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Travelling overseas with your Commonwealth Bank credit card
Discover your options for accessing cash conveniently and securely when overseas with a Commonwealth Bank credit card.
Are you going on an overseas holiday? Once you've ticked your flights and accommodation off the list, it's time to start considering your travel money options. Commonwealth Bank offers a number cards that offer you convenient and secure access to your cash overseas. Use our guide below to compare your options and organise your travel money today.
Compare Commonwealth Bank credit cards
Which card should you take when travelling overseas?
The right card to use on your next overseas trip will depend on your financial situation, travel plans and spending habits. Some of the factors you can consider when comparing cards to use on your international holiday include:
- Acceptance. All Commonwealth Bank credit cards are Mastercard products, which can be accepted around the world. This means you will be able use a CommBank credit card in millions of locations, wherever Mastercard is accepted. Note that due to economic sanctions, you'll find that you can't use a Mastercard in Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.
- Included travel insurance. Commonwealth Bank Gold, Platinum and Diamond credit cards offer included travel insurance that can help you save money on travel costs. While you're not required to meet a spend requirement to access Commonwealth Bank's credit card travel insurance, you will need to activate the insurance via NetBank before your trip to enjoy full access to the cover.
- Foreign transaction fees. If you're using your credit card overseas, currency conversion or foreign transaction fees are some costs you'll need to be aware of.
| Converted by | International transaction fee |
|---|---|
| Mastercard | 3.00% |
| Transactions overseas in Australian dollars | 3.00% |
As well as foreign currency conversion fees, watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) fees when travelling overseas. The DCC applies when the retailer asks if you'd like to pay in your local currency, rather than the currency of where you're making the transaction. These transactions will attract a DCC fee of 4% or upwards from the foreign retailer or bank you're shopping with.
- Travel card. If you want to avoid currency conversion fees, the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card is another option. Rather than accessing a line of credit, the Travel Money Card is a prepaid card that allows you to load and spend funds in up to 13 international currencies. This gives you a way to avoid foreign currency conversion fees. With no cost to load funds on the card, transfer between currencies or check your balance, this card could be a low-cost way to access your own funds overseas. Other fees may apply depending on how you use the card and where you travel, though, so it's important to review the full details of the card and compare it to other options before applying.
What you need to do before going overseas
Before you leave for your holiday, make sure you've covered all of these bases:
- Activate your PIN. Many places require PIN verification rather than a signature, so you should make sure you have a PIN on your card or you may not be able to use it at certain locations overseas.
- Tell CommBank you are travelling overseas. Before your travel overseas, let CommBank know your plans. This will help protect your account security while you're away.
- Note your card details. Make a note of your credit card contact numbers, including emergency contact numbers in case you need to contact CommBank if your credit card is lost or stolen. Mastercard offers a zero-liability guarantee against fraud, but you should still inform the bank the moment a credit card goes missing.
- Activate your travel insurance. If your Commonwealth Bank credit card offers included travel insurance, make sure to activate your policy through NetBank before you leave.
- Load funds on your card. If you're using the prepaid Travel Money Card, you can load the funds on your card before you leave for your holiday. This allows you to lock in a competitive exchange rate and could help you stick to your travel budget. If you use NetBank, funds should appear on your Travel Card immediately. If you use BPAY, it can take up to two business days for the money to appear in your account. Make sure to keep these details in mind to avoid finding yourself stranded without cash because you've left loading funds on your card to the last minute.
CommBank offers customers a number of cards that can be used to access their cash overseas. As it's not the only bank to offer overseas options, make sure to compare other credit cards you can use overseas before you apply and leave for your trip.
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* The credit card offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of credit cards finder.com.au has access to track details from and is not representative of all the products available in the market. Products are displayed in no particular order or ranking. The use of terms 'Best' and 'Top' are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer. You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your own personal financial circumstances when comparing cards.
Hi
Does Commonwealth bank have a reciprocal bank in Ukrainian. ? If yes, which one? Will ATM fee be lower if using a commonwealth credit or travel card at a reciprocal bank in Ukraine? Or no fee like with Westpat when using at Privat bank atm in Ukraine.
Hi Liliya,
Thanks for your inquiry.
After, researching. I found out that there is no information regarding a reciprocal bank of Commbank in UKraine. What I would suggest is asking them directly about this. You can visit them at any site near you or You can call them at 13 22 21
Hope this information helped.
Cheers,
Arnold
When using my CBA travel card overseas, do I press credit savings or debit when doing an in-house transaction example paying a hotel bill?
Hi Donna!
Thanks for the comment.
You should choose “savings”.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jonathan
When in Bali are branches over there linked to cBA in australia
Hi Chez,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Yes, when you use your card in a CBA ATM in Bali, your ATM transaction will appear in your account records in Australia.
Cheers,
May
Someone mentioned there is an actual Commonwealth Bank branch not just ATM
Hi Chez,
Thanks for getting back.
Yes, you are correct and you check it here.
Cheers,
May
Which banks in Brazil will accept my CBA ATM cards for withdrawals?
Thanks.
Hi Cck.
Thank you for your inquiry.
You can use your Commonwealth Bank credit card at any ATM in Brazil that accepts Mastercard, Visa or AMEX. Please note that currency conversion or foreign transaction fees are some costs you’ll need to be aware of if you’re using your credit card overseas.
Please feel free to use this guide to help you with your travel to Brazil.
Cheers,
Jason
I use PureVPN apps for online banking purposes while I am traveling outside the country. Do you recommend anymore security steps the travelers should follow?
Hi Gary, thanks for your inquiry!
For specific security steps with using applications overseas it would be best to contact Commonwealth Bank directly on 13 2221.
Cheers,
Jonathan
My wife’s brother came from Australia to USA with a Commonwealth credit card and we went to rent a car. The card was rejected because his name was not imprinted on the card. He is with his family to stay in US for a month and is relying on his credit card. To my understanding the card has to include his name and imprinted with protruded letters so the machine can read it.
Please help, what shall we do to help him.
They will call the bank in Australia. Please advise how to solve the issue. He is staying for a month.
Your kind care is highly appreciated.
Hi Khatchig, thanks for your inquiry!
The primary cardholder will need to contact the bank to resolve this issue. The possibility of accessing the credit facility provided by the Commonwealth Bank will depend on whether the primary cardholder is in the USA with the other family members. It would be best for the primary cardholder to contact the bank directly to resolve this issue.
Cheers,
Jonathan
I am in Germany and Spain for the next few months. As your page says, I cannot access my Australian account with my Visa card. Is it possible to get a card with which I can do this?
Hi Paul, thanks for your inquiry!
Visa credit cards are actually accepted at any ATM or merchant displaying the Visa or Plus logo, providing access to your Australian account overseas.
Cheers,
Jonathan
i am going to america and which ATM would work for my debit mastercard
Hi Aaron,
Any ATM which displays the Mastercard logo is compatible. You can search for specific ATM’s in any country on the Mastercard website search tool.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Hi in India and having difficulty accessing money from our master card please help
Hi Christine and Brian,
Thanks for your question.
You can call Commonwealth Bank directly for account-related issues on 000-800-610-3122. You can also get in contact with MasterCard emergency services for card-related issues on 000-800-100-1087.
I hope this has helped.
Thanks,
Elizabeth
I have a CommonwealthTravel Card and we are trying to log on to the site to check the details but have forgotten the password. The trouble is that the site says it has sent the new password to an email account that is asterisked out apart from the hotmail.com bit and no emails have arrived in the inbox of my hotmail account.
Is there anything I can do to find out where these emails are going? very frustrating!!
Hi Meg,
Thanks for your question.
Please get in touch with Commonwealth Bank Travel Money to see where the emails are going. I’ve emailed you their contact details.
Cheers,
Shirley