
Get exclusive travel offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
Updated
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
CommBank offers a range of travel money products. In this guide we take a look at the different features and benefits of these travel money products so you can decide whether or not they're right for you.
The Commonwealth Bank or 'CommBank' is one of Australia's leading issuers of financial services and is one of the most recognised financial brands in Australia. They provide a full range of retail banking services including home loans, credit cards, personal loans, transaction accounts and term deposits.
The group also offers 24-hour access to banking services through telephone banking and has one of the most extensive EFTPOS and ATM networks in Australia (not overseas). They are also a leader in the online financial services in Australia with facilities such as NetBank, Commsec and the CommBank app.
The CommBank Travel Money Card is designed to be a convenient and affordable way to access money wherever you are in the world.
This prepaid, reloadable debit Mastercard lets you load up to 13 currencies at a time, which means you can lock in exchange rates before you leave. You can also use the card at more than 38 million locations, wherever Mastercard is accepted.
When you use the CommBank Travel Money card overseas, it will automatically use the currency of the country you're in, providing you have that currency loaded on your card and can pay for the full transaction. This means you can avoid foreign transaction charges that can come from using an Australian debit card or credit card.
The CommBank Travel Money card lasts for three years and there are no fees for inactivity or cancellation of the card, giving you flexibility to use it as much or as little as you want without paying more for the service.
Read the full review and benefits of CommBank Travel Money Card
You can also use your regular CommBank debit card or credit card for overseas transactions. While this is often a convenient option, it's important to be aware that it could attract a range of fees, including:
There could also be other fees for using your CommBank debit card or credit card overseas, so make sure you check the standard fees and charges brochure and plan ahead if you want to take your regular CommBank card/s with you.
Traveller's cheques can be used like cash or exchanged for local currency in many locations around the world.
Unlike cash, however, traveller's cheques usually have a fixed value and recorded serial number that makes it easier to verify their value if they are lost or stolen. You'll also be able to replace the cheques with a single phone call, and could be reimbursed within just 24 hours in some cases.
CommBank offers American Express traveller's cheques in five foreign currencies:
Like prepaid travel money cards, traveller's cheques let you lock in an exchange rate before you travel, which can make it easier to budget for trips. There's no expiry date on them either, so you can save any unused cheques for your next trip or cash them in when you get back.
CommBank traveller's cheques can be purchased in branch or online via ExpressFX. There is a purchase fee of 1% of the total sale amount (minimum $12 per currency), with different minimum and maximum values for the cheques depending on the chosen currency.
This type of travel money is usually recommended for travel in one particular country or area, as the currency you purchase is fixed according to the cheque. Not every merchant will accept traveller's cheques as payment, so make sure you check these details or have another money option before you go abroad.
CommBank's foreign cash service gives you the chance to buy or sell money in a wide range of currencies whenever you need it. This means you can have the correct cash on hand when you arrive in another country, which is often useful making small purchases such as meals at airports, or for catching a taxi to wherever you're staying.
It also allows you to save money by locking in competitive exchange rates before you leave and means you can avoid expensive foreign ATM fees. The range of currencies available through CommBank includes:
You can buy foreign currency from CommBank in branches, online via ExpressFX or at selected Foreign Exchange ATMs around Australia. There is a 1% fee for foreign cash purchases made at CommBank with a minimum charge of $8, and purchases made online will arrive at your nominated bank branch within 48-72 business hours.
If you need a currency that is not currently listed, CommBank can also order it in for you. Just make sure you leave enough time for it to arrive at your selected CommBank branch before you go overseas.
CommBank has a wide range of travel insurance options to suit your budget and needs, so that you can protect yourself and your valuables when you travel overseas. Policies are available for individuals and families, with basic, comprehensive and multi-trip options. CommBank travel insurance is underwritten by Cover-More and features a range of benefits, including:
Complimentary travel insurance is included if you are a current cardholder of a Commonwealth Bank Gold, Platinum or Diamond Cardholder (personal or business).
Made a search before? Retrieve your search results
Popular Destinations
The broker is offering US shares for a flat $9.50 fee. So how does it stack up to CommSec or CMC Markets?
Available to Woolworths Group employees and family, this low-cost card comes with simple features and mobile payment options.
A low rate platinum credit card that includes a cashback offer and perks such as complimentary travel insurance and purchase insurance.
Designed to help you track business spending, this Bank Australia credit card offers cards for employees and interest-free days on purchases.
New no interest monthly fee credit cards, like the NAB StraightUp and CommBank Neo, offer no interest charges, limits up to $3,000 and only charge a monthly fee when you use it. Read more to find out more about how they work in our comprehensive guide.
A new type of credit card to the Australian market, the CommBank Neo doesn’t charge any interest but has a monthly fee instead. Find out more in our comprehensive review.
The Big Four Bank's new offering comes less than a day after NAB released its own new no-interest card.
Keep track of employee spending and free up cash flow with the CommBank Corporate Interest-Free Days card.
The Commonwealth Bank Business Transaction Account offers a Business Visa debit card, easy access to your funds and a range of convenient tools to help you manage your business’s cash flow.
Xinja is set to be Australia’s first bank to offer $0 brokerage share trading. Here’s how it compares to the rest.
Hi, what is the best currency to load onto my Comm Bank travel money card for travel in Israel?
Hi Ian,
Thank you for reaching out to Finder.
The default currency you may wish to choose will depend on a few things. Regardless of the currency you use, you won’t be charged a foreign currency fee or currency conversion fee. You may like to consider the exchange rate and which loaded currency will give you the most value for your money when shopping overseas to help you make a decision. Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Reggie
I am using Commonwealth bank account. If I withdraw cash in Malaysia, how much is the charge. Please help me with this.
Hi Danya,
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.
You will be charged 3.50 AUD for the ATM withdrawal fee when you are in Malaysia.
Cheers,
Rench
If I get a commonwealth travel card and put $100 in Australia if i was to go to an atm in Bali how much would be available to me there
Hi Peter,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The amount you’ll get entirely depends on the exchange rate between Indonesian Rupee and AUD at the time of conversion. Please note that the foreign exchange rate will be determined by the MasterCard and the overseas merchant or ATM may charge you fees on conversion. These additional costs are charged on top of the standard international transaction fees charged by CommBank.
Cheers,
May
I like the look of the Commonwealth Bank travel money card as it has much better fees and charges than the “Multi-Currency Cash Passport” issued by my current financial institution. My question is do I need to be a Commonwealth Bank account holder to have one of their travel money cards or are they issued to non account holders?
Thanks
Bob
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your question.
No, you don’t need to be a Commonwealth Bank account holder to apply for the Travel Money card. However, you will need to meet the identification requirements and be aged 16 years or older to apply.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
Hi , I’ve have travel money cards since 2013 they are locked and showing reissue on net bank . Will I be charged a fee for the reissue ?
Hi Glenn,
Thanks for your question.
If you have to order another card, you’ll be required to pay the $15.00 issue fee again.
Cheers,
Sally
hello! im travelling in thailand.. i have my travel money card (commonwealth bank) and im going to Malaysia the next week, i want to know if i can get cash form the atm whit it. thank you!
Hi Santiago,
Yes, you can use the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money card to withdraw funds wherever MasterCard is accepted.
When you’re in Thailand, you’ll be charged an ATM withdrawal fee of THB80.00. In Malaysia, you’ll be charged AUD$3.50.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
What email contact do you have to discuss problem with CommBank travel money card?
If no direct email contact, how to email?
Hi Brendan,
Thanks for you question.
Please refer to your email, I sent there the contact details of Commonwealth travel money.
Cheers,
May
Hi Sally,
when I load money onto a comm bank travel card, USD, from my netbank account what conversion rate is used, is it the interbank rate or a commonwealth bank exchange rate that is 3-5% more expensive?
Can I load or deposit USDs onto the travel card either in cash when in the USA say at a bank or by bank transfer (eg a friend wants to transfer USD onto my travel card from his bank in the US). Is that possible?
Thanks
Justin
Hi Justin,
Thanks for your questions.
It should be the Commonwealth Bank exchange rate.
Unfortunately, you can’t load USD directly on the card. Instead, you have to transfer the funds in AUD and then exchange them to USD.
Cheers,
Sally
AFTER MY TRIP IS FINISHED AND I TRANSFER ANY MONEY BALANCE BACK TO MY HOME ACCOUNT DOES THAT NOW EMPTY TRAVEL CARD ACCOUNT ATTRACT ANY FEES OVER THE REMAINDER OF ITS LIFE ?
Hi Sue,
Thanks for your question.
No, there isn’t an inactive or closure fee when you’re finished with the card.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally
My son lives in America and survives by using his travel cards. He has lost one travel card and the other has been damaged. He now would like replacement cards and has asked me for an e-mail address to follow up with the Commonwealth bank. Can this be provided as he has problems scrolling through the various web pages the bank has on line?
Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your question.
If your son needs a replacement Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card, he can contact the customer service team on +61 2 9374 0609.
Otherwise, he will need to login to his NetBank to make an online enquiry. He can do this by following these instructions:
1. From the home page in NetBank, select More
2. Under security select Lost, stolen or damaged card
3. Choose the card and select an action you would like to perform
4. Follow the prompts.
I hope this has helped.
Cheers,
Sally