Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has compared the overseas transaction fees applied by 16 UK banks, looking at what each one charges when you use your debit card abroad – both for card purchases and for cash withdrawals. If you are weighing up cards, credit cards and prepaid options rather than just current accounts, our guide to the best banking cards and apps for holiday spending covers the wider picture.
Source: Official bank websites checked 19 October 2026. Actual exchange rates vary by transaction date, card type and applicable bank fees. This comparison is based on standard current accounts only, and fees may differ for premium, packaged or other account types offered by each bank.
Overseas card fees compared: 16 UK banks
| Bank | Named Account | Card Transaction Fee on Foreign Purchases | Approximate Fees on Foreign Card Purchases | Cash Withdrawal Charges | Exchange Rate | Best for (Based on Overseas Fees) | Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Scotland | Classic Account | 2.99% + £0.50 per qualifying purchase | £500 – £14.95+ £1,000 – £29.90+ £2,000 – £59.80+ | 2.99% foreign currency transaction fee, plus £1.50 per qualifying withdrawal. The fixed cash fee is waived for qualifying euro withdrawals within the EEA or UK. | Visa exchange rate | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Bank of Scotland website 26th October 2026 |
| Barclays | Barclays Standard Bank Account | 2.99% | £500 – £14.95 £1,000 – £29.90 £2,000 – £59.80 | 2.99% foreign currency transaction fee. Overseas ATM operator may add a fee. The minimum fee for cash withdrawals is £2.99. | Visa’s exchange rate | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Barclays website 19th October 2026 |
| Chase UK | Chase Current Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | Free to withdraw up to £500 a day from cash machines. £1,500 monthly withdrawal limits abroad. | Mastercard’s exchange rate | Frequent travellers | Information taken from the Chase website 19th October 2026 |
| Co-operative Bank | Current Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | No bank charge for foreign currency withdrawals at Visa/PLUS ATMs. Local ATM operator fees may apply. | Visa exchange rate | General travel | Information taken from the Co-operative website 26th October 2026 |
| First Direct | 1st Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | No fees for overseas cash withdrawals. ATM withdrawal limit up to £500, subject to available balance. ATM operator fees may apply. | Mastercard exchange rate | Frequent travellers | Information taken from the First Direct website 26th October 2026 |
| Halifax | Current Account (standard debit card) | 2.99% + £0.50 per qualifying purchase | £500 – £14.95+ £1,000 – £29.90+ £2,000 – £59.80+ | 2.99% foreign currency transaction fee, plus £1.50 foreign cash fee per qualifying withdrawal. The £1.50 fee is waived for euro withdrawals within the EEA or UK. | Card payment scheme rate (Visa/Mastercard, depending on card) | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Halifax website 26th October 2026 |
| HSBC | HSBC Bank Account | 2.75% | £500 – £13.75 £1,000 – £27.50 £2,000 – £55 | A cash fee of 2% (minimum £1.75, maximum £5) on withdrawals using a debit card. | Visa or Mastercard’s exchange rates | Everyday banking | Information taken from the HSBC website 19th October 2026 |
| Kroo | Personal Current Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | No Kroo fees for overseas ATM withdrawals. Daily withdrawal limits apply, and overseas ATM operators may charge additional fees. | Visa exchange rate | Cash withdrawals | Information taken from the Kroo website 26th October 2026 |
| Lloyds | Classic Current Account | 2.99% (+ a potential 50p purchase fee) | £500 – £14.95+ £1,000 – £29.90+ £2,000 – £59.80+ | 2.99% conversion fee. £1.50 foreign cash fee. | Visa and ECB exchange rates | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Lloyds website 19th October 2026 |
| Monzo | Free Current Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | Outside EEA: £200 fee-free every 30 days, then 3% of excess. | Mastercard’s exchange rate | Everyday spending | Information taken from the Monzo website 19th October 2026 |
| Nationwide | FlexAccount | 2.99% | £500 – £14.95 £1,000 – £29.90 £2,000 – £59.80 | 2.99% foreign currency transaction fee on overseas cash withdrawals. | Visa exchange rate | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Nationwide website 26th October 2026 |
| NatWest | Select Current Account | 2.75% | £500 – £13.75 £1,000 – £27.50 £2,000 – £55 | 2.75% non-sterling transaction fee for foreign currency cash withdrawals. Local ATM charges may apply. | Visa or Mastercard’s exchange rates | Everyday banking | Information taken from the NatWest website 19th October 2026 |
| Revolut | Standard | 0% within allowance | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £10* *Exchange limit of £1,000 per month. Fair usage fee of 1% applies to any additional exchange. | Free withdrawals up to 5 ATM withdrawals or £200 per rolling month, then a fee applies. That fee is 2% of the withdrawal, subject to a minimum fee of £1 per withdrawal. | Revolut exchange rate – variable | General travel | Information taken from the Revolut website 19th October 2026 |
| Santander | Everyday Current Account | 2.95% | £500 – £14.75 £1,000 – £29.50 £2,000 – £59 | 2.95% foreign currency conversion fee, waived at qualifying Santander overseas ATMs. Local ATM fees may apply. | Visa or Mastercard’s exchange rates | Everyday banking | Information taken from the Santander website 19th October 2026 |
| Starling | Personal Current Account | 0% | £500 – £0 £1,000 – £0 £2,000 – £0 | Free to withdraw cash from ATMs. ATM operator fees may apply. | Mastercard’s exchange rate | Frequent travellers | Information taken from the Starling website 19th October 2026 |
| TSB | Spend & Save Account | 2.99% + £1 per qualifying purchase | £500 – £14.95+ £1,000 – £29.90+ £2,000 – £59.80+ | 2.99% non-pound transaction fee, plus 1.5% non-pound cash fee (minimum £2, maximum £4.50), subject to exemptions. | Visa exchange rate | Everyday banking | Information taken from the TSB website 26th October 2026 |
Notes on exchange rates and fees
Weekend exchange fees: Revolut applies a 1% weekend currency exchange fee to its Standard plan, alongside an additional 1% fair usage fee on exchanges exceeding the £1,000 rolling monthly allowance.
Exchange rates used in this comparison:
- Mastercard exchange rate of €1 = £0.867 as of 1 June 2026 (not every European destination uses the euro – see which European countries don’t use the euro)
- Visa exchange rate of €1 = £0.868191 as of 1 June 2026
Tips for spending abroad
- Always choose to pay in the local currency rather than GBP when offered by a retailer or ATM, as this usually provides a better exchange rate.
- Overseas ATM operators may apply additional charges, which vary depending on the country and ATM network used.
- Carry a backup payment method and keep it separate from your main card – our guide to keeping your money safe when travelling covers the practical steps.
Related guides
- The best banking cards and apps for holiday spending – credit cards, travel cards and prepaid cards, not just current accounts
- Comparing the best finance apps for travelling abroad – how app-based banks work day to day overseas
- How to keep your money safe when travelling
- Which countries use the euro currency?
- European countries that don’t use the euro
Sorting your travel money is one job off the list. Book your airport parking with APH and that’s another – we’ve been arranging airport parking and airport hotels for UK travellers since 1980.