Cards with no foreign transaction fees

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

For our upcoming trip to Italy, we're looking for a Visa or MC with no foreign transaction fees. I know of 3 such cards: Schwab, Cap One & HSBC's Premier World MC. Are there others?

Are any of these 3 cards markedly better (or worse) than the others?

My score is in the 790 - 800 neighborhood.

Thanks for your advice.

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

Hmmm, I wonder if a military oriented card (like NFCU or PenFed) would have foreign trans fees? Afterall, military/DoD get moved all over the world, including Europe....hopefully these CU's provide no trans fee cards.

Anyone know?

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

According to their website, Addison Avenue FCU Visa cards do not have any surcharges for international transactions. Nice perk.

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

I have a card with a local CU that does not have fees.

haulingthescoreup · ‎08-01-2009

Don't know about PenFed and Navy, but USAA started charging foreign transaction fees last year.

* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
Don't know about PenFed and Navy, but USAA started charging foreign transaction fees last year.

Really? I would think that if anyone honored the military with no fees, it would be USAA. I guess their FOM has broadened enough that they are showing some signs?

haulingthescoreup · ‎08-01-2009

No clue as to the reasoning, but they did it just about the time DD#2 interned in Ireland for the summer.

* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

@Anonymous wrote:
Hmmm, I wonder if a military oriented card (like NFCU or PenFed) would have foreign trans fees? Afterall, military/DoD get moved all over the world, including Europe....hopefully these CU's provide no trans fee cards.

Visa & MasterCard bill their member financial institutions for the costs of currency conversions. Each financial institution then chooses whether or not to pass these charges on to its cardholders. Unfortunately, most do.

Until BOA took it over a few years ago, MBNA was one of the few large issuers that did not pass FX fees on to its customers. That's why we always took MBNA cards when we traveled overseas & that's why we were sorry to see MBNA go.

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

@Scout1965 wrote:
According to their website, Addison Avenue FCU Visa cards do not have any surcharges for international transactions. Nice perk.

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I'm eligible for membership.

Anonymous · ‎08-01-2009

@Anonymous wrote:
@Scout1965 wrote:
According to their website, Addison Avenue FCU Visa cards do not have any surcharges for international transactions. Nice perk.
Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I'm eligible for membership.

You only have to join FINANCIAL FITNESS ASSOCIATION for $5 to be eligible.