any decisions about whether to acquire or continue using the prepaid facility.

Mastercard® and Priceless Specials are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

¹When calculating your Airpoints Dollar earnings, if you spend in a foreign currency, the amount you spend will be converted into New Zealand dollars at the currency exchange rate prevailing at the time the amount is deducted from your OneSmart Card.

²Eligible purchases do not include money orders, traveller's cheques, gambling chips, flights purchased directly from Air New Zealand. You do not earn Airpoints Dollars when loading funds to your OneSmart Card, transferring funds to another currency balance or another member's OneSmart Card or when withdrawing funds from ATMs or cashing out your OneSmart Card balance. Purchases that are reversed, refunded or charged-back are also ineligible for points earn, in addition to fees incurred.

³Although the Mastercard acceptance mark may be displayed, OneSmart may not operate in some countries and geographical regions, due to restrictions. For more information please see the Product Disclosure Statement .

*Lock in your exchange rates means the exchange rate is locked in for the initial load only. The exchange rates for subsequent reloads will be set at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the transaction.

~Some ATM operators may charge their own fees and set their own limits.

Eligibility criteria applies. OneSmart is available to Airpoints members residing in New Zealand, 16 years of age or older.

^By downloading, installing or using the Air NZ OneSmart app, you agree to be bound by the   terms and conditions . iOS: Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Android: Requires Android 4.0.3 or later. This app is optimized for Android phones.

Airpoints programme terms and conditions apply .

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VISA Gold Credit Card

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Card Features:

✓ No annual Fee

✓ 12.9% APR (Annual Percentage Rate)

✓ Accepted worldwide

✓ Make payments online, by mail or in person

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To report your card lost or stolen, call 1-800-325-3678

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Toss the checkbook aside and forget the weekly trips to the bank for cash. When you make a purchase with your ASB&T Check Card, funds are drawn directly from your checking account.

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✓ No annual fee

✓ Make purchases anywhere VISA is accepted

✓ Accepted at ATMs world wide including MoneyPass and CIRRUS ATMs

✓ Use as an ATM card

✓ No fee at ASB&T ATMs

To report your card lost or stolen, call 1-866-546-8273.

ATM Cash Card

Safely withdraw cash from your checking account at any ATM with your Cash Card and Personal Identification Number (PIN).

✓ Immediate access to your cash 24 hours a day

✓ Accepted at ATMs worldwide

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MASTERCARD BENEFIT INQUIRIES

Within the U.S.: 1-800-Mastercard (1-800-627-8372) | Outside the U.S.: Mastercard Global Service Phone Numbers

Availability of insurance benefits on your card may vary by card issuer. Please refer to your issuing financial institution for complete insurance benefit coverage terms, conditions and exclusions.

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Travel money card, start saving for your next holiday with a cash passport.

Lock in rates for 10 currencies

Lock in exchange rates each time you load. Load your card with NZD, AUD, EUR, USD, GBP, JPY, CAD, HKD, SGD and AED.

Stay in control

Manage and track your card on the go via the Cash Passport app and stay in control of your travel money, from wherever you are.

Accepted worldwide

Use it like a bank card, expect with your own prepaid funds. In-store, online or to withdraw local currency at ATMs.

How do I order a card?

Getting a card is so easy - you can order online and have it delivered to your door within 5 business days, no need to leave the house.

Once your card arrives, you will need to activate it ready to use. You can then continue to load funds onto your card each month; it's like an online piggy bank for your next holiday. 

Already have a Cash Passport?

Login to your account to check your balance, view your transaction history, reload your card and manage your travel money.

Lets talk details

There’s a lot you get from a Cash Passport that you don’t get from an average old credit card. View the additional features of the Cash Passport card, and information on using the card while overseas .

For all the information you need on pricing and fee structures, check out the fees and limits.

The Cash Passport customer service team is available 24/7 to answer your questions or assist if your currency card has been lost or stolen.

Simply call the number dedicated to the country you’re in:

• New Zealand – 0800 444 691
• Australia – 1800 098 231
• UK – 0800 056 0572
• USA/Canada – 1877 465 0085
• Japan – 00531 780 221
• Thailand – 00180 442 212
• Hong Kong – 800 966 321
• South Korea – 00798 4434 1279
• Other countries – +44 207 694 9404

You can also check the Help Centre for additional information and answers to common questions regarding the card.

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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.

The Best Prepaid and Debit Cards of 2024

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India Davis is an editor specializing in credit cards and updates. She believes in putting the reader first and carrying out a brand’s voice to its fullest potential. She has lived and worked in three different countries and hopes to explore more of the world post-pandemic.

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If you need to limit spending or use an alternative to bank accounts, the best prepaid cards available can help you with your goals. You can load and reload prepaid cards with funds and then use them like a debit card, avoiding checking accounts and some bank-imposed fees in the process.

At Bankrate, our staff has reviewed and rated hundreds of today's top credit cards, with independence and transparency, so you'll have an easier time making an informed decision. When reviewing the best prepaid cards of 2024, we considered accessibility, affordability and extra benefits, among other factors, to help you decide which prepaid card is best for you.

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Best prepaid and debit cards of 2024:

• Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card
• Self Lender — Credit Builder Account

What is a prepaid card?

Tips on choosing the best prepaid card for you, expert advice on prepaid cards, how we assess the best prepaid cards.

• Frequently asked questions

Best for no activation fee

Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card

Bankrate score

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Regular APR

Up-to $9.95 monthly*

What we love : If you want the convenience of a debit card without opening a traditional bank account, the Netspend Visa Prepaid Card may be worth a look. You can have your paycheck, tax refund or government benefits deposited directly to your Netspend Visa and can use the card anywhere Visa cards are accepted. Alternatives : If you’re a fan of this card’s savings account option, Brink’s Armored™ Account offers a similar benefit and the ability to earn some ongoing cash back rewards.

• There are no application fees and no minimum balance required for this card, so you can start an account with relatively little hassle.
• When you start your card account, you’ll get access to a high-yield savings account that offers 5 percent APY on the first $1,000 you save.
• The card's monthly fee is $9.95 (it lowers to $5 if you receive at least $500 in payroll checks in any one month).
• While it may not have an application fee, this card is associated with several other fees — an ATM withdrawal fee, an inactivity fee and a cash reload fee, just to name a few.
• With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
• No late fees or interest charges because this is not a credit card.
• Use the Netspend Mobile App to manage your Card Account on the go and enroll to get text messages or email alerts (Message & data rates may apply).
• Card use is subject to activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs apply.
• Card issued by Pathward N.A., Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit card is accepted.
• See additional NetSpend® Prepaid Visa® details.

Best for no credit check

Variable Monthly Fee

What we love : This prepaid card could be a good fit for someone who wants a convenient way to spend without having to worry about a credit check. The Netspend Visa Prepaid card also comes with select cash back and personalized offers that can help you save on purchases. Alternatives: Since this prepaid card does not offer overdraft protection, you might consider the Walmart MoneyCenter debit card , which has an overdraft feature (fees may apply). 

• There's no credit check required when opening the card, so your credit score won't be impacted.
• The card does offer some cash back rewards which are personalized based on your spending.
• This card doesn't report to any of the three credit bureaus, so it won't help improve your credit score.
• Like most prepaid cards, this card offers no overdraft protection.

Best for building credit

Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card

28.74% (Variable)

What we love : The Self - Credit Builder Secured Visa® serves both as a traditional credit card and a savings account — payments made into this account are reported to the three major credit bureaus, helping you build savings and establish a positive credit history at the same time. The credit limit on this card is also equal to the amount you have saved in your Credit Builder Account. Learn more : Is the Self – Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa Credit Card worth it? Alternative : If you’re seeking access to a physical card immediately, the Netspend® Visa® Prepaid Card is a solid choice that offers potential rewards, albeit one that carries a series of fees.

• This card reports to all three credit bureaus, helping you to achieve any credit-building goals.
• Since no hard credit inquiry is required for application, your credit score won't be impacted.
• If you're looking for a card to use immediately, this isn’t a fit as it takes three months of on-time loan payments totaling at least $100 before you’re eligible for the secured card.
• You’ll pay an annual fee for this card, which is unusual for a secured card.
• Start with a Credit Builder Account* that reports to all 3 credit bureaus. Each on-time monthly payment builds credit history and savings. Choose the plan that works for you.
• Make at least 3 monthly payments on time, have $100 or more in savings progress in your Credit Builder Account, and be in good standing.** Then, you’ll be eligible for the Self Visa® Credit Card, without a hard credit check.
• Your savings progress from your Credit Builder Account acts as your security deposit for your secured Credit Card.
• Get the savings plan that helps build credit today.
• No credit score is needed to get started.
• Your money is secured and protected in a bank account.
• *Credit Builder Account Sample Product: $48 monthly payment, 24 month term with a $9 admin fee at a 15.72% Annual Percentage Rate. Please refer to https://www.self.inc/pricing for the most recent pricing options.
• **Secured Credit Card Disclaimers, Rates and Fees: https://www.self.inc/card-agreement
• Self Visa® Credit Card issued by Lead Bank or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See self.inc for details.
• Active Credit Builder Account in good standing, 3 on time payments, $100 or more in saving progress. Requirements subject to change.

Compare Bankrate's top prepaid cards

On This Page

Prepaid debit cards are similar to debit cards, except prepaid cards aren’t connected to banking or checking accounts. Instead, funds are loaded onto the card — either online, in person at specific locations, by depositing checks or reloading with cash — then reloaded when those funds run out.

Think of them as a cross between gift cards and debit cards — they have a card number, CVV code and expiration date like debit and credit cards. They also don't usually impact your credit score, as prepaid card issuers typically don’t check your credit when you apply, and they won’t check your banking history (though this isn’t always the case).

However, you should keep in mind that most prepaid cards have fees associated with them, such as:

• Reload fees
• Monthly fees
• ATM withdrawal fees
• Inactivity fees
• Transaction fees

Pros and cons of prepaid cards

While one of the benefits of a prepaid card is its accessibility, make sure to read the fine print before you apply. Some cards have activation fees and monthly maintenance charges, which can eat into your spending.

No credit check needed: People with low or no credit can practice responsible credit habits without taking a hit to their credit scores.

Budgeting tool: Because you’re limited to spending your deposit amount, prepaid cards make it easier to stay within your budget and cut back on monthly spending.

More fees than debit cards: Debit cards typically charge overdraft, monthly and sometimes ATM fees. Unfortunately, prepaid cards charge those fees on top of transaction fees, reload fees, inactivity fees and more.

Can’t build credit: Prepaid card issuers don’t report to credit bureaus, meaning users won’t improve their credit scores over time with this card type. Secured credit cards are a better option for people with no credit or low credit to increase their scores.

Prepaid cards are an excellent option for anyone with difficulty accessing traditional banking services, but features vary among cards. Here are some things you should keep in mind while shopping for a prepaid card.

• Take a look at the fees. One of the reasons many people have a difficult time accessing traditional banking services is because of the costs. If your prepaid card charges a litany of fees, such as ATM fees, monthly service fees or reload fees, you should consider if the card is worth it.
• Know your loading options . How difficult or easy will it be to reload your prepaid card? Are fees attached? Some prepaid cards will allow you to reload your card with ACH transfers, but you’ll often reload manually at an ATM. It’s important that you have access to several ATMs in your area.
• Make sure the card offers mobile access. Mobile banking is becoming increasingly popular, and for good reason. It’s convenient, safe and can give you peace of mind. The best prepaid cards will offer you the option to use the cards online and have access to a mobile app.
• Consider if you’re banked or underbanked .   While prepaid cards function similarly, there are significant  differences between prepaid cards and debit cards , specifically where funds are stored, which can be a significant factor for those who are unbanked or underbanked. Prepaid cards provide several benefits to people who don’t have access to traditional bank accounts (unbanked people) or whose access to banking services is inconvenient or too expensive ( underbanked people). If you’ve struggled to gain access to traditional banking services because of upfront costs (such as deposit minimums or initiation fees), a prepaid card might be the answer.

You can use Bankrate's Compare Credit Cards tool to help shop for the best prepaid card with as few fees as possible.

Rates of unbanked people are particularly high for those in low-income households. While the U.S. average for being unbanked is around 4.5 percent , those who have an income of under $25,000 and are underbanked are 17 percent . The main reasons cited are lack of proper funds and lack of trust . Prepaid cards can be a great alternative for people facing these hurdles.

To make the most of your prepaid card and ensure a seamless financial experience, follow these expert tips.

How to choose a prepaid card

Decide on a payment network.

Payment networks like PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and Netspend all have prepaid debit cards available. Some networks are accepted at more merchants than others so make sure to pick one that’s accepted at stores you regularly shop at.

Check fees and limitations

Prepaid cards come with a multitude of fees. If you don’t factor these into your spending, you might have less than you originally thought.

Review spending habits

Prepaid cards only have what you load onto them, so make sure to load a proper amount to avoid the reload fee that could possibly be attached to the card.

Pick up & load the card

You can receive your prepaid card from many places, both in-person and online, and may even be able to get it the same day. Once you activate and load your card, you should be able to start using it immediately.

How to maximize a prepaid card

When it comes to managing your spending and avoiding debt, a prepaid card can be valuable. With the right features and responsible usage, you can maximize the benefits of a prepaid card while staying in control of your finances.

Prepaid debit cards let you use plastic when shopping online or in stores without a traditional checking account . It’s great for scenarios like a parent or guardian giving a teenager a card to make purchases with a monthly budget or if you need to cut back on spending and want to set hard limits. Understand what you’re using a prepaid card for and how it can ultimately help you reach your financial goals.

Research and compare cards

Each prepaid card may come with its own set of features, fees and limitations. You can find a card that aligns with your specific needs by conducting thorough research. Look for cards with low or no activation fees, reasonable transaction fees and useful benefits tailored to your requirements.

Set a budget

One of the key advantages of using a prepaid card is that it allows you to set a budget and stick to it. By loading only the amount you plan to spend onto the card, you can avoid overspending and accumulating debt, so it's essential to do so with a strategic approach. 

Strategize your reloads

Consider your spending patterns and avoid reloading large sums unnecessarily, as it might tie up your funds or expose you to additional fees. Plan your reloads effectively. Strike a balance between having enough funds and not maintaining an excessive balance on the card.

Be aware of drawbacks

Prepaid cards may not offer the same consumer protections as credit or debit cards in case of fraud or unauthorized transactions. It's crucial to review the terms and conditions the card issuer provides regarding liability protection and dispute resolution processes. As a precaution, make sure to set some money aside for an emergency or rainy day fund .

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an  email , find us on  Facebook , or Tweet us  @Bankrate .

When evaluating the best prepaid cards, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from low fees to wide acceptance to earning rewards. 

We analyzed the most popular prepaid card options and scored each card based on its fee structure, rewards rate and earnings, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup. 

Here are some of the key factors that we considered: 

Reasonable fees

To start, all cards on this list charge either a variable monthly fee, fixed monthly fee or a one-time account fee. As many prepaid cards have monthly fees, we identified those with limited additional costs and hidden fees.

More important to these cards’ scores and their inclusion in our list is how their fees influence their overall value. We consider card fees in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall value. 

Cards with high fees will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since fees inherently cut into any rewards value the card may offer. However, if a card offers terrific value in other ways, such as perks or convenience it can earn a spot in our list even if it carries high fees.

Flexibility and perks

Along with cost and rewards value, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term usefulness. 

We considered how widely a card is accepted, and we sought options that are likely to be accepted anywhere you spend. Our team considered the size of each card’s network, the trustworthiness of each financial institution and the accessibility of reload options.

Due to the nature of prepaid and debit cards, additional perks such credit-building tools can be difficult to come by. If a card offers a path to improving your credit score, we’ve factored that into our scoring.

For rewards-earning cards, we consider any restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list. 

These restrictions could include only allowing users to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requiring users to meet a certain earning threshold before they can redeem rewards. We also examine whether points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners. 

We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value and uniqueness. For prepaid cards, flexibility and convenience can play a significant role in a card’s overall usefulness. 

Rewards value

Since many cardholders looking for a prepaid card are eager to earn rewards, a key criteria for a card’s inclusion in our list is its rewards value. Rewards value factors in a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories, as well as how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits. In other words: Does the card earn rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories?

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2021 was $66,928 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.  

This includes the following spending by category:

• Groceries: $5,200
• Dining out: $3,000
• Entertainment: $2,500
• Gas: $2,100
• Apparel and services: $1,700

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 23 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other cards in its primary category.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Frequently asked questions about prepaid cards

How do i get a prepaid card.

You can get a prepaid card in a number of ways, including: 

• Online : You can go online and purchase a prepaid card using your credit or debit card information, which will be charged at the time of purchase.
• In-store : You can go to any store and purchase a prepaid card with cash.
• At a bank branch : You can go to a bank branch, provide your personal information and purchase a prepaid card with cash or by using your checking account number and routing number (which is typically on checks).

How do you reload a prepaid card?

You can reload a prepaid card much like you would receive money in a checking account linked to a debit card. Here are some ways you could reload a prepaid debit card, depending on the issuer:

• In person at the financial institution that issued the card
• In person at participating retail locations
• Online transfer from a checking or savings account
• Mobile deposit, if available
• Direct deposit, if available

What are alternatives to prepaid cards?

If you'd rather not use a prepaid card, there are other options that may suit your needs better:

• Fintech banking apps: These apps, like SoFi , work like any other bank app, but they don't require a traditional bank account. Some of these apps are free, but some charge monthly fees for certain features.
• Alternative spending accounts: An alternative spending account, like Chime , is typically a checking account without overdraft fees, monthly fees or service fees. They're designed for people who want a simple place to keep their money but don't want all of the features of a traditional checking account.
• Second-chance checking accounts: These second-chance accounts  allow people who have been denied access to traditional checking accounts due to low credit scores or unpaid debts access to basic banking services. 
• Secured credit cards: These allow people who have bad or no credit histories to make a deposit for access to a limited credit line. If you can afford to make a security deposit upfront, you can use a secured credit card for minor expenses and build your credit score at the same time.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

Netspend Visa Prepaid Card fees . Netspend. Accessed on May 10, 2024.

Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022 - May 2023 . Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Accessed on May 10, 2024.

2021 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households . FDIC. Accessed on May 10, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

• Best Overall
• Best for No-Annual-Fee

Best for Independent Hotel Purchases

• Best for Beginners
• Best for Everyday Spending
• Best for Students
• Best Premium Travel Card for Affordability
• Best for Dining and Groceries
• Best for Travel Insurance
• Best for Luxury Travel Benefits
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Travel Credit Cards of June 2024

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews .

The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card, Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

• Best overall travel credit card : Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best travel credit card for beginners : Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best no-annual-fee travel credit card : Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card ( rates and fees )
• Best for spending at hotels : Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card
• Best for travel rewards on everyday spending : Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
• Best travel card for students : Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
• Most affordable premium travel credit card : Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Best travel credit card for earning travel credit on dining and groceries : American Express® Gold Card
• Best premium card for travel bonus categories : Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for luxury travel benefits and airport lounge access : The Platinum Card® from American Express

Introduction to Travel Credit Cards

Whether you're just dipping your toe into the world of rewards credit cards or you've already flown thousands of miles on points alone, we can tell you: There's a travel credit card for everyone. There's a card if you're looking for free flights, if you're hoping for free hotel stays, or if you're just doing whatever it takes to realize your dream of an overwater bungalow. There are even no-annual-fee travel credit cards that won't cost you anything to keep.

Compare the Top Travel Credit Cards

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.

21.49% - 28.49% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit

If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase.

0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (intro fee of 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% of the amount of each balance transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time)

19.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 20,000 miles

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Versatile rewards
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases with no bonus categories to track
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Lower earning rate than some other no-annual-fee rewards cards
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited benefits

The VentureOne Rewards Card is a slimmed-down version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It's one of the few no-annual-fee cards on the market that gives you the option to redeem miles for cash back or transfer them to travel partners.

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase-or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Earn unlimited 5x points per dollar on hotels. Earn 4x points on airlines. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1x on other purchases.

21.24%, 26.24%, or 29.99% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus rewards points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip cancellation and lost baggage protection
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Airline and hotel transfer partners available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Welcome bonus
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous cellphone protection
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Transfer partner network not as diverse or robust as competitors

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card is a true travel credit card, with benefits that rival many of the best travel rewards credit cards currently on the market. This card has a low annual fee on par with that of popular competing credit cards and Wells Fargo's newly announced Points Transfer program allows cardholders to juice maximum value from every point they earn.

Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.

19.99% - 29.99% variable

Earn 75,000 miles

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No bonus categories to keep track of
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending

If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging stations. Earn 1X point per $1 on all other purchases.

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Earn 75,000 bonus points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn 3x points on most travel, restaurants, gas/EV charging, and supermarkets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earn 10x points on hotels, rental cars, and attractions booked via Citi Travel
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. $100 annual hotel credit on a single stay of $500 or more
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No foreign transaction fees
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Trip delay/interruption benefits and lost/damaged baggage coverage
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Has an annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Citi Travel rates often are higher than retail cost of travel

Earn unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on purchases.

• 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account

17.99% - 27.99% Variable

25,000 online bonus points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous welcome bonus for a student credit card
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns flexible points you can use toward a wide variety of travel purchases
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Other travel rewards cards have higher earning rates
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Few travel-related benefits compared to other travel cards

A good student credit card should offer rewards and useful benefits to those with limited credit history and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students hits several of those notes. However, while the card is marketed to students, those without established credit may have difficulty getting approved.

• The information related to the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
• 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases)
• Unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases everywhere, no expiration on points
• No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other purchases.

See Pay Over Time APR

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great rewards for dining and for shopping at US supermarkets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Underwhelming welcome bonus

Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

22.49% - 29.49% Variable

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong travel insurance
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee

If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Bonus categories leave something to be desired
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards

If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.

Best Travel Credit Card Recommendations

The best travel rewards credit cards offer valuable rewards, easy-to-use benefits, and helpful features like travel coverage. Our team of credit card experts at Business Insider chose the best options available on the market in 2024, and reviewed each one below.

Best Travel Credit Card Overall

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is our top pick for a well-rounded travel rewards credit card. Even infrequent travelers can benefit from the slew of premium perks on this card, typically found on cards with far higher annual fees. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card stands out for its travel protection benefits. When you pay for travel expenses with this card and meet certain requirements, you can request reimbursement for unexpected expenses that may arise when your flight is delayed or if your baggage is delayed or lost.

You'll also have primary rental car insurance, meaning you won't have to file claims through your personal car insurance plan or pay for coverage from the rental car company. This card also offers a 10% anniversary points bonus, and up to $50 in annual statement credits for hotel purchases made through the Chase Travel℠ Portal. 

The rewards rate on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't shabby either. You'll earn 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 2 points on all other travel purchases; and 3 points on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), and select streaming services. You'll earn 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are some of the easiest points to use in various ways. You can redeem them for travel directly through the Chase Travel Portal for a 25% boost in value, where 1 point will be worth 1.25 cents apiece. You can also transfer your points to Chase's airline and hotel transfer partners , which include United Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott, and many other airlines and hotel chains around the world. Cardholders can also use points for statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more.  

What the experts love: High welcome bonus offer, earns bonus points on travel, dining, and online grocery purchases, you can redeem points for 1.25 cents apiece for travel or through Chase for 25% value bonus

What the experts don't love: Doesn't offer some of the travel perks you'll get with competing cards, such as airport lounge access and a statement credit for Global Entry

Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card review

Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Earning Travel Miles

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is our top choice for a no-annual-fee travel card ( rates and fees ), and it's got many of the same perks as its bigger sibling, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

New cardholders can earn a respectable 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within three months from account opening (worth at least $340 in travel according to Business Insider's valuations). While the card only earns 1.25 miles per dollar on most purchases (plus 5x on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel), it's still a compelling choice if an annual fee isn't for you ( rates and fees ).

You'll get the same access to Capital One's airline and hotel partners as you would with annual-fee cards, and a handful of benefits including car rental insurance***, travel accident insurance***, and purchase assurance***. This is also a solid pick if you're looking for a zero-interest credit card  with a 0% introductory APR offer, because new cardholders receive a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (intro fee of 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% of the amount of each balance transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time), then a 19.99% - 29.99% Variable APR ( rates and fees ).

What the experts love: No annual fee, access to transfer partners, generous intro 0% APR offer

What the experts don't love: Few travel benefits, lower earning rate

Read more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review

The newly announced Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card earns one of the highest rates of return on hotel bookings for a credit card that isn't co-branded with a specific hotel chain. 

This card has a $95 annual fee, inviting direct comparisons to two other cards on this list: The Sapphire Preferred Card , and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . In exchange, cardholders earn at least 3x on dining and travel purchases. Airline purchases earn 4x, and hotel purchases earn 5x.

Wells Fargo simultaneously announced brand-new airline and hotel partners: Choice Privileges, Aer Lingus AerClub, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, avianca lifemiles, and British Airways Executive Club. Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card cardholders can redeem rewards at the standard redemption rate of 1 cent per point for cash back, or transfer their rewards to any of the travel partners above for additional value.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card will be available for in-person applications at select Wells Fargo bank locations on March 9, 2024. Nationwide applications open online and in person on March 20, 2024. 

Read more: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey credit card review

Best Travel Credit Card for Beginners

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great "set it and forget it" card, in the sense that you don't have to worry about various bonus categories for earning rewards. You'll earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on all other purchases.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also offers one of the most straightforward ways to redeem rewards for travel: you're able to use your miles to cover recent travel purchases from your card statement, at a rate of 1 cent per mile. 

You also have the option to transfer Capital One miles *** to more than a dozen frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Etihad Guest, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Capital One also added new partners including British Airways and Turkish Airlines, and improved the transfer ratio to 1:1 for most partners. 

The selection of transfer partners is best suited to someone who wants to travel internationally and who doesn't mind spending some time researching the best ways to redeem miles with the different frequent flyer program options. But the upside is that you can always use your miles to cover your travel purchases. You also get up to a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit.

What the experts love:  The ability to use your miles to cover your recent travel expenses; it earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.

What the experts don't love: Other cards offer higher rewards on certain spending categories such as travel and dining.

Read more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review

Best Travel Rewards on Everyday Spending

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card isn't as flashy or well-known as some other travel cards, but that doesn't mean you should overlook it, especially if you spend a lot on its bonus categories. Cardholders earn an impressive 3x points on air travel, gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

Along with a solid welcome bonus offer of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening (worth $1,200 based on Business Insider's valuations), you'll receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com once per calendar year.

While it isn't the best for travel protections, the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is the only card currently available to new applicants that unlocks the ability to transfer your ThankYou points to Citi's full list of airline and hotel partners , including JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and Wyndham.

What the experts love:  Strong rewards earning in useful everyday categories, access to Citi's transfer partners

What the experts don't love: Lack of travel protections like car rental insurance, few travel perks compared to similar rewards cards

Read more: Citi Strata Premier℠ Card review

Best Travel Card for Students

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a fairly unique offering, as there aren't many student credit cards specifically geared toward travel. New cardholders can earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days from account opening (redeemed as a $250 statement credit toward travel and dining purchases). That's a decent offer for a no-annual-fee card, and the earning structure is simple, too — 1.5x points per dollar on every purchase, with no bonus categories to keep track of.

There's also a 0% intro APR for your first 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (then a 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR) which can be handy if you have big purchases (like textbooks or supplies) you want to pay for over time. 

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a good choice if you prefer a straightforward card without having to worry about award charts or transfer partners. It's also a safe bet if you want to use it while traveling internationally — it doesn't charge pesky foreign transaction fees, so you won't be on the hook for extra charges if you use it overseas.

However, you won't find many extras — like travel benefits or purchase protections — with this card. If you're looking for better benefits, be sure to check out our guide to the best student credit cards for all the top options.

What the experts love: Impressive welcome bonus offer for a student credit card, good flat-rate rewards earning

What the experts don't love: No flashy extra perks or shopping benefits

Read more: Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students review

Most Affordable Premium Travel Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card was unveiled in late 2021 and offers a massive welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — worth at least $1,275 in travel, based on Business Insider's valuation of Capital One miles .

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is loaded with premium benefits that can more than offset the $395 annual fee ( rates and fees ). For context, the Venture X's annual fee, while high, is significantly lower than other premium travel card competitors.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card cardholders receive $300 per year in credits toward travel booked through Capital One, Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and Capital One airport lounge access (even for authorized users), a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary (worth $100 in travel), and Visa Infinite travel and purchase benefits.

As with other cards that earn Capital One miles , you can transfer rewards to over a dozen airline and hotel partners to book award travel, or use miles to book through the Capital One Travel Portal .

What the experts love:  Between $300 a year in travel credit and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, you can offset the annual fee entirely — and that's not even considering other benefits like lounge access.

What the experts don't love:  The $300 travel credit is more restrictive than other cards' — it only applies to travel booked through Capital One.

Read more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review

Best for Earning Travel Credit from Dining and Groceries

The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal travel card for anyone who frequently eats out and/or shops at U.S. supermarkets. You'll earn 4x Amex Membership Rewards points on these purchases (though note the $25,000 calendar year annual cap for U.S. supermarkets; after that, you'll earn just 1 point per dollar, but that's a pretty high cap). The card also earns 3x points on flights booked directly with the airlines or through AmexTravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

While the $250 annual fee is on the high side, you can offset it thanks to an annual statement credit. You can get up to $120 in annual dining credits**, but it's divided into up to $10 in credits each month, and the credit only applies at select restaurants and delivery services, including Grubhub, Seamless, Milk Bar, Wine.com, and Goldbelly, and participating Shake Shack locations.

You'll also get up to $120 Uber Cash ($10 per month) credit each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).

What the experts love: "4x points on restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) is great — usually, a card favors one or the other," says Rathner. Plus, the card offers monthly dining credits.

What the experts don't love: Wilson notes that other cards offer similar benefits for a lower annual fee, and Rathner notes that the card's travel and dining credits come with some important limitations — so read the fine print. 

Read more: American Express® Gold Card review

Best Premium Card for Travel Insurance and Bonus Categories

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a $550 annual fee, which means it's not for everybody, but if you're serious about maximizing your rewards and you travel frequently, it could be worth it. It offers a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. 

Not only do you get up to $300 in statement credits toward travel each year (and Chase has a very generous definition of travel — including everything from airfare to highway tolls), but you also earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding the $300 travel credit) and 3x points on all other travel and dining. You also get airport lounge access through the Priority Pass network , which has more than 1,300 locations worldwide.

New benefits also include access to Chase Sapphire lounges in JFK , LaGuardia , Boston , and Hong Kong, as well as the Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin Airport . You'll also receive benefits with DoorDash  and Instacart that can save you money on delivery (activation required).

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering cardholders two years of complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership (valued at $199 per year) for member-exclusive pricing, priority pickup, and more (activation required). 

When it comes to redeeming points, you can book travel through Chase and get 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus over the standard 1-cent-per-point rate), or you can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to travel partners like Hyatt, British Airways, and United.

Plus, like the less-expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best credit card travel insurance around. This includes primary car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation protection, and lost baggage insurance.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card was previously our pick for the best travel card overall, before the annual fee increased from $450 to $550. While the Reserve did add some additional benefits, the Reserve no longer makes as much sense for casual travelers. As a result, we now recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as the best travel credit card for most people. 

What the experts love:  Earns 3x points on travel and dining purchases made outside of Chase Travel Portal, annual $300 travel credit, points are worth 1.5 cents apiece for travel booked through Chase

What the experts don't love: You have to squeeze every drop of value out of this card to make that jaw-dropping $550 annual fee worth your while.

Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve® review

Best for Luxury Travel Benefits and Airport Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express has one of the highest rewards card annual fees —  $695 — but it can still be well worth it if you can put all of its statement credits and generous welcome bonus offer to use.

You'll earn 5x points on flights when you book directly through the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), which makes the card a great choice for purchasing airfare. The card offers trip cancellation and interruption insurance, plus some of the best purchase protection, so it's a good option for buying expensive items (and don't forget to see if you can take advantage of an Amex Offer ** for bonus points or cash back).

The Platinum Card® from American Express offers more airport lounge access than any other personal travel card — in addition to Priority Pass membership**, you get access to Amex Centurion Lounges , Delta Sky Clubs (when you're flying Delta), and more. 

The card's annual statement credits can go a long way toward offsetting the high annual fee. You get up to $200 in statement credits toward airline incidental fees** like checked bags and inflight purchases; up to $100 each year in credit toward Saks Fifth Avenue purchases**; and up to $200 in annual Uber credits (including Uber Eats)**. 

Just keep in mind that you're limited to one designated airline you choose each year in your Amex account for the airline incidental fee credit, and both the Saks and Uber credits are divided into portions. You'll get up to $50 in statement credits toward Saks purchases from January to June, and another credit of up to $50 for Saks purchases from July to December.

With the Uber credit, you get up to $15 each month, and a $20 bonus in December for a total of $35 that month.

What the experts love:  Lots of luxury benefits, including airport lounge access and statement credits with Uber and Saks

What the experts don't love: This card's $695 annual fee, and minimal bonus categories

Read more: The Platinum Card® from American Express review

How to Choose the Best Travel Credit Card

While it takes more effort to redeem points or miles compared to cash back, the upside is that you can get much more value for your points compared to simply cashing in your rewards for a statement credit or check at a rate of 1 cent per point.

In fact, it's possible to receive double, triple, or even more than that amount when you're strategic about how you redeem your rewards, particularly if you book expensive luxury hotels or first-class flights. 

In this guide, we've focused mostly on the best travel credit cards that earn transferable points. Transferable points include popular currencies such as:

• Amex Membership Rewards
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards
• Capital One miles

You can transfer these points to both airline and hotel partner loyalty programs. You can even redeem your points to offset the cash price of your travel at a flat rate.

Travel Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions

If you want a single credit card that does it all and don't mind paying a generous annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great choice. It comes with the best travel insurance available on the market, as well as a $300 travel credit each year that can be used on most types of travel.

The best travel credit card overall is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but the best card for your particular situation will depend on what benefits you care about the most, as well as how you feel about paying a high annual fee. 

We'd recommend opening a travel card that earns Amex or Chase points, because these are among the easiest rewards to redeem and you have various travel partners to utilize. But if you've investigated your options and are confident that you can get value out of their rewards, credit cards that earn Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou points can make sense as well.

There are two main types of travel credit cards: Cards that earn transferable points, and airline/hotel co-branded credit cards. Transferable points currencies include Amex Membership Rewards points, Capital One miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Airline credit cards and hotel credit cards earn points or miles within a respective hotel or airline program; you don't have the option to redeem your rewards with a wide variety of travel partners (or if you do, the transfer ratio usually isn't great).

To pick the right travel credit card for you, you'll want to evaluate its welcome bonus offer, ease of use, benefits, and annual fee. The best one for you will ideally have a combination of an attractive sign-up bonus , lots of options for earning and redeeming rewards, benefits that save you money, and a low or no annual fee.

Travel credit cards with annual fees are worth it if you're able to get significant value out of their benefits and rewards. Before you apply for a card , make sure you'll actually use all the features that contribute to the card's annual fee. For example, if a card offers an annual statement credit of up to $200 toward travel but you can't use it, you're probably not getting what you pay for.

Travel credit cards work by earning you points (or miles) on every purchase you make, with the goal of helping you earn enough rewards to book free travel . The best travel cards earn points that you can transfer to various airline and hotel partners — like Amex, Chase, or Citi points. 

A great way to work toward getting a free flight is by applying for a travel credit card and earning its welcome bonus offer. Domestic award flights in economy class typically require about 25,000 points, so depending on the welcome bonus offer, you could have enough rewards for a flight right out of the gate. 

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Travel Credit Cards

Business Insider evaluated dozens of travel credit cards currently available to new applicants and narrowed down the list to the best options based on the following factors:

• Welcome bonus offer — Do new cardholders get a valuable incentive to sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement?
• Ongoing rewards — How many points or miles do you earn on your purchases?
• Benefits — Beyond rewards, does the card offer valuable perks such as statement credits for travel, primary car rental insurance, and airport lounge access?
• Annual fee — Is there an annual fee, and if so, is it affordable or easy to offset with card perks?
• Overall value — Does the card justify its annual fee by offering useful benefits and valuable rewards, and is it worth it?

Read our guide to how we rate credit cards for a closer look at our methodology.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

**Enrollment required.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

• Main content

If Your Debit Card Expires While You’re Traveling, Do These 7 Things

T raveling can be an exciting adventure, full of new experiences and memories to cherish. However, it can quickly turn into a stressful situation if you find your debit card has expired. Being far from home without immediate access to your funds can be worrisome, but don’t panic. Here are some important steps to take if your debit card expires while you are on vacation.

Read More: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief.

1. Contact Your Bank Immediately

The moment you realize your debit card has expired, contact your bank or card issuer. Most banks have international toll-free numbers specifically for travelers who have issues with their debit cards. Inform them about your situation and verify your identity. Banks are familiar with handling these situations and can quickly help you find a solution.

2. Request an Emergency Card Replacement

Ask if your bank can expedite a new debit card to your current location. Many banks offer an emergency card replacement service for travelers. While this might come with a fee, it’s worth the peace of mind. Provide a secure and verifiable address, like your hotel, where the card can be delivered.

3. Use Digital Wallet Services

In today’s digital age, accessing your funds without needing the physical debit card is often possible. If your bank supports it, you can add your debit card to a digital wallet like Apple Pay , Google Pay or Samsung Pay. This way, you can continue to make purchases and pay for services with your smartphone or a smartwatch.

4. Explore Wire Transfer Options

If getting a replacement card is not feasible, consider having money wired to you. You can use wire transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram to receive cash without needing a debit card. You’ll need to provide identification and the transaction details, but it’s a reliable way to access your money.

5. Use Other Cards

Always travel with more than one form of payment. If you have a credit card or another debit card , now is the time to use it. This reduces the inconvenience of having a single expired card and ensures you’re not stranded without access to your funds.

6. Withdraw Funds Through a Partner Bank

Some banks have international partnerships with other banks. In such cases, you might be able to withdraw cash directly from a partner bank’s branch. You’ll need to present your passport and possibly answer security questions, but it’s an effective way to access your money.

7. Precautionary Measures for the Future

To avoid a situation like this in the future, make a note of your card’s expiration date before you leave on vacation. Most banks send out new cards a few weeks before the old one expires, so ensure your address is up-to-date. Additionally, consider setting up travel alerts on your account and inform your bank of your travel plans. That way, you’ll cut down any risk of fraud alerts or blocks issued on your account.

If your debit card stops working while you’re traveling, it can be a hassle, but it’s not a huge disaster. If you act quickly and check out other options, you can still get to your money and have an enjoyable and relaxing time on your trip. Make sure to have a second way to pay ready and the phone number for your bank with you, just in case you need it while you’re on the go.

Editor's note: This article was produced via automated technology and then fine-tuned and verified for accuracy by a member of GOBankingRates' editorial team.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : If Your Debit Card Expires While You’re Traveling, Do These 7 Things

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A Corporate Card

That's built for you.

Explore how your Corporate Card can help enhance your

professional and personal life.

Learn how your Corporate Card can help support you on and off the clock.

SPECIAL OFFERS

Take advantage of special promotions featuring exclusive access to entertainment, travel, and other personal benefits.

BENEFITS AND PERKS

Every American Express ® Corporate Card comes with built-in benefits and personalized perks that follow you on or off the clock.

Green Card Perks and Benefits can help bring big value every day.

Personal travel has a new Silver Lining

As a Corporate Green Card Member, you are eligible to enroll in Hilton Honors TM Silver Status ‡ and enjoy benefits that can help your Hilton stays feel more rewarding — whether you’re traveling for work or play.

Learn More >

Use Uber Cash ‡ earned on your work lunch toward Saturday night take-out

Earn 3% Uber Cash on business rides with Uber and orders with Uber Eats when you charge them to your Corporate Card. Then, use that Uber Cash towards your next personal Uber ride or Uber Eats order in the US — whether you’re grabbing a car to the beach or ordering in wings as you cheer on your top team from the comfort of your living room. Enrollment required.

Coordination & assistance a phone call away

Your Corporate Card includes Global Assist ® Hotline ‡ . You can rely on coordination and assistance services if the unexpected occurs when traveling 100+ miles from home. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Gold Card perks and benefits can help bring big value every day.

Get a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®‡

With this benefit, you can receive a statement credit of $100 every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry (which comes with access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost) or a statement credit of up to $85 every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership through any Authorized Enrollment Provider for TSA PreCheck when the application fee is charged to an eligible Card.

Embrace the airport lounge lifestyle

When you’re waiting for a flight, it can feel great to ditch the crowd at your gate for the comfort and perks of an airport lounge — with no elite status or first-class ticket required. Earn a statement credit of up to $100 back per calendar year after you use your American Express ® Corporate Card to purchase lounge access through LoungeBuddy ‡ .

$100 Airline Fee Credit ‡

Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after flight incidentals — like checked luggage, lounge day passes, or in-flight food purchases — are charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Corporate Gold Card during your business trips.  

ENTER CLAIMS HERE

Platinum Card perks and benefits can help bring big value every day.

Welcome to life (and work) in the fast lane

Receive an annual statement credit of up to $189 per calendar year to help cover the cost of the auto-renewing CLEAR® Plus Membership‡ when charged to your Card — for work or personal travel. CLEAR® is a digital identity verification company that can help you move through security faster via CLEAR® Lanes at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues across the U.S.

$200 Airline Fee Credit ‡

Get up to $200 in statement credits each year after flight incidentals — like checked luggage, lounge day passes, or in-flight food purchases — are charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Corporate Platinum ® Card during your business trips.

The American Express Global Lounge Collection ®‡

Enjoy complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges in over 650 cities and 140 countries — so whether you’re on a business or personal trip, you can look for a little spot to relax and recharge before your flight.

Exclusive access never tasted this good

Take advantage of Global Dining Access by Resy ‡ . Simply add your Corporate Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile to unlock access to exclusive reservations at sought-after restaurants, premium dining experiences, a VIP diner badge on your Resy profile, and Priority Notify so you can be among the first to know if a table opens up at a restaurant you want to check out.

Receive a Personal Card Annual Credit ‡

Enjoy a special opportunity, exclusive to eligible American Express Corporate Card Members, to unlock a Personal Card Annual Credit: receive up to a $150 statement credit each year you maintain your same Corporate Card. Eligible Corporate Card Members can unlock this opportunity upon opening an account for select Personal Cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express, The American Express® Gold Card, The American Express® Green Card, and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Statement credit amounts vary by Card.

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Discover the perks and benefits that your American Express ® Corporate Card has to offer for home, work, and travel.

‡Benefit Terms

Hilton Honors ™ Silver Status Enrollment

As a Corporate Green Card Member you are eligible to enroll in complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. Benefit available only to American Express Corporate Green andCorporate Gold Card Members and is not transferable. Once you repuest enrollment in the Hilton Honors program, American Express will share your enrollment information withHilton. Hilton may use this information in accordance with its privacy policy available at hiltonhonors.com/privacypolicy. If your Corporate Green Card is cancelled for any reason,your complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status provided with the Card will be cancelled. American Express reserves the right to change, modify or revoke this benefit at any time.Hilton reserves the right to deactivate your Hilton Honors Silver status if you do not book and pay for a stay of at least one night at an eligible Hilton property between enrolling in thebenefit and the end of the following calendar year. Hilton also reserves the right to deactivate your Hilton Honors Silver status if you do not book and pay for a stay of at least onenight at an eligible Hilton property each calendar year thereafter. If Hilton deactivates your Hilton Honors Silver status because you have not met the aforementioned repuirement in agiven year, you will be able to re-enroll in Hilton Honors Silver status through American Express. Silver status benefits are subject to availability and vary by hotel; see Hiltonhonors.com/MemberBenefits and Hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/benefit-terms/ for additional details. The Hilton Honors Program, including the benefits of Hilton Honors membership, are subject to Hilton Honors Terms and Conditions; see hiltonhonors.com/terms. ©2024 Hilton.

Uber Cash Benefit for Eligible American Express Corporate Card Members

U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® from American Express and U.S. American Express® Corporate Gold Card Members are eligible to earn Uber Cash equaling 5% of eligible spend on rides with Uber and orders with Uber Eats paid for using their Gold or Platinum Card. U.S. American Express® Corporate Green Card Members are eligible to earn Uber Cash equaling 3% of eligible spend on rides with Uber and orders with Uber Eats paid for using their Green Card. Enrollment required.

Uber Cash is a payment currency for use with purchases made through Uber Services. Uber Cash earned through this benefit (i) can only be used in the U.S. to pay for rides with Uber, orders with Uber Eats, and Lime bikes and scooter rides booked via the Uber app, (ii) will have a value of one U.S. dollar ($1) available to Card Members to pay for one U.S. dollar ($1) in eligible purchases and (iii) will be added automatically to the Card Member s Uber Cash account.

To enroll in this benefit, Card Members must open the latest version of the Uber or Uber Eats app, and add their eligible American Express Corporate Card as a payment method. A window will pop up and the Card Member must press Start earning Uber Cash. If the Card Member already has their eligible Card in their Uber Wallet, the Card Member can enroll by navigating to their account, scrolling down to Partner Rewards , selecting Earn Uber Cash with your American Express Corporate Card, and then selecting Enroll Now. A window will pop up and the Card Member must press Start earning Uber Cash. If the account number of the enrolled eligible Card changes, or the Card Member wants to use a different eligible Corporate Card account as the payment method for the benefit, the Card Member would need to re enroll in the benefit using the relevant Card account number. Card Members can contact Uber Support through the app regarding any issues they have enrolling.

Eligible spend on rides with Uber and orders with Uber Eats include total amounts paid by eligible Card Members, in the U.S., for orders with Uber Eats, Pool/Express Pool trips, UberX, XL, WAV/Assist, Comfort, Connect, Pet and Select trips, and Green, Black and Black SUV trips, and tips to delivery people or drivers, but excludes car rentals, cancellation fees, portions of trips covered by a promotional value, portions of trips covered by another user through split fare, external trip fees such as damage and cleaning fees, upfront purchases of Uber Cash, credits, and subscription passes, and taxi, bike, and scooter rides. The eligible spend must be paid for using an eligible Corporate Card, and changes to the Card Member's Card details must be updated in the Uber App. Cards added to an Uber account through a third party such as Apple Pay or PayPal will not be eligible. American

Express reserves the right to suspend eligibility for the benefit if we suspect any violation or abuse.

If a Card Member earns Uber Cash under the benefit for a transaction and then changes the payment method for the transaction to a method that is not eligible, then Uber will remove the Uber Cash from the Card Member s Uber Cash account. In the event an enrolled Card Member does not earn Uber Cash under the benefit for a transaction and then changes the payment method for the transaction to an eligible Card, then Uber will add the Uber Cash earned under the benefit for the transaction to the Card Member s Uber Cash account.

Terms apply. Visit https://www.uber.com/legal/en/document/?name=uber-cash-terms-of-use&country=united-states&lang=en for details on Uber Cash. Offer is subject to change at any time without notice to you. Fulfillment of the offer is the sole responsibility of Uber.

Global Assist ® Hotline

While Global Assist ® Hotline coordination and assistance services are offered at no additional charge from American Express, Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. For full Terms and Conditions, see americanexpress.com/GAterms .

Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®

The benefit is available to (i) Corporate Gold Card Members, (ii) Consumer Platinum Card® Members, Corporate Platinum Card® Members and Business Platinum Card® Members, and (iii) Centurion® Card Members. The benefit is also available to all Additional Card Members on Consumer and Business Platinum Accounts, and all Additional Card Members on Consumer and Business Centurion Accounts. To receive the Global Entry statement credit of $100 or the TSA PreCheck statement credit of up to $85, Basic or Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account must pay for the respective application fee through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider with their eligible Card. Basic Card Members are eligible to receive a statement credit every 4.5 years for the TSA PreCheck® application fee (when applying through a TSA official enrollment provider) and every 4 years for the Global Entry application fee, in each case when charged  to the Basic Card or any eligible Additional Cards on the eligible Card Account. Basic Card Members will receive a statement credit for the first program (either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck) to which they or their eligible Additional Cards apply and pay for with their eligible Card regardless of whether they are approved for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. However, eligible Card Members can earn no more than one credit for up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or $100 credit for Global Entry (but not both programs), depending upon the program the Card Member first applies for, for an application fee charged to an eligible Card. American Express has no control over the application and/or approval process for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and does not have access to any information provided to the government by the Card Member or by the government to the Card Member. American Express has no liability regarding the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Programs. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (for Global Entry) and U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (for TSA PreCheck) charge an application fee to process each respective application regardless of whether the Card Member’s application is approved. The Department of Homeland Security may suspend acceptance of applications on any basis at its discretion. American Express will provide a statement credit for the application fee regardless of the decision made by CBP (for Global Entry) or TSA (for TSA PreCheck) but will not provide a statement credit for subsequent application fees charged to the same eligible Card within 4 years (for Global Entry) or 4.5 years (for TSA PreCheck), even if the original application is rejected.

Membership for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck is per person, and a separate application must be completed for each individual. TSA PreCheck application must be processed through a TSA official enrollment provider. Global Entry membership also includes access to the TSA PreCheck program with no additional application or fee required. For additional information on the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck programs, including information regarding the application and/or approval process and for a list of participating airlines and airports, as well as the full terms and conditions of the programs, please go to www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry for Global Entry and www.tsa.gov for TSA PreCheck. The Global Entry or TSA PreCheck programs are subject to change, and American Express has no control over those changes.

The statement credit benefit applies to the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck programs only. Other program applications including, but not limited to, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, and Privium are not eligible for the statement credit benefit.

Please allow up to 8 weeks after the qualifying Global Entry or TSA PreCheck transaction is charged to the eligible Card account for the statement credit to be posted to the Card account. American Express relies on accurate transaction data to identify eligible Global Entry and TSA PreCheck purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Card Members are responsible for payment of all application charges until the statement credit posts to the Card Account. Statement credits may be reversed if an eligible purchase is returned/cancelled.

To be eligible for this benefit, the Card Account must not be cancelled and not past due at the time of statement credits fulfillment. If American Express, in it’s sole discretion, determines that you have engaged in or intend to engage in any manner of abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with this benefit, American Express will not have an obligation to provide statement credits and may reverse any statement credits provided to you. If a charge for an eligible purchase is included in a Pay Over Time feature balance on your Card Account, the statement credit associated with that charge may not be applied to that Pay Over Time feature balance. Instead, the statement credit may be applied to your Pay In Full balance. For additional information, call the number on the back of your Card.

$100 LoungeBuddy Credit American Express ® Corporate Gold Card Members can earn up to $100 in statement credits per calendar year when they use their Corporate Gold Card to purchase lounge access directly from LoungeBuddy, either through the LoungeBuddy website or the LoungeBuddy app. Please allow 6-8 weeks after the purchase is charged to the Card Account for statement credit(s) to post. Card Members should call the number on the back of their Card if statement credits have not posted after 8 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members are responsible for timely payment of all LoungeBuddy charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card account(s) must be active through the time of statement credit fulfilment. Statement credit may be reversed if the LoungeBuddy purchase is returned. American Express relies on accurate transaction data to identify eligible LoungeBuddy purchases. No enrollment required. Please consult LoungeBuddy’s terms and conditions for more information.

$100 Airline Fee Credit Benefit is available to Corporate Gold Card Members only. To receive statement credits of up to $100 per calendar year toward incidental air travel fees, Card Member must select one qualifying airline at https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/corporate-gold . Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. Card Members who have not chosen a qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected a qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January at https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/corporate-gold or by calling the number on the back of the Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline. Statement Credits: Incidental air travel fees must be charged to the Card Member on the eligible Card Account for the benefit to apply. Incidental air travel fees charged by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $100 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account. Incidental air travel fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member's airline of choice (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental air travel fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee. Please allow 6-8 weeks after the qualifying incidental air travel fee is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. We rely on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions, so please call the number on the back of the Card if statement credits have not posted after 8 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account(s) must be not canceled and not past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment. For additional information about this benefit, call the number on the back of your Card.

$189 CLEAR ® Credit

The benefit is available to Corporate Platinum Card Members. Card Members are eligible to receive up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year for CLEAR Plus membership when charged to an eligible Card. Card Members who established a CLEAR Plus membership using another payment method and who would like to take advantage of the $189 Fee Credit for CLEAR must contact CLEAR customer service to change the payment method on their CLEAR Plus membership to an eligible Card.

CLEAR Plus memberships automatically renew each year unless canceled and CLEAR will charge the applicable membership fee to the Card CLEAR has on file. American Express has no control over the application and/or approval process for CLEAR, and does not have access to any information provided to CLEAR by the Card Member or by CLEAR to the Card Member. American Express has no liability regarding the CLEAR Plus program. Membership for CLEAR is per person, and a separate application must be completed for each individual. If a Card Member s application is not approved by CLEAR, CLEAR will refund the charges. If the statement credit benefit has been applied before CLEAR refunds the charges, that statement credit will be reversed. For additional information on the CLEAR Plus program, including information regarding the application and/or approval process and for a list of participating airports and stadiums, as well as the full terms and conditions of the programs, please go to www.clearme.com. The CLEAR Plus program is subject to change, and American Express has no control over those changes.

The CLEAR statement credit benefit applies to this program only. Other program applications including, but not limited to, Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® NEXUS, SENTRI, and Privium are not eligible for this statement credit benefit.

Please allow up to 6-8 weeks after a qualifying transaction is charged to the eligible Card account for the statement credit to be posted to the Card account. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, please call the number on the back of your Card. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card account(s) must be active through the time of statement credit fulfilment. If American Express does not receive information that identifies your transaction as eligible, you will not receive the statement credit. For example, your transaction will not be eligible if it is not made directly with the merchant. In addition, in most cases, you may not receive the statement credit if your transaction is made with an electronic wallet or through a third party or if the merchant uses a mobile or wireless card reader to process it.

$200 Airline Fee Credit Benefit is available to Consumer and Corporate Platinum Card Members only. To receive statement credits of up to $200 per calendar year for incidental airline fees charged to the eligible Card, Card Member must select one qualifying airline through their American Express Online Account or the link for their Card below:

• American Express Platinum Card ® : https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/platinum
• Goldman Sachs Platinum Card ® : https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/goldman-platinum-card 
• Morgan Stanley Platinum Card ® : https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/morgan-stanley-platinum-card
• The Platinum Card ® from American Express for Charles Schwab: https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/schwab-platinum-card 
• American Express Corporate Platinum Card ® : https://global.americanexpress.com/card-benefits/enroll/airline-fee-credit/corporate-platinum

Qualifying airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, and are subject to change. Only the Basic Card Member or Authorized Account Manager(s) on the Card Account can select the qualifying airline. Card Members who have not chosen one qualifying airline will be able to do so at any time. Card Members who have already selected one qualifying airline will be able to change their choice one time each year in January through their American Express Online Account or by calling the number on the back of the Card. Card Members who do not change their airline selection will remain with their current airline. Statement CreditsS Incidental airline fees must be charged to the Card Member on the eligible Card Account for the benefit to apply. Incidental airline fees charged by both the Basic and Additional Card Members on the eligible Card Account are eligible for statement credits. However, each Card Account is eligible for up to a total of $200 per calendar year in statement credits across all Cards on the Account. Incidental airline fees must be separate charges from airline ticket charges. Fees not charged by the Card Member s selected airline (e.g. wireless internet and fees incurred with airline alliance partners) do not qualify for statement credits. Incidental airline fees charged prior to selection of a qualifying airline are not eligible for statement credits. Airline tickets, upgrades, mileage points purchases, mileage points transfer fees, gift cards, duty free purchases, and award tickets are not deemed to be incidental fees. The airline must submit the charge under the appropriate merchant code, industry code, or required service or product identifier for the charge to be recognized as an incidental air travel fee. Please allow 6-8 weeks after the qualifying incidental air travel fee is charged to your Card Account for statement credit(s) to be posted to the Account. We rely on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions, so please call the number on the back of the Card if statement credits have not posted after 8 weeks from the date of purchase. Card Members remain responsible for timely payment of all charges. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account(s) must be not canceled and not past due at the time of statement credit fulfillment.

The Global Lounge Collection®


U.S. Corporate Platinum Card Members are eligible for access to the participating lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection. All lounge access is subject to space availability. Each lounge program within the Global Lounge Collection has its own policies and access to any of the participating lounges is subject to the applicable rules and policies. Participating lounges reserve the right to remove any person from the premises for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive, or violent. To be eligible for this benefit, Card Account must not be cancelled. Please refer to each program s terms and conditions to learn more.

The Centurion ® Lounge

U.S. Corporate Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to all locations of The Centurion Lounge. Card Members may bring up to two (2) complimentary guests into The Centurion® Lounge locations in the U.S., at Hong Kong International Airport and at London Heathrow Airport. Refer to the specific location s access policy for more information. All access to The Centurion Lounge is subject to space availability. To access The Centurion Lounge, the Card Member must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight and present The Centurion Lounge agent with the following upon each visitS their valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for a departing flight on the same day on any carrier and a government issued I.D. Note that select lounges allow access to Card Members with a confirmed reservation for any same day travel (departure or arrival). Refer to the specific location s access policy for more information. Failure to present this documentation may result in access being denied. A Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Centurion Lounge visitors must be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the Lounge is located to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. American Express reserves the right to remove any person from the Lounge for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive or violent. Soliciting other Card Members for access into our Lounge is not permissible. Hours may vary by location and are subject  to change. Amenities vary among The Centurion Lounge locations and are subject to change. Card Members will not be compensated for changes in locations, rates or policies. In addition to the complimentary services and amenities in the Lounge, certain services, products or amenities may be offered for sale. You are responsible for any purchases and/or servicing charges you perform in The Centurion Lounge or authorize our Member Services Professionals to perform on your behalf. Services provided by Member Services Desk are based on the type of American Express Card used to enter the lounge. American Express will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen or damages suffered by the purchaser or visitor inside The Centurion Lounge. If we in our sole discretion determine that you have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with lounge access in any way or that you intend to do so, we may remove access to The Centurion Lounge from the Account. Use of The Centurion Lounge is subject to all rules and conditions set by American Express. American Express reserves the right to revise the rules at any time without notice.

Escape Lounges The Centurion® Studio Partner
 This benefit is available to U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® Members. Card Members receive complimentary access to all US locations of the Escape Lounges. Card Members must present their valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same day travel on any carrier and government issued I.D. Card Members must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Escape Lounge visitors must be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the Lounge is located to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. The eligible flight must be booked on a U.S. issued American Express credit card and Card Members may bringup to two complimentary guests per visit. Card Members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and their guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Escape Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Escape Lounge locations are subject to change.

Delta Sky Club
 This benefit is available to Corporate Platinum Card® Members. Corporate Platinum Card Members must present their valid American Express Card, government issued I.D., and boarding pass to the Delta Sky Club ambassador. Boarding pass must show a reservation for a same day Delta operated flight (Delta or Delta connection) departing from or arriving at the airport in which the Delta Sky Club is located. Name on boarding pass must match name on the Card. Corporate Platinum Card Members on departing flights can only access the Delta Sky Club or the Delta Sky Club Grab and Go feature within 3 hours of their flight s scheduled departure time. During a layover between Delta operated flights on the same ticket, you may use the Delta Sky Club in your connecting airport at any time during the layover. Delta reserves the right to limit access for non revenue flyers at any Delta Sky Club. Individuals must be at least 18 years of age to access Delta Sky Club, and 21 years of age to access locations with a self service bar, unless accompanied by a responsible, supervising adult who has access to the Delta Sky Club. Benefit valid only at Delta Sky Club. Partner lounges are not included. Note that amenities may vary among Delta Sky Club locations. Participating airport clubs and locations subject to change without notice. Corporate Platinum Card Members may bring guests into the Delta Sky Club subject to the most current Delta Sky Club access and pricing policies, and must use their valid Card as the payment method for guest access. Guests must also be flying on a same day Delta operated flight. Guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating airport clubs. Access is subject to Delta Sky Club rules. To review the rules, please visit Delta/com/skyclub . Benefit and rules subject to change without notice. Additional restrictions may apply.

Effective January 1, 2024S U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® Members traveling on a same day Delta operated flight with Basic Economy (E) fare tickets will not have access to the Delta Sky Club or to Grab and Go.

This benefit is available to U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® Members. Platinum Card Members have complimentary access to select Lufthansa Business Lounges (regardless of ticket class) and Lufthansa Senator Lounges (when flying business class) when flying on a Lufthansa Group flight. To access the Lufthansa lounges, Platinum Card Members must present their government issued I.D., a same day departure boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation on a Lufthansa Group flight (Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian airlines) and a valid Platinum Card. Card Members must adhere to all rules of participating lounges. Participating lounges and locations subject to change without notice. Additional guest access and fees subject to terms and conditions of participating lounges. In some Lounges the Platinum Card Member must be at least 18 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. For the most current list of Lufthansa lounges, guest access requirements, rules, and pricing policy, please visit https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/lounges .

Plaza Premium Lounges
 This benefit is available to U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® Members. Card Members receive complimentary access to any global location of Plaza Premium Lounges. Card Members must present their valid Card, a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same day travel on any carrier and government issued I.D. In some cases, Card Member must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Card Members may bring up to two (2) guests into Plaza Premium Lounges as complimentary guests. Must be of legal drinking age to consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Card Members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Card Members and their guests will receive all of the complimentary benefits and amenities afforded to the Plaza Premium Lounge customers, as well as access to purchase non complimentary items. Some product features may be subject to additional charges. Plaza Premium Lounge locations are subject to change.

Priority Pass™ Select
 This benefit is available to U.S. Corporate Platinum Card® Members. Corporate Platinum Card® Members and Additional Corporate Platinum Card® Members must enroll in the Priority Pass™ Select program through the benefits section of their account or by calling the number on the back of their Card to receive the benefit. Priority Pass is an independent airport lounge access program. You acknowledge and agree that American Express will verify yourCard Account number and provide updated Card Account information to Priority Pass. Priority Pass will use this information to fulfill on the Priority Pass Select program and may use this information for marketing related to the program. Once enrolled, Corporate Platinum Card® Card Members with a valid Card Account may access participating Priority Pass Select lounges by presenting their Priority Pass Select card and airline boarding pass. If the Card Account is canceled, you will not be eligible for Priority Pass Select and your enrollment will be canceled. When visiting a Priority Pass Select lounge that admits guests, Corporate PlatinumCard® Members receive complimentary access for up to two accompanying guests. After two guests, the Card Account on file with Priority Pass Select will be automatically charged the guest visit fee of the Priority Pass Standard program for each additional guest after you have signed up for the additional guest visit and it has been reported to Priority Pass by the participating lounge. Some lounges limit the number of guests or do not admit guests. In some lounges, Priority Pass Select members must be 21 years of age to enter without a parent or guardian. Priority Pass Select members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges and access to participating lounges is subject to all rules, terms and conditions of the applicable lounge. Amenities may vary among airport lounge locations. Conference rooms, where available, may be reserved for a nominal fee. Priority Pass Select lounge partners and locations are subject to change. All Priority Pass Select members must adhere to the Priority PassConditions of Use, which will be sent to you with your membership package, and can be viewed at www.prioritypass.com . Upon receipt of your enrollment information, Priority Pass will send your Priority Pass Select card and membership package which you should receive within 10–14 business days. If you have not received the Priority Pass card after 14 days, please contact American Express using the number on the back of your American Express® Card. To receive immediate access to lounges after your enrollment in Priority Pass Select has been processed, you can activate your membership online by using your Priority Pass Select membership details to receive a Digital Membership Card. For a step by step guide on the activation process, visit www.prioritypass.com .

Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges
 American Express offers access to additional lounges in the Global Lounge Collection where U.S. Platinum Card Members have unlimited complimentary access to participating locations. Card Members must present their valid Platinum Card, a government issued I.D., and a boarding pass showing a confirmed reservation for same day travel on any carrier. Guest access and associated fees are subject to the terms and conditions of the participating lounge provider. Participation, locations, rates, and policies of lounges are subject to change without notice, and Card Members and their guests will not be compensated for such changes. Amenities, services, and hours may vary by participating lounge and are subject to change without notice. American Express and the participating lounge will not be liable for any articles lost or stolen, or damages suffered by the Card Member or guests inside the participating lounge. For participating lounges with a self service bar, the Card Member may be required to be of legal drinking age in the jurisdiction where the participating lounge is located to enter without a parent or legal guardian. All Card Members and their guests must be of legal drinking age to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly. Each participating lounge may have their own policy allowing for children under a certain age to enter for free with the Card Member who is a parent or legal guardian. Card Members must adhere to all house rules of participating lounges. Participating lounges reserve the right to remove any person from the premises for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules, including, but not limited to, conduct that is disruptive, abusive, or violent. If American Express, in its sole discretion, determines that the Card Member or their guests have engaged in abuse, misuse, or gaming in connection with access to participating lounges in any way, or that the Card Member or their guests intend to do so, American Express may take away the access benefit from the Account. American Express and the participating lounge reserve the right to revise the rules at any time without notice. For the most current list of participating lounges and access requirements, please use the Lounge Finder feature in the American Express App or visit www.americanexpress.com/findalounge .

 

 Global Dining Access by Resy
 The Global Dining Access program (“GDA”) is a benefit available to eligible Card Members. Eligible Card Members are account holders of Platinum Card® or Centurion® Card from American Express, Business Platinum Card®, Business Centurion® Card from American Express, Corporate Platinum Card® or Corporate Centurion® Card from American Express, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, The Platinum Card® from American Express for Goldman Sachs, and The Centurion® Card from American Express for Goldman Sachs (and any Additional Card Member(s) on their accounts). GDA may not be available for Cards issued from some countries. GDA provides eligible Card Members with (a) access to exclusive reservations, (b) Priority Notify, which allows GDA members to set notifications to be in the first group notified when tables become available before they are made available to other Resy users, and (c) access to exclusive events. GDA reservations are accessible through the Resy iOS App and Website (“Resy Sites”) and Concierge. Some features of GDA, like Priority Notify, may not be available through Concierge. To access this benefit through the Resy iOS App, you must download the Resy App; or if you already have the Resy iOS App, ensure the latest update is downloaded. When using the Resy Sites, create a Resy account or log into your existing Resy account and add your eligible Card to your Resy account. If you are assigned a new Card number, you must update the Card number in your Resy account. When you use GDA, a badge will be placed on your Resy profile, letting restaurants know that you are a member of the GDA program. Reservations are based on a first come, first served basis. In the event of a reservation cancellation, you will be subject to the restaurant s cancellation policy. Generally, same day reservations that are not booked by GDA members are released back to restaurants at certain times of day that vary across restaurant policies. American Express and Resy make no representations or warranties regarding the availability of reservations, events, and/or experiences, which shall at all times be subject to availability and the discretion of the applicable restaurant. American Express and Resy are not responsible for informing the restaurants of any dietary restrictions or for a restaurant being able to accommodate such restrictions. There is no cost to you for booking services through GDA, although you are responsible for any purchases or fees you authorize to be charged to your Card account. GDA reservations and events are intended for personal use only and cannot be resold or used for commercial purposes. By participating in the GDA program, you are accepting these GDA terms and conditions, which are in addition to and do not replace the Resy Sites Terms of Service. To be eligible for this benefit, your Card account must not be cancelled.
 


Personal Card Annual Credit

This offer is not an approval for credit. You must submit an application to apply for a Personal Card.

Offer available to US Corporate Green, Corporate Gold, Corporate Platinum, and Corporate Centurion Card Members who apply for a new Blue Cash Preferred, Green, Gold, or Platinum Card, except for Corporate Card Members who are employees of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited. Offer only available after entering an eligible Card number at www.americanexpress.com/corporateadvantage . The annual statement credit will be posted to your Personal Card account within 8-12 weeks after your account is opened and within 8-12 weeks of each anniversary date of Personal Card Membership. To be eligible for the annual statement credit, you must have the same Corporate Card Account and the same Personal Card Account as you did when you received your first annual statement credit. Your Personal Card must not be cancelled or past due and eligible Corporate Card accounts must not be cancelled at the time a statement credit is posted.

This offer is non-transferrable and cannot be combined with any other offer.