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Westpac travel card review 2024

If you’ve planned a trip overseas, a dedicated travel money card can be a good way to make overseas spending easy and secure. Get the right card, and it could also mean you pay less overall, too.

Westpac offers its Global Currency Card which you can top up in NZD, and then convert to any of the 9 supported currencies for easy spending and withdrawals as you travel.

This guide covers the key benefits and fees of the Westpac card. Plus, we’ll also touch on a couple of popular alternatives for travellers from New Zealand, the ANZ debit card and the Wise travel money card, so you can compare them and see which works best for you.

Westpac travel card: key features

Westpac’s Global Currency Card is available to anyone aged over 18, resident in New Zealand, and with the right paperwork to get verified. There’s no fee to get a card – you just order online, top up to the minimum opening balance, and your card is sent to your home directly. The money you’ve put on your card is yours to spend – just add whatever you need for your trip, and you can then view and manage your balance via the Westpac app.

Before we look at how the Westpac travel money card works in detail, let’s get an overview of some of the Westpac travel card pros and cons:

Who is the Westpac travel card for?

The Westpac travel money card can be helpful in a broad range of situations:

• For anyone travelling to a country which uses one of the supported currencies
• For people who shop online in the supported currencies
• For travellers who want to load funds in advance and convert to the destination currency so they know their budget ahead of time
• For anyone looking to lock in exchange rates when they’re good – just add NZD and switch when you spot a good rate

What is the Westpac travel card?

The Westpac travel card is a multi-currency Mastercard which you can use to hold 9 different currencies, and for spending anywhere you see the Mastercard logo. You’ll be able to order your card online for home delivery, and can top up in NZD and convert in advance to the supported currency you need in your destination. It’s worth knowing that you’ll need to convert your funds in advance to avoid paying the 2.95% fee for spending a currency you don’t hold in your account.

There’s no fee to make an international ATM withdrawal with your card, and you can view and manage your card account online and in the Westpac app, making budgeting a breeze.

Is the Westpac Travel Money a multi-currency card?

Yes. The Westpac card supports the following currencies for holding and exchange:

• New Zealand dollars
• Australian dollars
• Pounds sterling
• Japanese yen
• Canadian dollars
• Hong Kong dollars
• Singapore dollars

You can also spend in other currencies, but you’ll pay a 2.95% fee when you do.

Alternatives to Westpac travel card

Westpac’s travel money card is a good option, but it doesn’t support all the currencies you might need if you’re headed off the beaten track. Plus, there are some fees to consider such as the 2.95% charge if you spend in a currency you don’t hold in your account already.

To check if the Westpac Global Currency Card is right for you it’s worth comparing it to a few other options available locally, such as Wise and ANZ.

Here’s a quick overview of how these providers line up on some key features:

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

The Westpac travel money card can be convenient if you’re happy to convert over funds in advance of travel, and if you’re going to a country which uses one of the 9 supported currencies for holding and exchange. However, it’s worth comparing it to other cards to see if it’s the best for your particular needs, before you sign up.

The Wise card, for example, has a couple of advantages – you can hold a broader range of currencies, and there’s no need to convert your funds in advance. You can just leave your money in NZD and let the card automatically convert to the currency you need based on where you are, with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%.

Alternatively if you bank with ANZ already you can just use your normal ANZ debit card when you’re spending foreign currencies with a relatively low 1.3% foreign transaction fee.

Wise digital multi-currency accounts can hold and exchange over 40 currencies, and the Wise card can be used for spending and withdrawals in 150+ countries. Open your account online or in the Wise app, and top up in NZD or any of the other 20 or so supported top up currencies. There’s no need to convert to your destination currency in advance if you don’t want to, as the card can do this for you with the lowest available fees every time. That said, if you want to set your budget in advance, or if you spot a really good exchange rate, you can also convert and hold in any of the 40+ supported currencies, making this a good card to pick even if you’re headed to a more unusual destination.

Wise travel card review

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ANZ recommends customers just use their normal debit card when spending on foreign currencies. This has the advantage that there’s no extra hassle or fee to get a new card – but the drawback that you’ll be charged a foreign transaction fee every time you spend. Your spending will be converted using the network exchange rate, and the foreign transaction fee is set at 1.3% of the transaction value.

Read more about 4 best travel debit card for overseas travel

Westpac travel card fees & spending limits

As with all financial products, there are some important fees to know about when you’re thinking of ordering a Westpac travel card. Here are the key limits to bear in mind as a starting point:

*Information correct at time of writing – 27th July 2023

And here are the key Westpac fees you’ll want to consider when you’re deciding if this is the card for you.

Exchange rates

Westpac exchange rates may include a markup, margin or fee. Exactly how this works depending on the type of conversion you need to carry out.

If you’re topping up your account in a currency other than NZD, the rate used will be the Mastercard rate + a margin which you’ll be notified of at the time of top up. This is likely to apply if you need currency conversion within your account, or when you cash out too. You’ll see the full terms and conditions when you start the transaction, so you can double check the costs.

Once you have currencies in your account it’s free to spend them. However, if you’re spending in a currency other than one of the 9 supported currencies – or if you don’t have enough balance in your account in a specific currency to cover a purchase or withdrawal, a 2.95% conversion fee will apply on top of the Mastercard rate.

How to get Westpac travel card

You can apply for your Westpac travel card online. Here’s how to get a Westpac travel card, step by step:

• Open the Westpac Global Currency Card website and click Apply Now
• Follow the prompts to enter your personal and contact information
• Complete the verification step with your New Zealand passport or driving licence
• Top up at least the minimum opening balance amount
• Your card will be dispatched in 5 to 10 days, and will arrive by mail

What documents you’ll need

There’s a verification step needed when you order a Westpac travel money card. This is to keep accounts safe and comply with local and international law. Generally getting verified is very easy. In the first instance you’ll be prompted to enter information from either:

• Your New Zealand passport
• Your driving licence

Mastercard will then look to match your information with ID records. If this can’t be done – because you’ve changed your name or recently moved home for example – you can use your AA membership. If you’re still struggling with the verification process, you can email a copy of your relevant ID to Mastercard for manual verification. This should take just a couple of days.

What happens when the card expires?

Your Westpac card has 5 years validity. Once your card expires you’ll need to order a new one online, and can apply to have any residual balance moved from the old card to the new one for spending. If you don’t want to get a new card, you can also cash out the amount, minus any applicable fees.

How to use the Westpac travel card?

You can use your Westpac card anywhere you see the Mastercard logo. You’ll be able to tap to pay wherever contactless payments are supported, or use your physical card and PIN. Your card will check if you have a balance in the required currency. If you do not, your account will be debited according to a preset order of currencies, and the conversion fees will apply.

How to withdraw cash with the Westpac travel card?

Make cash withdrawals at ATMs globally that support Mastercard. You’ll need to enter your PIN to get cash, for security reasons. It’s also good to know that while there’s no Westpac fee for international ATM withdrawals, an ATM operator might charge a fee which Westpac doesn’t control. Local NZD withdrawals cost 4 NZD each.

Is the card safe?

Yes. The Westpac card is issued through Westpac and Mastercard – both large, well reputed and trustworthy providers. In fact, using a travel card can be a safe way to manage our travel money because it’s not linked to your everyday account, and you won’t need to carry lots of cash when you’re overseas, either.

How to use the Westpac travel card overseas?

Use your Westpac travel card overseas in the same way as you would any other payment card. Contactless is supported where the technology is available, or you’ll have a Westpac PIN to make POS payments and withdrawals as needed.

It’s important to remember that a fairly high fee of 2.95% applies to spend currencies you don’t hold – or if your balance in a particular currency isn’t enough to cover a transaction. Top up enough in advance and switch to your destination currency to avoid this fee.

Conclusion: Is the Westpac travel card worth it?

The Westpac Global Currency Card is a convenient option if you want a travel money card that’s distinct from your normal everyday account, and which lets you hold foreign currencies. You’ll need to order your card online, and top up in NZD before converting to the currency you need for your trip, to avoid the 2.95% conversion fee.

Compare the Westpac travel money card against alternative options like the Wise travel card and the ANZ debit card, to decide which is best for you. Wise has a broader range of currencies and offers automatic conversion at the point of payment, with low fees and the mid-market rate, while ANZ customers can spend globally with a fairly low 1.3% foreign transaction fee.

Westpac travel card review FAQ

How does the Westpac travel card work?

You can order your Westpac card online and add money in NZD before converting to the currency you need from the 9 supported currency options. You’ll then be able to spend and withdraw wherever you are. It’s free to spend in currencies you hold in your account, with a 2.95% fee to spend a currency you don’t have.

Is the Westpac travel card an international card?

Yes. The Westpac travel card can hold 9 currencies and can be used globally wherever Mastercard is accepted.

Are there any alternatives to a Westpac travel card?

Check out a few different options before you decide which travel money card suits you. The Wise card can be a good bet for frequent travellers, with 40+ supported currencies and low fees from 0.43% when you convert from one currency to another.

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Westpac International Transfers: Everything You Need To Know

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Transferring money to a foreign country with Westpac? While an all-round excellent bank, international money transfers remain very expensive, and savvy users should be mindful of both the bank's hidden fees, as well as the cheaper alternatives that exist in its stead.

Boasting more than 14 million customers, 40 thousand employees, and over AU$900 billion in total assets, Westpac Banking Corporation (Westpac) is one of the largest and most distinguished financial services giants in Australia, having consistently offered a wide range of banking and investment services to its clients since its inception in 1817.

International money transfers are one among these services, and what they make up for in terms of ease, security, and convenience they lack in terms of price. By delving into the bank's fees and exchange rates for private customers, for example, we found that Westpac charges hidden fees of around 4 to 5% of the transfer amount in addition to the AU$10 fee that it already levies on all transfers into a foreign currency.

All-in-all, this leaves Westpac's fees on international money transfers easily as high as 7 or 8% of the total transfer amount , making them an expensive choice of money transfer provider.

What Will Westpac Charge You?

When sending money abroad with Westpac, the most likely scenario will be that you'd use an ordinary bank transfer with your Westpac Live Online Banking profile in order to debit funds from your bank account and send them across to another bank account in a foreign country.

In this case, you'll be charged one of the following two fixed fees on every transfer you send abroad:

• An AU$10.00 fee for funds transferred from Australian dollars into a foreign currency;
• An AU$20.00 fee for funds transferred into a foreign bank account in Australian dollars.

If you're simply planning to transfer money across into another currency — say the US dollar or the Indian rupee, for example — then the former fee will be the one that's relevant to you. However, if you'd like your beneficiary to receive Aussie dollars into their bank account, then it's the second fee that you should be concerned about.

International Money Transfers with Westpac: Beware the Hidden Fees

In addition to the fixed fee outlined above, your transfer abroad will be subject to another, less transparent fee. Known as an exchange rate margin , this fee kicks in every time you convert currencies with Westpac (or with any bank for that matter).

This hidden fee is levied when banks make a small profit on transfers abroad by offering their customers an ever-so-slightly poorer exchange rate than the one that banks themselves use to trade between one another (known as the mid-market exchange rate ).

When it comes to sending money internationally with Westpac, these fees can range anywhere from around 3 to 6% of the entire transfer amount , depending on the currency you're converting your Australian dollars into.

The Costs Combined

When we take both the fixed fee and the exchange rate margin into consideration, it quickly becomes clear that Westpac is a rather pricey choice of money transfer provider, especially when it comes to smaller amounts.

For example, if you were to send AU$300 to a friend living in the United States, you would pay AU$10 (3.34% of your transfer amount) in fixed fees and a further AU$15.01 (5% of your transfer amount) in hidden exchange rate margin fees, at the time of writing. Once you've paid out this combined AU$25.01 (8.34% of your transfer amount) to Westpac, your friend would be left with US$202.51.

Contrast this to making the same transfer with CurrencyFair , a Dublin-based money transfer service that was the cheapest provider for this transfer on our comparison engine at the time of writing. With CurrencyFair, you'd pay no fixed fees and only AU$1.40 in exchange rate margin fees, all laid out clearly and transparently on their homepage before you even sign-up. When your transfer arrives in the US, your friend would receive US$220.20 — nearly 9% more than they would've received with Westpac!

Take a look at the table below to get a better picture of exactly how the costs of a Westpac international money transfer break down (as of 26/11/2020 at 13:00 +01:00 GMT):

The Costs Visualised

Compare all your options and save upwards of 95% in fees on money transfers from Australia to India, Nepal, the Philippines, or any other country across the globe:

Westpac International Transfers: Other Fees to Anticipate

After paying the inescapable fixed fee and exchange rate margin fee when sending abroad with Westpac, you may find yourself subject to further fees still. Depending on your individual circumstances, these additional fees might include:

• An AU$32.00 service fee should you wish to transfer your money international in-person from a branch, rather than over the internet;
• A correspondent bank fee (typically ranging between AU$10 and AU$100) if your bank transfer cannot be made directly to your beneficiary's bank for any number of reasons. In these cases, the funds go through correspondent and/or intermediary banks, which deduct an undisclosed portion of the funds before they arrive in your beneficiary's account.

To Westpac's credit, the bank gives its customers a detailed overview of the correspondent bank fees, as well as the amounts that are typically deducted in case this fee is charged. In our analyses, these fees tend not to be mentioned at all to customers, only alluded to in the terms and conditions to which the transfer is subject.

Is Westpac Right for Your International Transfer?

Without a doubt, Westpac is a distinguished bank that offers world-class service to its clients, and as a partner for your everyday banking needs; they will likely suit you just fine.

However, when it comes to international money transfer, in particular, Westpac remains on the pricey side. This might not be a problem if you're a loyal Westpac customer, for example, or if you’re somebody who doesn't mind paying a bit extra for the quality service the bank offers. If this sounds like you, then sticking with Westpac will be just fine.

On the other hand, if you're somebody who'd like to save money on every transfer you send abroad — as well as let your recipient receive more — then we'd recommend you explore your options among the many low-cost money specialist services available on the market. Monito's free comparison engine allows you to do just that, drawing on real-time data and the latest fees and exchange rates to help you discover the best providers to suit your needs.

To get a better picture of how Westpac's foreign exchange services weigh up against those of such providers mentioned above, see how the services compare on an AU$250 transfer to India in the table below (as of 26/11/2020 at 12:00 +01:00 GMT):

Find Cheaper Ways To Send Money From Australia

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• Trust & Credibility 9.1
• Service & Quality 7.7
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.1
• Customer Satisfaction 9.1
• Trust & Credibility 8.8
• Service & Quality 8.7
• Customer Satisfaction 8.3
• Service & Quality 7.8
• Fees & Exchange Rates 7.9
• Customer Satisfaction 6.5

Photo credit: Mattinbgn on Wikimedia Commons , distributed under CC BY 3.0 and GFDL licenses, cropped from the original

Why Trust Monito?

You’re probably all too familiar with the often outrageous cost of sending money abroad. After facing this frustration themselves back in 2013, co-founders François, Laurent, and Pascal launched a real-time comparison engine to compare the best money transfer services across the globe. Today, Monito’s award-winning comparisons, reviews, and guides are trusted by around 8 million people each year and our recommendations are backed by millions of pricing data points and dozens of expert tests — all allowing you to make the savviest decisions with confidence.

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Things you should know..

Westpac Banking Corporation (acting through its New Zealand branch) ABN  33 007 457 141, incorporated in Australia (Westpac) is the provider of the foreign exchange products and services listed on this webpage.

Any product or service made available by Westpac New Zealand Limited (company number 1763882) (WNZL) does not represent an offer from Westpac or any of its subsidiaries (other than WNZL). Neither Westpac nor its other subsidiaries guarantee or otherwise support the performance of WNZL in respect of any such product. WNZL is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of Australian prudential standards.

The current disclosure statements for the New Zealand division of Westpac and for WNZL can be obtained on our disclosure statements page .

The information on this page, terms and conditions and pricing for foreign exchange products and services are subject to change from time to time.

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Westpac Complimentary Credit Card Insurance and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQ

Information for westpac eligible cardholders regarding covid-19.

Information on this page is correct as of  30 June 2022 .

Stay up to date on Travel Information for COVID-19 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)  Smartraveller  website and  World Health Organisation  (WHO) and  Department of Home Affairs .

Always consult the smartraveller.gov.au website prior to any travel. In addition to visas, COVID-19 testing, and proof of vaccination requirements, many countries now have compulsory insurance and medical cover proof conditions. Check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you are entering. If you require additional documentation regarding the complimentary international travel insurance policy due to international entry requirements, please contact us on 1800 091 710.

From 30 June 2022, if during the period of your cover, you (and your spouse/dependents, if they’re eligible for cover) are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic (such as COVID-19), cover may be available under the following sections:

• 1.1 Overseas Emergency Assistance
• 1.2 Overseas Emergency Medical
• 1.4 Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
• 2.1 Cancellation
• 3.1 Additional Expenses

If your travel companion is positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, which impacts your journey, cover may be available to you under the following sections: 

Note, you won’t be covered while travelling against advice or warnings issued by the Australian government and you did not take reasonable care to avoid contracting the sickness, for example by delaying travel to the country listed in a warning.

The above is a summary only, please refer to  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet  for eligibility criteria, full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.

A General Exclusion for epidemic/pandemic applies for all claims relating to any epidemic/pandemic outside of the select benefits in the applicable policy information booklet  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet . Please note, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

To receive a formal outcome, Eligible Westpac Cardholders must submit a claim.

Eligible Westpac travellers who meet the eligibility criteria should be aware that other General Exclusions have the potential to apply.

What is a General Exclusion?

A General Exclusion is an exclusion which will be applied across all sections of an insurance policy, and applies regardless of when eligibility for cover was gained. Should a General Exclusion apply, this means that your complimentary credit card travel insurance excludes cover for the event, activities or circumstances (specified in the exclusion) that causes your claim.

To understand what is excluded from the Westpac Complimentary Insurance covers, please refer to Part D – Excesses & General Exclusions section and the section specific exclusions of the relevant Westpac Policy Information Booklet for which your eligible Westpac card is applicable under:  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet    and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet .

Other exclusions may apply depending upon the circumstances of an individual claim. General Exclusions include but are not limited to:

• by the Australian government (when a ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ or ‘Do not travel’ alert is in place), which can be found on  www.smartraveller.gov.au ; or
• which was published in a reliable mass media source.
• any interference with your travel plans by any government, government regulation or prohibition or intervention or official authority. For example, if  Smartraveller  has a warning, ‘Do not travel’ or ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ due to the risk of COVID-19 infection for a destination, and a cardholder chooses to ignore the warning and is infected with COVID-19, cover may be excluded. Or if a government closes its borders to inbound travellers due to COVID-19 and you are unable to enter and follow your planned travel across the closed border, cover may be excluded.

What if a Westpac Eligible Cardholder has booked travel and needs to cancel due to contracting COVID-19?

If you are unable to travel as a result of contracting COVID-19, Cancellation cover may be provided to eligible travellers, if you or your travel companion are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic such as COVID-19, and cover is expressly included under the Cancellation section of the relevant Westpac Policy Information Booklet for which your eligible Westpac card is applicable under:  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet . If you are unable to travel as a result of an Epidemic or Pandemic related event which does not include you or your travel companion being positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, for example a border closure, there may be no provision to claim as a general exclusion for epidemic and pandemic applies. A General Exclusion for epidemic/pandemic applies for all claims relating to any epidemic/pandemic outside of the cancellation benefits in the applicable policy information booklet. Please note, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

You therefore need to consider your own personal circumstances. We are not able to provide you with a cover decision before submitting a claim. To receive a formal outcome, Westpac Eligible Cardholders must submit a claim.

You should also contact your travel agent or travel service provider (airline, cruise line or Tour Company, etc) as they may be able to support you in obtaining refunds, credits or travel re-scheduling.

Can Westpac Eligible Cardholders make a claim for consideration?

Every Westpac Eligible Cardholder can submit a claim and have their individual circumstances considered in accordance with the eligibility criteria which includes the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply as set out in the  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet    and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet .

If you would like to claim, we encourage you to claim online via  insurance.agaassistance.com.au/westpac

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Westpac International Money Transfers Exchange Rates, Fees and Transfer Times

Westpac international transfers are a quick and fairly easy way to send money from your Australian bank account to a bank account overseas. The easiest and cheapest way to do it using Westpac is online.

Although Westpac lowered their fees for international money transfers, the exchange rates for most Australian customers are still relatively expensive.

Making an international money transfer (or telegraphic transfer) comes with a few questions. How easy is it? Are there any hidden fees or charges? How does it actually work?

While the Westpac website about international money transfers is useful, our summary makes it even easier to find out all the information you'll need to know before you transfer funds overseas.

If you're looking for a safe, easy and cheaper alternative to Westpac, click here to compare your options .

In this article, you'll find out more about:

Westpac exchange rates for international transfers

Charges and transfer fees

How to transfer money overseas with Westpac

How to receive money from overseas into your Westpac bank account

Time it takes for the money to arrive

Westpac Exchange rates for international money transfers (IMT's)

Compare westpac exchange rates to other banks and foreign exchange services.

The Currency Shop sources its data from foreign exchange providers and has taken reasonable steps to ensure that such data is accurate. There is a risk that the foreign exchange prices quoted on The Currency Shop may be inaccurate, not available to the User, or available but with additional fees and charges. For more details, read our Terms and Conditions

About these Westpac exchange rates

Send Money: If you need to transfer money from Australia to another bank account overseas Receive Money: If you need to receive money into your Westpac bank account from overseas

To view the rates for Westpac foreign currency exchange click here

If you're not sure about what currency you’ll need for the country you're going to, check out the full list of currency codes here .

Bank charges and transfer fees

How much westpac bank charges for international transfers.

Westpac has 3 flat fees that are easy to understand:

• If you use Westpac online banking, it costs $5-8 for a LitePay Payment or $10 for international payments in foreign currency.
• Sending Australian Dollars using online banking costs $20
• If you go to a branch, it costs $32, or $10 to send money to Pacific Westpac accounts.

There are additional fees depending on your situation, but you can find out more information on  Westpac International Money Transfers fees here .

Extra Fees to be Aware Of:

• Intermediary bank fees  — payments may be routed through one or more intermediary banks before the payment reaches your Westpac account. This could happen if the remitting bank has an arrangement with another bank in Australia or overseas. In this scenario, the intermediary banks may also charge processing fees. This will be deducted from the amount you receive.
• Sending provider or bank fees  — International money transfers sent from an overseas bank or currency exchange provider may be subject to commissions, fees and other charges. These are typically deducted before the money is sent to you.

At Westpac, most international transfers are done online via Westpac Live . Within their internet banking, you can use LitePay for transfers to Philippines, India, Europe or the UK.

No matter how you choose to send your money abroad, you will need certain information about the international bank account you are transferring the money to. This includes:

• The account name of the payee
• The account number
• The overseas bank or financial institutions SWIFT code (also know as a BIC code)
• Different countries have different requirements though. You may also need to provide more account details like a bank routing number, the branch number of the receiving bank, or an IBAN (particularly for transfers to Europe).

For an easy, step-by-step guide on how to transfer money overseas with Westpac, click here .

How to receive money from overseas into your Westpac bank account

If you want to receive foreign currency into your Australian dollar account at Westpac, you need to provide your bank account details to the person or business sending the money.

They will need the following information:

• Your Westpac branch name and address
• The bank account number and BSB
• Your account name
• Your residential address that is listed on the account
• Westpac's SWIFT/BIC code. This is WPACAU2S. If the other party requires an 11 digit SWIFT, use WPACAU2SXXX

In most cases Westpac will automatically convert the incoming foreign currency at a foreign exchange rate that they can determine. Unfortunately, this exchange rate might not be the best you can find. If you're looking to get the best exchange rate or even hold the foreign currency in an account before converting it, you can either compare money transfer exchange rates here , or look at a multi-currency account like the Wise Borderless Account .

For a more comprehensive guide on how to receive funds into your Australian Westpac account click here .

How long it takes for the money to arrive

In most cases it either arrives on the same day or between 1-3 business days later. Westpac Bank international services tend to process international transfers overnight on bank business days. However, the time it takes until your payee can see money in their account will vary depending on the receiving bank.

For more information, read about  how long does an international money transfer take?

Currency Codes

If you're not sure which exchange rate you need, here is a list of currencies, countries and currency codes.

• Lost or stolen cards
• Online Banking – Personal
• Online Banking – Business
• Corporate Online
• Westpac Share Trading
• View all online services
• Online Banking for Business

Online Banking for Business Support

Forms you may need

Download the forms you need to help manage your Online Banking.

• Authority to open accounts (PDF 75KB)
• Access a Third-Party account (PDF 112KB)
• Add or remove an Administrator (PDF 668KB)

User guides

• Data Sharing for business customers
• Connect or disconnect bank feeds
• View cheque and deposit images
• Manage business accounts and reports
• Make a same day payment
• Manage recurring payments
• Make an international payment
• Create a payee group
• Make a multiple payment
• Make a payment template
• Deposit, order and stop cheques online

Imports & Exports

• Import payment files, payee, and payment details
• Export payee, account, and transaction lists

Manage account access and users

• Add an Administrator to your network
• Update third-party access to your business accounts
• Manage Online Business Banking access and Users

Change limits, permissions, and approvals

• Change your daily payment limits online
• Manage permission and approval settings

Update business details

• Add and update your ABN
• Update your business contact details online

Term Deposits

• Manage your Term Deposit
• Give users access to manage term deposits online
• Open a Business Term Deposit

Farm Management Deposits

• Open a Farm Management Deposit
• Manage your Farm Management Deposit

Statements & Security

• Switch security devices
• Manage your SecurID® token
• Reset your password
• Manage your statement preferences

Product support

Merchant Support Centre

Tools and resources to help manage your Westpac payment solution.  

• Get merchant support
• Enable merchant services

Business credit cards

The help you need to activate and make changes to your business credit card.

• Manage credit card

Getting the most out of Online Banking

• More helpful tips and ideas

Business Daily Payment Limits explained

Learn more about daily payment limits with our handy guide.

Time-saving online payment features

Take the hassle out of paying staff and suppliers with our payment features, designed to make your business banking easier.

Frequently asked questions

Manage your banking.

To enjoy the benefits of eStatements you’ll need to have an eligible business account, a valid email address registered to your business, and be registered for Online Banking. If you’re an Administrator or Sole Trader, you can manage your business statements online .

Yes. If you have an eligible bank account in Online Banking, you can send and receive near real-time Osko® and PayID payments anytime day and night, even on weekends and public holidays. You can also make a same day payment using RTGS .

You can search a transaction by description, date, or amount. You can also filter your search by credit or debit transactions.  

To search your transactions:

In the Westpac App

1. Tap the Smart Search   bar

2. Select the Transactions filter

In Online Banking

1. Go to Overview

2. Select Transaction search  

If you don’t want some of your accounts to appear in your Online Banking profile, you can hide them, so they don’t appear in your list. Your list of accounts in Online Banking and the Westpac App are not linked, so you could hide some accounts from your Online Banking view and choose to show them in the Westpac App, or vice versa. To hide your accounts:

1. Search Hide account in the Smart Search bar

2. Under Self-serve , tap Hide, reorder and group accounts

3. Tap the check-box next to the accounts you wish to hide to remove the tick, then tap Done

1. Go to Service > Preferences > Accounts

2. Select Hide on the account(s) you want to hide in your Online Banking profile.

You can choose to show your hidden accounts at any time.

You can personalise your accounts by giving them a nickname in Online Banking or the Westpac App. You’ll be the only person who can see the nickname for your account. Any other User will see the account name or a nickname they have chosen. To give your account a nickname on desktop, simply select the account you would like to rename, then go to Account settings > Accounts > Nickname . Personalising accounts on your mobile? Learn how to rename an account in the Westpac App .

There are no establishment or ongoing fees for accessing Online Banking, however fees and charges apply for the processing of some payments and a fee will be charged at the time of processing a transaction. Read more in section B of the Online Banking Terms & Conditions (PDF 555KB) .

For help with closing your business account, please contact your Relationship Manager or go to your local branch. You can also call us on 132 142 (8am-8pm, Monday to Friday) to discuss how to close your account. Closing a personal account? Learn how to close your personal account .

You can cancel a Business Debit Mastercard in Online Banking or the Westpac App, as long as you’re an authorised User. If you don’t have access to the cancel card feature, your Administrator can give you access by following the ‘Give a User permission’ steps below.

Any problems with cancelling a card? Please call  132 142 .

Before trying these instructions make sure you update to the latest version of the app .  

•  Tap Business at the bottom of the screen, then Card services > Cancel card
• Select the account linked to the card you want to cancel and follow the prompts
• Your request will then go to an approver for authorisation.
• Select the account on your dashboard
• In Account activity  go to  More  >  Cancel cards and follow the prompts
• From your dashboard go to  Service  >  Services  >  Other card services  ​​> Cancel card

Give a User permission to cancel a card in Online Banking

• Go to  Administration  >  Features and approvals > Service requests
• Select Business card servicing and set the number of approvals you need for this feature
• Go to  Administration  > User administration , then select the User you want to give access to
• Navigate to Service requests and select Business card servicing .

You don’t need to notify us if you are travelling within Australia. If you’re traveling overseas and have a Personal Banking profile, you can notify us in Online Banking or the Westpac App. 

1. Search Notify for overseas travel in the Smart Search bar

1. Go to Services > Card services > Notify going overseas

Daily Payment Limits

A Business Daily Payment Limit is the cumulative total value of payments that can be made within a business profile in a single day, using Online Banking and the Westpac App.

If you’re an Administrator, you can change your Business Daily Payment Limit online.

1. Search Business payment limit in the Smart Search bar

2. Enter new amount, then select Change limit

1. Go to Administration > Payment limits

2. Under Business Daily Limit , select Update limit

3. Enter the new amount, then select Save

A User Daily Payment Limit is the cumulative total value of payments any individual user can make in a day, excluding trusted biller BPAY® payments.

If you’re an administrator and have a registered security device , you can update a User’s Daily Payment Limit in Online Banking. You’ll have to login to Online Banking from a desktop as this feature is not available in the Westpac App.  Simply go to Administration > Payment limits > View limit for > Update limit . 

When a User's Daily Payment Limit is set to zero, payments are limited to making transfers between linked accounts, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and some BPAY® billers. If other payments such as Pay Anyone payments are needed, the User’s Daily Payment Limit can be changed by an Administrator.

Mobile Banking

When you update to the new Westpac App experience, you will notice we’ve changed the way you switch between Personal, Business, and shared banking profiles.

1. Tap Profile

2. Tap your profile name

3. Select the profile you want to sign into

With Mobile Banking, you can manage your accounts, do your banking on the go, manage user access (Administrators only) and make payments and transfers. You can also deposit cheques on your mobile and check the available balance of up to 3 accounts* without needing to sign in. Check out more great features of the Westpac App .

A security device generates a single use security code which provides an additional safeguard against fraud. To approve payments or access some features in Online Banking, you’ll need a security device.

There are two security devices available to use in Online Banking:

• Westpac Protect™ SMS Code uses your mobile phone to confirm certain actions via text message when banking online
• SecurID® token is a small, portable device that generates a security code, which you use to authorise certain transactions.

Westpac Protect™ SMS Code helps to protect you by sending a unique code to your mobile phone to confirm certain transactions and other features when you bank online. This means increased security, ability to instantly reset your Online Banking password, and if you’re an Administrator, you will be required to have an active security device. Learn more about security .

A SecurID® token is a small, portable device that generates a single use security code that is used to securely authorise online transactions. This means increased security, ability to instantly reset your Online Banking password, and if you’re an Administrator, you will be required to have an active security device. Learn more about security .

If your token is about to expire or has expired, or you wish to reassign an active security token, read our simple step by step guide to obtaining a replacement token.

You can choose either a SMS Code or token. Both devices offer additional security when banking online. 

If you or your staff have a Daily Payment Limit of $200k or less, then you can use an SMS Code. If you’re approving transactions over $200k, you will need to use a token. You may also wish to use a token if you or any of your staff are regularly in a mobile blackspot. 

Please note, SMS Code is not available on Corporate Online accounts.

If your session is inactive for 10 minutes, you’ll be prompted to enter your password to continue. For your security, Westpac Online Banking sessions have a time limit of 4 hours. If you’ve reached the 4-hour limit, you will see a message that your session is about to end. Press Continue banking to continue.

Simply closing your browser does not end your Online Banking session and can cause an error when you try to sign in next time. It’s important to sign out of Online Banking once you have finished your banking by using the Sign out button.

To change your password online, simply go to our Forgot customer ID or password page , provide your 8-digit customer ID and date of birth, then follow the prompts.

Foreign Tax Residency

Tax residency refers to the country in which a business typically submits an income tax return or a country where you may be liable to pay tax. This applies to individuals, entities, and any of their associated parties, for example, beneficial owners and controlling persons of organisations.

A Tax Identification Number or TIN is an identifying number or equivalent number (for example, a social security number, personal identification number or national identification number) issued by a country of tax residency that is used for tax purposes. This is like a Tax File Number or an Employer Identification Number.

You can contact your independent taxation advisor to see whether your business needs to have a Tax Identification Number.

If your business has a tax residency in a country other than Australia, you’ll need to provide a Tax Identification number (TIN). You can provide up to five TINs. If you can’t provide a TIN, you’ll need to tell us why.

Westpac is required by law to provide the Australia Taxation Office (ATO) with information of customers who have a foreign tax residency. We may restrict access to your business networks in Online Banking until you provide the information.

You can update your TIN for your Business Network in Online Banking on desktop. Go to Administration > Tax Residency . If your business has a tax residency in a country other than Australia, select Yes to proceed, then select the country . If you have a TIN, select Yes , and enter your TIN . If you don’t have a TIN, select No and enter a reason .

Online Banking

Online Banking enables you to manage your banking anywhere, anytime. You can check your account balances, make payments, transfer funds, view your statements, update your contact details and more. Online Banking for Business is available on your desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.

With Westpac Online Banking you can manage your account, view transactions and statements, give access to third parties, manage users, open accounts and more. Learn more about what you can do in Online Banking for Business .

If you have both personal and business banking, all your eligible accounts are available through Online Banking. You can easily switch between your business and personal profiles in the Westpac App . You can also set up third-party access , which allows you to see your accounts in the one profile.

We’ll notify you of any updates to our Online Banking Terms and Conditions via email. If you choose to receive eStatements or account notifications, we’ll also send these to your email address. You can add or update your business email address in Online Banking .

Download the Westpac App

Download from the App Store

Download from the Play Store

Contact us through the Westpac App

Things you should know

Read the Online Banking Terms and Conditions (PDF 555KB) before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you.

* Available on compatible devices with supported operating systems. View the full list of compatible devices and supported operating systems at westpac.com.au/devices .

SecurID® is a registered trademark of RSA Security LLC.

BPAY® is registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.

Best credit cards for international travel in 2024

Dec 29, 2023 • 15 min read

Your next great adventure is never far away when you're maximizing points and benefits with the best cards; Mattertal, Switzerland © mbbirdy / Getty

This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy .

Advertiser Disclosure:  This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. This relationship may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. This card is not available through Lonely Planet.

When traveling abroad, the right credit card can be as crucial as your passport. The best credit card can help you not only earn more rewards, but it can also provide valuable protections and benefits. A credit card can save you money on foreign transaction fees and protect your purchases from fraudulent activity and theft.

Some credit cards can make your travels more comfortable with valuable perks like lounge access, elite status benefits and travel insurance. 

For international travel, you’ll want a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees and offers bonus points on travel along with travel insurance. We’ve taken the guesswork out of this task for you by rounding up the best credit cards for international travel:

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

The best credit cards for international travel in 2024:

• Best overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for luxury travel perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express *
• Best for travel insurance: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for tours and activities: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for dining around the world: American Express® Gold Card *
• Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The best credit cards for airline miles

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best overall for international travel in 2024

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent card for international travel because it checks all the boxes regarding benefits you’ll need when traveling abroad. The card provides vital travel protections and earns valuable rewards at a reasonable $95 annual fee. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal and 2 on all other travel purchases. The card also comes with valuable travel insurance, which is vital when traveling abroad. 

Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees, which hover around 3% for purchases abroad on standard credit cards. Whether paying your hotel bill or doing extra shopping, the waived fee can add substantial savings.

Sapphire Preferred cardholders get up to $10,000 per person in trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage (in the U.S. and abroad), up to $100 per day in baggage delay insurance (maximum of five days) and up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement per ticket. These protections can be beneficial in case of travel delays or emergencies. While you may consider buying supplemental travel insurance for certain trips, these credit card protections provide excellent baseline coverage.

Welcome bonus: 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℠.

Rewards: Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel℠ hotel credit);  3X points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out; 3X points on online grocery purchases; 3X points on select streaming services; 2X points on all other travel; 1X on other purchases.

Travel benefits: Annual $50 Chase Travel℠ hotel credit, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, travel and emergency assistance services.

Credit score required: Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $95. See rates and fees .

• Generous category bonuses.
• Excellent rewards program with a great selection of airline and hotel transfer partners.
• $50 annual travel credit.
• Extensive travel protections, including primary rental car insurance abroad. 
• The card is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule (meaning you won’t be approved if you’ve opened five credit cards at any bank in the last 24 months).
• The $50 annual hotel credit is limited to Chase Travel℠ bookings (and does not earn bonus points).

How to use points and miles to save money on travel

The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for travel perks

No other credit card can compete with The Platinum Card® from American Express  regarding travel perks. The card offers over $1,500 in annual statement credits for airline fees, hotel bookings and trusted-traveler programs like CLEAR® Plus and Global Entry . Global Entry is particularly useful for international trips, as it expedites the passport control process.

Cardholders can upgrade to Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status without ever stepping foot in a hotel lobby. These higher status levels can provide added perks like room upgrades and complimentary breakfast, enhancing your hotel experience. 

The Platinum Card 's travel protections can provide added peace of mind with trip delay coverage and cancellation/interruption insurance.*

Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 points after $8,000 spent within six months of account opening. 

Rewards: Earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year); 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel; 1X point on everything else.

Travel benefits: Annual airline fee credit up to $200; annual hotel booking credit up to $200 (Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay); annual Uber Cash up to $200; $20 monthly digital entertainment credit for select streaming services; $155 Walmart+ Credit; $300 annual Equinox statement credit; $50 Saks credit issued semi-annually; $189 CLEAR Plus credit; Hilton and Marriott Gold elite status; elite status with Avis, Hertz and National rental car; trip delay insurance; trip cancellation & interruption insurance.

Credit score required: Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $695. See rates and fees .

• Wide range of travel credits that offset the annual fee (if you use them).
• Earns valuable Membership Rewards points.
• Exceptional travel protections.
• High annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited to Amex Travel and direct bookings.
• The current welcome bonus isn’t the highest to date, and the card is subject to the Amex once-per-lifetime rule.

Best travel credit cards for foodies

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best for travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is essential when traveling abroad – things always go wrong, and you don’t want to incur added expenses on top of your trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides exceptional travel insurance. Depending on your travel habits, you may not even need to buy a policy. Simply charge your travel expenses to the card, and you’ll be covered in case of trip delays, lost luggage and rental car accidents. The card provides emergency medical services and transportation up to $100,000 and trip cancellation/interruption coverage up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. In case of trip delays of six hours or longer, each passenger will be reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for meals and lodging. 

If you arrive at your destination and discover your luggage is missing, you’ll get up to $3,000 per passenger to buy essentials. This policy also applies to damaged luggage, including carry-ons.

The Sapphire Reserve ’s auto rental collision damage waiver is one of the best in class. It applies to rentals made abroad and covers up to $75,000 in case of theft or collision damage.

Welcome bonus: 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℠.

Rewards: 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.

Travel benefits: Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, including airfare, hotels and rental cars; get 50% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠; Priority Pass Select membership; application fee credit towards Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS every four years; travel protections including cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and emergency evacuation and transportation.

Credit score:  Excellent.

Annual fee: $550 (plus $75 per authorized user). See rates and fees .

• Comprehensive travel insurance when you use the Sapphire Card for booking.
• Application fee credits for Global Entry, TSA Precheck and NEXUS.
• Priority Pass Select membership for access to over 1300 airline lounges worldwide.
• The $300 annual travel credit partially offsets the high annual fee. 
• Approval is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule (ie, you might not qualify for the card if you've signed up for 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months).
• $75 authorized user fee.

10 amazing hotels around the world you can book with points

Capital One Venture Card: Best for international tours and activities 

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is the best card for tours and activities because it offers unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, making it easy to earn rewards quickly. Plus, the miles can be redeemed for any travel-related expense, so you can use them to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more. 

Additionally, cardholders get six months of complimentary membership to The Cultivist. This subscription platform typically costs $40 per month and provides free admission to over 60 museums, including the New York Met, Paris Louvre and The Art Institute of Chicago. You can bring up to three guests for free, making the Venture Card a terrific credit card for tours and activities.

With its simple reward structure and no-hassle redemption process, the Capital One Venture Card is an ideal choice for travelers looking to save money on their next tour or activity.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.

Rewards: 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 2X miles on all other purchases.

Travel benefits: Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, Hertz Five Star status, rental car insurance and travel accident insurance, Capital One Dining access; complimentary six-month membership to The Cultivist.

Credit score:  Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $95. 

• $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA Precheck application fees every four years.
• Generous lounge benefit for a $95 annual fee card.
• Simple rewards structure with multiple international airline transfer partners.
• Limited lounge network compared to other credit cards.

Should you book travel with cash or points?

American Express Gold Card: Best for dining around the world

Dining is one of the most significant expenses when you’re traveling abroad. The American Express Gold Card is the best card to pack in your wallet, earning 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants. The card also earns 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel so that you can maximize every dollar spent on vacation. 

The Amex Gold Card also offers up to $10 in monthly Uber Cash and another $10 towards Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Granted, you may not find many Cheesecake Factories abroad, but it’s a nice bonus that could come in handy during domestic travels. The card qualifies for Amex Offers, a rotating list of discounts at popular retailers, restaurants and hotels. You can save hundreds of dollars by taking advantage of dining deals through this portal.

Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 within the first six months of account opening.

Rewards: Earn 4X points at restaurants; 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases and then 1x after); 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel; 1X points on all other purchases. 

Travel benefits: Receive up to $10 in monthly Uber Cash (valid for rides or Uber Eats orders); up to $10 in monthly dining credit at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations; secondary rental car coverage*; baggage insurance plan; Global Assist hotline; access to experience credits and travel perks through The Hotel Collection.

Credit score: Good to Excellent.

Annual fee: $250. See rates and fees .

• High earnings on popular travel spending categories.
• Up to $240 in annual dining credits.
• Amex Offers provides additional savings on travel.
• Includes valuable travel protections.
• The current welcome bonus isn’t the highest to date. 
• The card is subject to American Express’s once-per-lifetime rule.

American Express Gold Card review: a 'gold' standard with impressive benefits

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card is a great option for international travel if you want a card that earns generous rewards and minimal fees. The card waives foreign transaction fees, which is unusual for a card with no annual fee. It also offers generous bonuses on popular travel spending categories like dining, gas, transit, airfare, hotels, rental cars and cruises. With a 0% intro APR for 12 months, this is an excellent choice if you need to finance some purchases in the short term.

Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.

Rewards: Earn 3X points on travel, gas, restaurant, transit and popular streaming services; 1X points on all other purchases. 

Travel benefits: Secondary rental car insurance in the US., primary rental car coverage abroad, travel and emergency services assistance, emergency cash disbursement and card replacement, cell phone protection (up to $600 per year). 

Annual fee: $0. 

• High earning potential in board travel spending categories.
• One of the few credit cards offering cell phone protection.
• Primary rental car coverage abroad and secondary in the U.S.
• Low welcome bonus.
• Points are not transferable to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
• No travel protections outside of rental car insurance. 

How to travel to Bali with points and miles

Who should get a credit card for international travel?

Anyone who frequently travels internationally should consider getting a credit card for international travel. There are added costs and hassles associated with traveling abroad that these credit cards can eliminate. With the right credit card, you’ll earn bonus points in popular spending categories restricted abroad. 

You don’t have to be a frequent traveler to benefit from these cards either. They can provide peace of mind by serving as a backup form of payment if your debit or cash is lost or stolen while abroad. In fact, the right credit card can serve you well even when you’re just going about your daily routine.

Below are some of the features and benefits you should look for when choosing a credit card for international travel:

Traveling to Europe using points and miles

How to choose the best credit card for international travel

When it comes to international travel, selecting the right credit card is essential. The right credit card can save you money on fees and travel expenses and provide you with a range of benefits to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Here are some tips for choosing the best credit card for international travel: 

No foreign transaction fees:  Many credit cards charge a fee of up to 3% when you use them abroad. Look for a card that doesn’t charge these fees so you can save money when making purchases in other countries. 

Bonus points on travel:  Many cards offer rewards in popular spending categories like travel, dining, groceries and gas. These points can then be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays or other travel perks. Some credit cards limit bonus points on dining and grocery spending to U.S. supermarkets and restaurants only. You’ll want a card in your wallet that offers bonus points in the U.S. and abroad since these expenses add up during travels. 

Trusted traveler programs:  Navigating airports can be a stressful experience both in the U.S. and abroad. Trusted traveler programs like TSA Precheck , Global Entry and NEXUS can eliminate the hassle (and long lines). When choosing a credit card for international travel, consider one that offers an application fee credit for trusted traveler programs. These credits can offset high annual fees and make your next trip abroad much more pleasant.

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: A guide to picking the best one for you

International credit cards FAQ

Which cards are best for international travel.

The best international travel cards are those with no foreign transaction fees, offer travel protections and earn bonus rewards on travel purchases. Some of the top cards for international travel include the Chase Sapphire Preferred , Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express .

The best credit cards for airport lounge access

What’s the advantage of using a credit card when traveling internationally?

The main advantage of using a credit card when traveling abroad is its convenience and security. Credit cards offer a secure way to make purchases without carrying large amounts of cash. Some credit cards also earn rewards on travel purchases, offer travel insurance and waive foreign exchange fees.

The best credit cards with no international fees

Is American Express or Visa better for international travel?

It depends on the country you are traveling to and which cards are accepted in that country. Generally, Visa is accepted more widely than American Express, so it may be the better option for international travel.

The best travel credit cards

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit  americanexpress.com/ benefitsguide  for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit  americanexpress.com  to learn more.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

This article was first published Aug 2, 2023 and updated Dec 29, 2023.

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I've traveled to over 80 countries by myself. Here are 8 things I do to stay safe.

• After traveling solo since I was 18, I've hit over 80 countries.
• I've made my fair share of mistakes, but I've learned how to stay safe while traveling alone.
• Simple measures, like sharing my location, have helped me avoid unwanted situations.

I've been traveling on my own since I was 18. After visiting over 80 countries and 13 years of trial and error, I've learned a few important safety tips.

Although flight prices seem to be rising ahead of the summer surge, they're significantly cheaper than this time last year, so I'm itching to plan my next trip.

I follow these rules everywhere I travel — it doesn't matter how upscale or "safe" the destination is supposed to be.

Although some situations are unavoidable, here's what I do to stay safe and alert while traveling solo.

I always share my location and itinerary with someone close to me.

Before a trip, I always share my flight and hotel information with my mom. I've also gotten into the habit of sharing my live location with her (indefinitely).

Other than the fact that it gives her a sense of security, I know that if anything were to happen (or if she doesn't hear from me when expecting to), she would have enough information to make a few calls and confirm I'm safe.

It only takes a few minutes but can make a huge difference in the long run.

Wearing a flat crossbody or belt bag under my clothing is key.

I always avoid wearing backpacks and those trendy see-through bags — there's no need to make someone curious. I don't like having my purse and valuables super exposed because it makes me a prime target for pickpockets.

Although it's easier to wear belt bags in colder environments when I'm wearing layers, I can still manage in lighter clothing.

Lululemon's Everywhere Belt Bag, Athleta's Pacesetter Run Belt, and Peak Gear's Travel Money Belt have been my go-to for traveling . They're small and thin enough to wear under my clothing but can hold my essentials (cash, credit cards, a phone, my passport, and copies of my ID).

I don’t wear my expensive bling or designer pieces.

I typically want to look good for photos, but wearing expensive clothing and stand-out jewelry always attracts unwanted attention.

Wearing shiny necklaces and a stack of bangles while sporting a Gucci tracksuit makes it look like I have money, which is the opposite of what I want someone to think when I'm traveling alone.

It also means I'm less likely to successfully negotiate or barter a good price on items in markets.

There are basic things I research about each city or town I’ll be staying in.

I'm a super spontaneous traveler. Although I usually have a list of places I want to visit, I rarely follow a day-by-day itinerary.

Regardless, once I know where I'm going, I always take time to plan which area to stay in and book hotels in advance . I try to find the best neighborhoods, then I explore a list of hotel options and select them based on reviews, location, and overall vibe.

I also always ask the front desk staff if there are any areas I should avoid once I check in — not everything is online.

Sometimes, I'll even look for female-oriented hotels or ones with mostly female staff members because that makes me feel a little more comfortable.

Looking lost or scared is asking for trouble.

How you carry yourself is a big deal. If I'm lost, I typically use the Maps.me app, which allows me to use maps even while offline.

I try to pop into a coffee shop — or even a bathroom stall — to look at the map and get my bearings. If I can't find a place to make a pitstop, I'll walk to a more populated area with lots of traffic.

If worse comes to worse, I'll just hail a taxi to take me back to my hotel.

Looking lost makes it pretty obvious you're a tourist and gives the impression that you're willing to accept help from anyone. Unfortunately, some people take advantage of situations like that.

For the same reasons, I also never walk around looking frightened, even if I'm freaking out on the inside.

There are different transportation apps all over the world, so I make sure I have the right one.

Not everywhere has Uber or even many taxis. I always look up popular transportation apps wherever I'm traveling and download them on my phone.

I usually even enter and save my credit card information, so I'm ready to roll and don't find myself stuck when I reach the destination.

I make sure I have enough cash with me.

I've traveled to places where credit cards aren't widely accepted, or I can't withdraw cash from ATMs.

To avoid that panic, I always carry cash and exchange it for the local currency at the airport or hotel.

I don't keep it all on me when I'm exploring — I just carry some with me and leave the rest safely locked in my suitcase.

I've learned to not say yes to everything.

When I travel alone, I'm bound to meet new people, and sometimes they invite me to parties or for drinks. But I always politely decline.

Nothing good has ever come from drinking with strangers in a foreign place, in my experience. And I always want to be clear-minded enough to pick up on strange or dangerous situations.

I don't even share my plans with strangers I meet, and I never post my real-time locations on social media.

It might seem obvious, but I also don't accept rides from strangers because then they'll know my whereabouts.

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Day trip to Suzdal from Moscow: transport, sights, maps and tips

 DAY TRIP TO SUZDAL

  Suzdal is one of the most popular destinations on the Golden Ring and the whole city is often described as an open-air museum.  The city has no railway station and practically no heavy industry, meaning that is has preserved its provincial charm and a great deal of architectural monuments.

  From Moscow, Suzdal is not as easy to get to as Sergiev Posad (the closest Golden Ring city to the capital) but it is worth going the extra distance as Suzdal provides more of a contrast from Moscow.  If you make use of high-speed trains it is possible and not too demanding to visit for even just a day, but of course spending the night there is recommended to soak in the atmosphere or to combine it with a visit to neighbouring Vladimir.  As the city is a very popular tourist destination you will have no problem finding a cafe or guesthouse there.  There is practically no public transport in the city, but the city is small and most sights are located relatively close to each other.

Getting There and Back

Via Vladimir

Direct to Suzdal

  Buses directly to Suzdal leave from Moscow’s Schyolkovsky Bus Station.  There are about 9 buses a day and it takes around 4½ hours depending on traffic.  The buses stop at Vladimir too.  Using this option will mean a rather exhausting day trip.

Orientation and Main Sights

  Suzdal is a relatively small city and it is not difficult to walk around the city to see most of the sights.  

  The main road in the city is Ulitsa Lenina which runs north across the whole city.  

  The main sights of Suzdal are located either on or just off this road, including the two main sights: the Suzdal Kremlin in the south and the Spaso-Yevfimiev Monastery in the north.

  More information about Suzdal can be found on our Suzdal  pages.

  Suzdal is famous for its medovukha (mead) which is an alcoholic drink made out of honey.  It can be drunk either hot or cold, meaning it perfect in both summer and winter, and you will find it on practically every menu in the city.  There are various flavours of the drink available and even a non-alcoholic version.  In addition to medovukha, you can find all traditional Russian souvenirs in the city and there is a big souvenir market on Torgovaya Ploschad.

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Redefining relationships will drive the next generation of payments.

There’s been a notable shift in the fintech industry over the past year, as many companies begin to focus on sustainable growth, rather than growth at all costs. One way they’re looking to gain ground is by reimagining relationships within the ecosystem, acknowledging that no single fintech has the power to fix every problem or payment pain point alone.

Beyond the traditional kinds of partnerships, new strategic alliances are being forged as a valuable way of doing more with less. In some cases, this means leveraging the strengths of other (sometimes competing) businesses’ technologies. It seems we are moving into a period of co-opetition, where companies – be that a bank or a fintech – that may have previously been pitched against each other as competitors, are now building strategic alliances to achieve mutually beneficial goals, solve problems for their customer segments and find new growth opportunities.

The age of co-opetition emerges

Many fintechs are now refining their proposition to concentrate on one or two key areas of opportunity. Increasingly this means partnering to boost competitive advantage and build value-add services. A recent study by Discover found that 93% of fintechs say they are reliant on partnerships with other industry players, such as payment networks, to deliver on their strategies, for example.

But building alliances isn’t just about young fintechs leveraging the network and capabilities of established payment companies. For instance, financial institutions who are struggling to compete with the growing number of sophisticated fintechs, may opt for a co-opetition approach to overcome legacy issues and drive innovation, without having to develop the underlying technology themselves.

For example, earlier this year, ANZ and Westpac put forward an unusual ‘reverse pitch’ to get fintechs to partner with them in order to solve the problem of the declining use of cheques. In a joint statement, the two banks said they were seeking innovative technology-based solutions for their cheque-centred problem; accelerating the transition to digital payments.

Working with the fintech community and leveraging the ecosystem’s technological expertise is often an easier and more cost-effective solution to fixing problems. On the other side of the coin, for fintechs, there is a real opportunity to benefit from the insight and scale that established financial institutions can offer.

Opportunities secured, problems fixed

By entering into strategic partnerships and leveraging the technology of allies, payment companies are able to enter new markets, augment their own systems and drive innovation. This can unlock new customer groups, reduce time to market and even support merchant retention.

Payments orchestration is an interesting case in point. Many acquirers and PSPs have long considered orchestration providers to be a threat. However, we’ve noticed that many are now starting to rethink their go-to-market approach and evaluate whether building relationships with industry peers, or even perceived competitors like orchestration platforms, could present a valuable opportunity.

Given the continuous evolution of payment methods, regulation and consumer shopping habits, most merchants are looking to their payment providers to help them keep up with shopper demand and the technology complexity that comes with it. But this can compound the problems that acquirers and PSPs are facing – not only do they need to find a way to meet these merchant needs, but they need to do so in the face of a commoditisation of acquiring services – where merchants will easily jump ship for a cheaper price.

This is why we’ve seen a wave of incoming enquiries from payment providers who are now exploring orchestration as an opportunity to tap into specialist technology, using orchestration as a distribution or execution layer for payments. The idea here being that they can leverage easier, more cost-effective routes to targeted merchant volumes and deliver against the demanding innovation cycle that merchants need.

Creating value across the ecosystem

Strategic alliances not only present new opportunities for fintechs, but also for merchants and consumers. When looking at payments, co-opetition can lead to the delivery of a seamless payments experience and increased optionality at the checkout for consumers. Apple Card, for example, which was brought about by partnerships with Mastercard, Visa and American Express, does just this by offering increased payments choice to a wider consumer base. In turn, this leads to increased consumer stickiness and loyalty through the offer of catered solutions.

Yet, not all partnerships are created equal and some don’t achieve their full potential. To really drive growth and innovation in the industry, fintechs need to work closely together and build highly engaged relationships that benefit all parties. The strongest cooperative relationships are those where participants can agree on shared values and objectives, going beyond simple technology integrations and referral arrangements, to address mutual challenges and opportunities – and to deliver a cascade of value throughout the payment chain.

Shifting sands in the industry means that partnerships are becoming an increasingly important ‘growth hack’ for payment and financial services firms looking to innovate. It’s more than just collaboration, it’s about creating a mutually beneficial situation that solves specific problems. Co-opetition does not sacrifice the kind of healthy market competition that is essential for growth, it merely allows competitors to join forces, find opportunities and fix problems in different ways.

As the industry continues to grow, co-opetition will become a central strategy for companies seeking to drive progress and deliver increased value to consumers.

Thomas Gillan is CEO of BR-DGE

"Redefining relationships will drive the next generation of payments" was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International , a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

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Forget Westpac shares and buy these ASX income stocks

Analysts think these stocks could be great alternatives to the banking giant.

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Westpac Banking Corp ( ASX: WBC ) shares are a popular option for income investors.

And it isn't hard to see why.

Each year the banking giant shares a good portion of its profits with its shareholders in the form of dividends.

This often leads to above-average dividend yields from the shares of Australia's oldest bank.

But with its shares up 23% over the last six months and trading not too far from a 52-week high, most analysts now believe they are fully valued.

In light of this, income investors may want to look at alternatives to Westpac shares.

But which ASX income stocks could be good options? Let's take a look at three. They are as follows:

Eagers Automotive Ltd ( ASX: APE )

The first option to consider buying is Eagers Automotive. It operates one of Australia's largest auto dealership networks.

The team at Bell Potter is feeling positive about the company and sees recent weakness as a buying opportunity. The broker has a buy rating and $13.35 price target on its shares.

As for income, it expects the company to pay fully franked dividends of 64.5 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 73 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $10.14, this represents dividend yields of 6.35% and 7.2%, respectively.

Inghams Group Ltd ( ASX: ING )

Morgans thinks that Inghams could be an ASX income stock to buy. It is Australia's leading poultry producer and supplier.

It feels that its shares are undervalued based on its market leadership position and favourable consumer trends. The broker has an add rating and $4.40 price target on its shares.

As well as plenty of upside, Morgans is expecting some generous dividend yields. It has pencilled in fully franked dividends of 22 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 23 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current Inghams share price of $3.63, this equates to dividend yields of 6.1% and 6.3%, respectively.

IPH Ltd ( ASX: IPH )

Finally, another alternative to Westpac shares could be IPH. It is a leading intellectual property solutions company with operations across the globe.

Goldman Sachs is a big fan of the company and believes it is "well-placed to deliver consistent and defensive earnings with modest overall organic growth." It has a buy rating and $8.70 price target on its shares.

In respect to dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 34 cents per share in FY 2024 and then 37 cents per share in FY 2025. Based on the current IPH share price of $6.54, this represents yields of 5.2% and 5.7%, respectively.

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Income investors might want to check out these companies.

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Medibank stock offers a decent dividend yield today.

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Why Telstra and these excellent ASX dividend stocks could be buys

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Analysts have put buy ratings on these income stocks. Here's what sort of yields they are forecasting.

Is the 11% dividend yield from Yancoal shares too good to be true?

Can you ever rely on an 11% dividend yield?

This ASX 200 share has grown (or maintained) its dividend every year for almost 50 years!

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This stock has been building its dividend for decades.

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• National Media Release
• CBP Reminds Summer Travelers to Stay ‘Travel Ready'

CBP Reminds Summer Travelers to Stay ‘Travel Ready'

WASHINGTON — As summer approaches and families prepare for their international trips, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds the traveling public to use the agency’s official mobile applications to secure and streamline their travel and expedite their reentry into the United States.    

Throughout 2023, CBP expanded use of its technology, processing over 394 million travelers at ports of entry in fiscal year 2023, a 24-percent increase over last year, and has already reached almost 100 million travelers in the first quarter of FY2024, totaling more than 527 million travelers to date using biometric facial comparison technology at entry, exit and Preclearance locations, with a match rate of more than 98 percent.     

Additionally, memberships in CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs in FY2024 has reached 14 million. For those looking to complete an interview before their summer travel, CBP currently has more than 158,000 interview appointments available within the next 90 days. Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) remains the best option to complete a GE interview. Applicants can complete their interview without an appointment and with just the entry documents they would normally carry when arriving from international locations.   

CBP has also introduced a complement of mobile applications with technological enhancements to help speed up the travel process when entering the U.S. via air, land, or sea. Global Entry, for example, launched a new mobile app in September 2023 that allows members to complete their entry processing on their phones before even leaving the plane. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App store and Google Play, and is currently available for use at 47 airports, with more locations coming soon.  To date around 348,000 Global Entry users have processed their arrival using the app.    

International travelers who are not Global Entry members can take advantage of the Mobile Passport Control app, which allows travelers to submit their passport and travel information in advance with a mobile device, resulting in less congestion and more efficient processing. MPC is available at 51 ports of entry, including 14 Preclearance locations and four seaports. It can be used by all U.S. citizens, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, B1/B2 Canadian Citizens, and returning Visa Waiver Program travelers. The app was used by 4.1 million travelers in FY2023, and has already had over 4.2 million uses in FY2024.   

Non-U.S. citizens planning travel into the U.S. also have the option of using the Electronic System for Travel Authorization mobile app or the CBP One mobile app. The ESTA Mobile app was implemented June 1, 2023, and has been used almost 422,000 times to submit an ESTA application for authorization to travel to the U.S. In the first quarter of FY2024, the app has been used almost 338,000 times to apply. The CBP One™ app may also be used by visitors to the U.S. to apply and pay for the I-94 online. In FY2023, visitors used the CBP One app more than 458,000 times to complete a provisional I-94 application and almost 195,000 times in the first quarter of FY2024.    

Additionally, U.S. citizens who are required to declare agriculture and biological products upon arrival into the United States may also use CBP One to provide advanced notification that they will need an agriculture inspection. Categories for declaration include:    

• Biological materials that may require permits issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  
• Pets, specifically birds and dogs, accompanying travelers in various capacities that carry the potential of introducing foreign animal diseases to the U.S. or other public health concerns   
• Cleaning and disinfection of shoes  
• Hunting trophies    

All CBP applications can be downloaded free from the  Google Play Store  or  Apple App Store . For more information about CBP’s suite of mobile apps, visit Mobile Apps Directory | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)     

For more information on preparing to travel abroad, visit the Know Before You Go page on the CBP website .  

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We facilitate safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

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Visa-free travel to Russia

Several countries now have bilateral agreements in place with the Russian Federation to allow visa-free travel to Russia for their citizens. Unfortunately, however, there is no indication that similar agreements will be reached with the EU, the US, or the UK any time soon.

If you are not a citizen of one of the countries below and do not hold a diplomatic passport, the only other way to visit the Russian Federation without a visa is on a cruise ship to St. Petersburg. This exemption allows you to stay in the city for up to 72 hours without a visa on the condition that you are sleeping on the ship and are accompanied at all times by a licensed tour guide. If your cruise calls in St. Petersburg for 48 or 72 hours, there are companies offering shore tours which include a day in Moscow.

The same visa-free regime is applied to passengers on ferries from Helsinki and Tallinn operated by the company St. Peter Line, although in the case of ferry passengers you need to book your own accommodation. Again, it is possible within the 72 hours to visit Moscow as well. You can find out more about visa-free tours to Moscow and St. Petersburg here .

Nationalities which can travel to Russia without visas are divided into four groups with different requirements and different limitations on length of stay for each group. Even if you do not need a visa to enter Russia, you will certainly need a passport valid for at least six months after the date of your proposed exit from Russia, and you may require other official documents. You will also, like all foreign travelers in Russia, still need to register with the Federal Migration Service upon arrival.

Citizens of the countries of the CIS (the Commonwealth of Independent States) are permitted to stay in the Russian Federation for up to 90 days without a visa.

Citizens of these countries are allowed to stay in the Russian Federation without a visa for up to 90 days in each 180-day period, provided they will not be involved in any commercial or work-related activities during their stay.

Citizens of the countries in this group can stay in the Russian Federation for up to 30 days without a visa. They are not entitled to work while in Russia.

Citizens of these Balkan countries can also stay in Russia without a visa for up to 30 days, but must also show tourist documents (tourist confirmation and tourist voucher) or an official invitation to immigration officials.