Westpac Global ATM Alliance guide

The excess cost of accessing your money overseas irks every traveller. ATM fees are a particular sore point. Local and international ATM fees, as well as currency conversion fees, can set you back $10 or more for every withdrawal. For the most part, these fees are unavoidable, but there are a few ways you can make an expensive transaction cheaper. There are cards that waive currency conversion fees, but these cards are still going to charge you for using an ATM.

Westpac helps lighten the financial load of travelling overseas through its international ATM alliance. Westpac is partnered with major international banks and waives the fee for overseas ATM withdrawals at 50,000 partner ATMs.

If you have a card issued by a member of the Westpac Group – that’s a credit, debit, travel or EFTPOS card issued by Westpac, St.George, Bank of Melbourne or BankSA – you won’t pay any international ATM fees when you make a withdrawal from a Westpac international ATM alliance partner ATM.

The Westpac Global ATM Alliance only saves you money on the international ATM fee. The currency conversion fee of 2.5%-3% still applies to the transaction as well as the local ATM operator fee, which you will be advised of at the time of the transaction.

Westpac Global ATM Alliance partner banks

The following table shows the banks in different countries where Westpac customers can avoid the international ATM fee. Note that Westpac-issued American Express cards are not included in the Westpac Global ATM Alliance.

Using your Westpac card overseas

How much can I withdraw at a time?

You can withdraw up to $1,000 per day from your Westpac debit card . You can raise this limit to $2,000 per day by contacting the Westpac customer service team. Credit card cash advance limits may be different.

Do I still pay the ATM fee if I’m making a withdrawal using my Westpac Global Currency card?

If you’re a Westpac Global Currency travel card holder, you can avoid both the ATM fee and the currency conversion fee when you make a withdrawal in a foreign currency (already preloaded onto the card) and use a Westpac Global ATM Alliance partner.

How do I find a Westpac ATM Alliance ATM when I’m overseas?

The easiest way to find your closest partner ATM is to do a Google search. Find the partner bank in the country you’re in using the table on this page and search for ATMs using Google Maps. You can also download the Westpac Mobile Banking Application, which includes an ATM search function, or use the Global ATM Finder tool available on the Westpac website.

Is there anywhere I can’t use my Westpac card?

You can’t use your card in nations with economic sanctions, including: Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Syria, Sudan and Cuba.

What if I have a problem using my Westpac Group card when I’m on holidays?

If you have a problem with your card, such as if it gets eaten by the ATM machine, contact Westpac overseas customer service on: +61 2 9293 9270. You can place a reverse charge call using Telstra’s reverse charge service if you’d like. Westpac can issue an emergency replacement card as well as give you access to the money in your account while you wait for your card to arrive. Make sure you tell Westpac about your travel plans before you leave Australia as well so that your card is not blocked when you try to use it overseas.

How much can I save using a Westpac ATM Alliance bank to withdraw money?

The standard charges for using an ATM overseas are as follows:

By making a withdrawal from a bank that is part of Westpac’s ATM Alliance, you can avoid paying the international ATM fee.