The banks are being called out for ripping consumers off via dodgy currency exchange rate mark-ups.
New research by TransferWise released today revealed poor exchange rates and pricey overseas card charges are costing Australians a whopping $3.1 billion a year. The international money transfer provider is calling on the banks to stop misleading consumers by adding such extreme mark-ups on the real exchange rate.
The real exchange rate, often referred to as the mid-market rate or the interbank rate, is the true currency exchange rate and is the rate used when banks buy and sell currency among each other. When banks and money transfer providers sell foreign currency to consumers, they hike up the exchange rate to make a profit on each transfer.
This mark-up varies greatly between providers. TransferWise offers consumers the real exchange rate and makes money via the transfer fee, while banks are notorious for offering poor rates in addition to hefty fees. The Big Four, particularly Westpac and Commonwealth Bank, are among the worst offenders.
As it's not often clear how much banks are marking up the real exchange rate, consumers often underestimate how much an international transfer through their bank will cost them. In fact, the research by TransferWise found that consumers transferring money internationally through their bank underestimate the real cost by 11 times.
Almost two-thirds (63%) of consumers don't understand the fees banks charge for sending money internationally, and 72% think banks make it hard to see how much they charge. Over the last five years, Australians have spent over $14.7 billion in fees on foreign currency transactions alone, not even including the exchange rate mark-ups.
It's not just consumers copping these costs, Australian businesses are losing out too. Small and medium businesses lost $146 million on exchange rate mark-ups when exporting goods and services overseas in 2016.
In light of the research, TransferWise co-founder and chairman Taavet Hinrikus is calling on the banks to give consumers the real exchange rate.
“Most banks tell their customers that they only pay a small upfront fee for international payments. But in reality customers pay much more. Huge hidden charges are taken in the form of the terrible exchange rates, often without the customer realising," said Hinrikus.
“These practices aren’t transparent and hide important decision-making information from customers. It’s time to take a stand. Aussies deserve a fair go and should get the real exchange rate when we make an international money transfer. Banks should end their deceptive practices and the Australian Government should make sure they don’t continue to rip off customers.”
If you need to send money overseas, take a look at our guide and compare international money transfer providers to avoid being slugged with poor exchange rates and hefty fees.
Check out some of your options below
Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We compare from a wide set of banks, insurers and product issuers. We value our editorial independence and follow editorial guidelines.
finder.com.au has access to track details from the product issuers listed on our sites. Although we provide information on the products offered by a wide range of issuers, we don't cover every available product or service.
Please note that the information published on our site should not be construed as personal advice and does not consider your personal needs and circumstances. While our site will provide you with factual information and general advice to help you make better decisions, it isn't a substitute for professional advice. You should consider whether the products or services featured on our site are appropriate for your needs. If you're unsure about anything, seek professional advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.
Products marked as 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money here.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labelling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
Providing or obtaining an estimated insurance quote through us does not guarantee you can get the insurance. Acceptance by insurance companies is based on things like occupation, health and lifestyle. By providing you with the ability to apply for a credit card or loan, we are not guaranteeing that your application will be approved. Your application for credit products is subject to the Provider's terms and conditions as well as their application and lending criteria.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
