Enjoy the safety and convenience of a CommBank Travel Money Card that lets you load 13 currencies at the same time.
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card is a prepaid Visa card that lets you load up to 13 foreign currencies and lock in exchange rates. You can manage your account online, save on loading fees and enjoy peace of mind thanks to chip and PIN-protection.
| Available Currencies | AUD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, THB, USD, VND, CNY, AED |
|---|---|
| Multiple Currencies on One Card | Yes |
| Number of Cards Issued | 2 |
| Minimum Load Amount | $1 |
| Maximum Load Amount | $100,000 |
| Maximum Annual Load Amount | $1,500,000 |
| 24 Hour ATM Cash Withdrawal Limit | $2,500 |
| 24 Hour POS Transaction Limit | $7,500 |
| Card Issue Fee | $15 |
|---|---|
| Initial Load Fee | $0 |
| ATM Withdrawal Fee |
|
| Reload Fee | $0 |
| Transaction Fee for Purchases | $0 |
| Balance Enquiries | $0 |
| Card Replacement Fee | $15 |
| Currency Conversion Fee | 4.5% |
| Account Closing Fee | $0 |
| Minimum Age | 14 |
|---|---|
| Available To Temporary Residents | No |
What currencies can I load on the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card?
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card supports 13 major currencies including:
- United States dollar
- Euro
- Great British pound
- Australian dollar
- Japanese yen
- New Zealand dollar
- Hong Kong dollar
- Canadian dollar
- Singapore dollar
- Thai baht
- Vietnamese dong
- Chinese renminbi
- Emirati dirham
There are no fees involved when you load funds into a foreign currency wallet, transfer funds between currency wallets on the card, or spend money in a currency that isn’t loaded or supported by your card. Instead, a retail foreign exchange rate determined by CommBank is applied at the time of conversion. You can find the foreign exchange rates on the CommBank website or on the CommBank app under “Tools & Calculators” and “Foreign Exchange Toolkit”.
Your currencies will be locked in at the bank’s retail foreign exchange rate applicable on the day your transfer or payment is processed. When loading or reloading, the money will be available the same day for transfers from CommBank transaction accounts and up to two business days for BPAY transactions.
What if I want to spend money in a different currency to the ones loaded on my card?
When spending money in a currency that is unsupported or insufficiently loaded on your card, the next available currency balance in your currency order will be used. You may customise your currency order through NetBank or by calling +61 1300 660 700. Otherwise, the following default currency order applies.
Default currency order:
2. Euro (EUR)
3. Great British pound (GBP)
4. Australian dollar (AUD)
5. Japanese yen (JPY)
6. New Zealand dollar (NZD)
7. Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
9. Singapore dollar (SGD)
10. Thai baht (THB)
11. Vietnamese dong (VND)
12. Chinese renminbi (CNY)
13. Emirati dirham (AED)
To illustrate, when paying for a US$50 lunch in Los Angeles, it turns out that you only have US$21 in your US dollar wallet. Instead of declining the transaction, your card is debited in Euros instead, since you have sufficient Euros in your account. CommBank’s prevailing retail foreign exchange rate is applied to convert your Euros into US dollars.
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card enjoys the worldwide acceptance of the Visa network and can be used in-store, at ATMs, online, over the phone and by mail order. However certain merchants and financial institutions may not accept the card, including stores where Visa prepaid cards are not accepted or where merchants process transactions manually.
You also can’t use your travel card for direct debits, for installments or recurring payments, for direct credit payments including sales tax refunds, for over-the-counter cash withdrawals, or for transactions in countries prohibited by US government sanctions and laws (e.g. Cuba, Iran, Libya and Sudan).
Features of the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card
When you apply for a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card, you can look forward to the following benefits and features:
- Locked-in exchange rates. When you load funds on your card, they’ll be locked in at the exchange rate you got when you loaded your card. This will give you peace of mind and help you manage your budget since you don’t have to deal with fluctuating exchange rates. Foreign exchange rates are available on the CommBank website or in the CommBank app by following “Tools & calculators” to the “Foreign Exchange Toolkit”.
- Additional card. Your free backup card ensures that you’ll still be able to access your money should the first card be lost, damaged or stolen.
- Smartphone app. Enjoy the modern convenience of currency planning from your smartphone with the CommBank app. Monitor your expenses, convert currencies and reload funds while on the go.
- Worldwide ATM alliance. The robust Visa alliance ensures that you will be able to access cash almost anywhere in the world.
- Concierge service. Enjoy the luxury of personal concierge services when you need dinner reservations, air tickets, accommodation or concert tickets booked for you.
- Purchase security insurance. If an item purchased on your card gets lost, stolen or damaged in the first 90 days, your card insurance coverage ensures that it will be repaired or replaced for free.
How much does the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card cost?
This table lists the costs associated with this card and when you’ll be charged them.
| Type of fee | Cost | When you’ll be charged |
|---|---|---|
| Issue fee | $15 | This is a one-time fee when you purchase the card. Gold, Platinum and Diamond credit card holders, as well as Platinum Debit Mastercard holders and students, can get this fee waived by applying in-branch. |
| Load/reload fee | $0 | This includes the first time you load your card and each subsequent reload. |
| Currency conversion fee | 4.5% (including the Mastercard/Visa exchange rate at the time of the conversion) | Each time a purchase or an ATM withdrawal is made in a currency not covered by your card or when funds are transferred between the currencies on your card to complete a purchase or withdrawal |
| International withdrawal fee | USD 2.50 EUR 2.20 GBP 2.00 AUD 3.50 JPY 220 NZD 3.50 HKD 17.00 CAD 3.00 SGD 3.50 THB 80.00 VND 50,000 CNY 15.00 AED 10.00 | Each time you withdraw cash, these charges apply respectively to the currency you are withdrawing |
| Inactivity fee | Nil | Some travel cards may charge a fee when your card has been inactive for a stipulated period. |
| Closure/Cash out fee | $0 | You will not be charged a fee for closing your account and your funds will be credited to a nominated Australian bank account in Australian dollars converted at prevailing retail foreign exchange rates. |
| Replacement card | $15 | While your back-up card is free, you will be charged $15 when requesting a replacement for a lost or stolen card. |
How to use the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card
Follow these simple steps to start using your Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card:
1. Activating the card
For cards purchased in-branch, your two cards have already been automatically activated. For cards purchased online via NetBank, including replacement or reissued cards, you will need to activate your cards online. In any case, you should set up a PIN for each card by logging in to NetBank, going to a CommBank branch or calling the Travel Money Customer Service Centre at 1300 660 700, or +61 2 9374 0609 from overseas.
2. Loading funds on the card
Different currencies can be loaded on your card at the time of purchase, which will be subject to the bank’s foreign exchange rates at that time. When reloading the card, funds will be accepted in Australian dollars and converted into your primary currency according to your currency order. The applicable exchange rate is taken on the day your payment is processed, which is instant when paying cash in-branch or transferring funds via NetBank from a CommBank transaction account and up to two business days when using BPAY.
When reloading via BPAY, you may only load one currency at a time. You will need to wait for your first BPAY transaction to be completed before changing your currency order and making another transfer to that primary currency. Each load and reload must be more than the equivalent of AUD$1 and less than AUD$100,000.
3. Managing your online account
You can manage your account online at NetBank or on your smartphone’s CommBank app. You can view your balances and transaction history, transfer currencies within the account, reload funds, and make real-time fund transfers to and from eligible CommBank accounts. You can also change your PIN and currency order, set up SMS alerts and lock or unlock your card for security reasons when necessary.
What do I do if I return home with foreign currency remaining on the card?
You could choose to keep the funds for your next trip or withdraw the cash in Australian dollars via an ATM. Since ATM fees apply, you could also transfer the funds to your Commonwealth Bank transaction account via NetBank, if you have one. You may also consolidate currencies by transferring funds to another Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card, if you have one.
Who do I contact if my card is lost, stolen or damaged?
Report loss or theft immediately by calling 1300 660 700 or +61 2 9374 0609 when overseas. Similarly, if you suspect your card has been subject to unauthorised use, notify the bank immediately by calling 13 22 21 or +61 2 9374 0609 when overseas.
How to apply for a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card
For existing CommBank customers with NetBank accounts, ordering is a simple online process which involves logging into NetBank. Your card will then arrive in the mail in under six business days. If you are not an existing CommBank customer, you may get your card straight away by heading into any CommBank branch. Bring your Australian passport or driver’s licence for identification purposes.
Are there any eligibility requirements?
While you do not need to be an existing Commonwealth bank customer, you must be more than 14 years old and satisfy customer identification requirements. You will have to register with NetBank when purchasing the card. Also, you are limited to only having five active Travel Money Cards at any one time.
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card offers up to 13 major currencies and fee-free loads and reloads. Make sure to factor the card issue, replacement fees and ATM withdrawal fees when comparing your options. When deciding which travel card to get, use our travel money comparison table to compare your available options and find the right card for your spending needs.
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So if I load with AUS dollars and use the card in Eurozone, I’ll be charged a 4.5% conversion feed AUD to Euro? Seems very high, especially when compared to cards like the Qantas card for example which has none.
Hi Dale,
Thanks for reaching out to us. Please note that we are not affiliated with Commonwealth Bank or any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
There are no fees involved when you load funds into a foreign currency wallet, transfer funds between currency wallets on the card, or spend money in a currency that isn’t loaded or supported by your card.
The 4.5% Currency conversion fee (including the Mastercard/Visa exchange rate at the time of the conversion) will apply ech time a purchase or an ATM withdrawal is made in a currency not covered by your card or when funds are transferred between the currencies on your card to complete a purchase or withdrawal
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card supports 13 major currencies including:
United States dollar
Euro
Great British pound
Australian dollar
Japanese yen
New Zealand dollar
Hong Kong dollar
Canadian dollar
Singapore dollar
Thai baht
Vietnamese dong
Chinese renminbi
Emirati dirham
You can see this info above this page.
Cheers,
Rench
Please explain the expiry date. Does this mean September 2017 expired at the end or at the beginning? Thank you
Hi Virginia,
Thanks for your inquiry.
When your card expires September 2017, you will still be able to use your existing card until the last day of September. So basically, if your trip is in July, you can use your Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card for the entire duration of your trip. However, if you have the intention of extending your stay, you may want to consider getting a new card before your trip.
Kindly note that within 6 months prior to the card expiry date and up to 12 months after the card expiry date, you may request to renew your Travel Money Card and your balance will be automatically transferred to your new cards for free. Travel Money Cards are not reissued automatically upon expiry, so you must request for a new card.
Cheers,
Rench
As far as the service goes it is a great card to have. However, there is a twist to it which is not disclaimed. If the money on the travel card is not spent, it will force users to transfer it back to original currency using bank’s offered exchange rate. I wonder is there any way around it? Because 15% is quite a big sum to pay for no obvious reason.
Hi Edgar,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
According to Commonwealth Bank, the funds will be converted into Australian Dollars at a retail foreign exchange rate determined by us which is current at the time of the transfer. And all transfers using NetBank will be processed to your nominated account in real time.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
With this card, can I load foreign cash onto it?
I have read on the comm bank website that if transferring from AUD to a foreign currency, It will incur a 4.5% charge. Is this correct, and if so, how can I avoid paying that?
Hi Ross,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
According to Commonwealth Bank, you won’t be able to load foreign cash to the Travel Money Card. And with regards to the 4.5%, this is the rate to load the card and convert it into a foreign currency. This fee is required to be paid when converting onto the card.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
The CBA retail exchange rate means losing about six percent on currency conversion. The visa and mastercard conversion fee fee is 3 percent I cant see any value in the CBA Travel Money card. Could you please advise me of any benefit of the Travel money card other than locking in an exchange rate ?
Hi Marg,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
When you apply for a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card, you can look forward to the following benefits and features:
- Locked-in exchange rates. When you load funds on your card, they’ll be locked in at the exchange rate you got when you loaded your card. This will give you peace of mind and help you manage your budget since you don’t have to deal with fluctuating exchange rates. Foreign exchange rates are available on the CommBank website or in the CommBank app by following “Tools & calculators” to the “Foreign Exchange Toolkit”.
- Additional card. Your free backup card ensures that you’ll still be able to access your money should the first card be lost, damaged or stolen.
- Smartphone app. Enjoy the modern convenience of currency planning from your smartphone with the CommBank app. Monitor your expenses, convert currencies and reload funds while on the go.
- Worldwide ATM alliance. The robust Visa alliance ensures that you will be able to access cash almost anywhere in the world.
- Concierge service. Enjoy the luxury of personal concierge services when you need dinner reservations, air tickets, accommodation or concert tickets booked for you.
- Purchase security insurance. If an item purchased on your card gets lost, stolen or damaged in the first 90 days, your card insurance coverage ensures that it will be repaired or replaced for free.
You may contact Commonwealth Bank directly for additional information.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
Hi Danielle
Thank you for your response. However, I disagree with your statement that you are a comparison website. You appear to be promoting products rather than comparing them. You have provided no information other than that provided by CBA .
Marg
Hi Marg,
Thank you for contacting finder. We are a comparison website and general information service, we’re more than happy to offer general advice.
If you wish to see a review of other travel cards along with their benefits, you may refer to this page.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Danielle
I went to get cash out of an ATM using travel card using the “credit” button. This was refused. I was able to get money using my normal CBA key card. I thought I was told I had to press the “credit” button. Is this incorrect? Checking on NetBank there are more than enough funds to cover the withdrawal of only USD 100.
Hi Peter,
Thanks for reaching out to us. Please note that we are not affiliated with Commonwealth Bank or any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.
The Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card can be used at millions of locations around the world, both in-store and online anywhere Visa is accepted.
When using the card for ATM withdrawals or EFTPOS purchases overseas, you’ll need to select “credit” and enter your PIN to complete the payment. If this isn’t successful on your end, please contact Commonwealth Bank directly to check your PIN or to ask what’s wrong with the card.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Rench
Hi, We are travelling to Iceland. Had planned on taking 28*, & either CBA or ANZ travel cards, loaded only with AUS$. Will I have any problem withdrawing Icelandic Krona ?
Hi Leslie!
Not a problem at all! :). Although, it will be subject to currency exchange rate and potentially ATM fees too.
You may want to check with your bank to ensure how much that is and how they compute such.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Can I go into a Commonwealth bank branch and purchase a travel card for my 14 year old son without having him with me? He is already a customer.
Hi Charmaine!
Guess what? You can actually open a travel money card online for your son. Go to CommBank and click “Order a Travel Money Card”” and you’re good to go.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Can I use my travel card to prepay a hotel accommodation account. Then when I check out have the initial deposit refunded and replaced by the actual charge?
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your question.
You can use the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card where Visa is accepted. However, for your specific situation, you may have to get in touch with the merchant/hotel operator to confirm if this arrangement is possible.
Cheers,
Anndy
Hi, I am commonwealth Bank Customer. Which one is better for International travel ? My comm Bank debit/credit card or Travel Money Card ? As I have to pay fees when I use either card.
Whats the major difference between these two cards ?
Thx.
Hi Amin,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Unfortunately, we cannot recommend what is best for you. Our company finder.com.au is a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers to make a better decision. Please note we do not represent any company we feature on our pages.
If you wish to have an additional option/s for comparison you may want to consider the Travel Money providers listed here.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold
Hi Amin,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Unfortunately, we cannot recommend what is best for you. Our company finder.com.au is a financial comparison website and general information service designed to help consumers to make a better decision. Please note we do not represent any company we feature on our pages.
If you are travelling overseas you may want to consider the option/s available here.
I hope this information has helped.
Cheers,
Harold