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If you're heading abroad this year, it's worth checking what your debit card charges for overseas use. Many standard UK bank cards quietly add fees every time you spend or withdraw cash in another country. And those charges can add up faster than you'd expect.

The good news is that several accounts now offer fee-free overseas spending as standard, with no monthly fee to worry about either.

What does a standard card typically charge abroad?

Charges vary between providers, but as an example, a standard Lloyds debit card applies a 2.99% exchange load on all overseas transactions, plus a fixed 50p charge each time you spend. For cash withdrawals abroad, there's an additional £1.50 fixed fee on top.

To put that in context: on a £100 overseas purchase, a 3% foreign transaction fee costs around £3.00 more than a fee-free card. Over a two-week trip with regular card use, those charges can mount up considerably.

One thing to always watch out for: dynamic currency conversion

Have you ever been asked at a card machine or ATM whether you'd like to pay in pounds rather than the local currency? It's generally worth declining (and paying in the local currency).

This is known as dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it's applied by the merchant or ATM operator who sets their own exchange rate, which is usually less favourable than the rate your card network would apply. Paying in the local currency means your bank uses the Mastercard or Visa rate instead, which is generally better.

Accounts worth knowing about for travel

Several UK accounts currently charge no foreign transaction fees on debit card purchases abroad. Here's how they compare, though always check current terms directly with each provider before you travel, as fees and limits can change.

Details correct as of 2 July 2026. Eligibility criteria apply for all accounts.

Starling Bank — fee-free spending and cash withdrawals abroad, with no monthly cap on ATM withdrawals. The daily cash limit is £300. No monthly fee, and only a soft credit check to open an account.

Chase — fee-free overseas spending at the Mastercard exchange rate, with no markup. ATM withdrawals abroad are free up to £500 per calendar month; a 1.5% fee applies above that. The daily ATM limit is £500, and the monthly overseas limit is £1,500 in total. Chase only runs a soft credit check. Note that the account's cashback offer applies to selected UK spending categories only and doesn't apply to overseas purchases.

Monzo — fee-free overseas card spending at the Mastercard rate. ATM withdrawal limits depend on whether Monzo is your main account: as a primary account, withdrawals in the UK and EEA are unlimited and free, with up to £200 per month fee-free elsewhere. If Monzo isn't your main account, limits are £400 per month in the UK/EEA and £200 elsewhere. Soft credit check to open.

First Direct — fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals worldwide, with no monthly cap and a £500 daily limit. First Direct requires a hard credit check for applications, unlike the others above. A switching bonus of £200 is currently available for eligible new customers (July 2026).

Revolut (Standard plan) — fee-free card spending on weekdays within the plan's fair usage limit; a markup of approximately 1% applies on weekends when global currency markets are closed. Fee-free ATM withdrawals are capped at £200 per month (or five withdrawals, whichever comes first) on the free plan. Worth noting: Revolut is an e-money institution rather than a bank, so deposits are safeguarded rather than FSCS protected.

FSCS protection (up to £120,000 per person) applies to Chase, Starling, Monzo and First Direct. Revolut uses safeguarding instead — worth keeping in mind if you plan to hold a significant balance.

Travel debit cards vs Travel credit cards

If you'd rather not open a new bank account, a travel credit card can offer similar overseas benefits: fee-free spending abroad and, in some cases, fee-free ATM withdrawals. There's also an added perk that debit cards don't offer: Section 75 protection under the Consumer Credit Act, which makes the card provider jointly liable with the retailer on purchases between £100 and £30,000. That can be genuinely useful for flights, hotels and holiday bookings.

The main thing to be aware of is that most credit cards charge interest on cash withdrawals immediately, even if you pay your balance in full. The Barclaycard Rewards card is an exception, treating overseas cash withdrawals like purchases and not charging interest provided the full balance is repaid by the due date. For more on this, see our article that explains the dangers of withdrawing cash on a credit card.

Applying for a credit card also involves a hard credit check, which is recorded on your credit file, unlike most of the debit accounts above.

Always make sure you can afford repayments before applying for a credit card.