The card in your wallet decides what an international trip costs you. The same $300 ATM withdrawal in Rome can cost $0 with a Charles Schwab debit card or $14 with a Chase Total Checking debit. The same $2,000 of restaurant spending in Tokyo can be free with a Chase Sapphire Reserve or $60 with a Chase Freedom Unlimited. The fees come from your bank, not the country you visit.
These guides break down what every major US bank charges for foreign transactions, ATM withdrawals, and DCC traps in specific countries. Use them to figure out which card to bring before you fly, and which card to leave at home.
Banks covered
Chase
Sapphire Preferred and Reserve are 0% FX. Total Checking debit is $14 per ATM withdrawal abroad. Country-by-country fee math.
BNP Paribas
France's biggest bank and the one Bank of America customers should use. Dense coverage at CDG, Paris, and Nice.
Crédit Agricole
The deepest ATM network in rural France, the Côte d'Azur, Provence, Loire Valley, and Brittany. Zero operator fees.
BNL (Italy)
The only Italian bank in the Global ATM Alliance. Bank of America customers skip the $5 non-partner fee at every BNL in Italy.
Intesa Sanpaolo (Italy)
Italy's biggest retail bank with ATMs in every city and most small towns. Some €1.75–3 operator fees but unmatched coverage.
Santander (Spain)
Spain's largest bank by market cap. €3–5 operator fee for foreign cards, but Santander USA and UK account holders typically withdraw fee-free.
BBVA (Spain & Mexico)
Spain's second-biggest bank and Mexico's largest by assets. In Spain: up to €6 operator fee with tech-leading machines and Garanti BBVA intra-group courtesy. In Mexico: ~14,000 ATMs (the densest Mexican network) at MXN $35–49 per foreign-card withdrawal.
MUFG (Japan)
Japan's largest bank, but standard branch ATMs do not accept foreign Visa or Mastercard. Use a 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATM instead. Useful context for Union Bank legacy customers.
SMBC (Japan)
Japan's second-largest bank. Standard ATMs reject foreign cards, but PRESTIA / SMBC Trust Bank machines (inherited from Citibank Japan) accept Visa, Mastercard, Plus, and Cirrus.
Deutsche Bank (Germany)
Germany's biggest international bank and the German Global ATM Alliance member. Bank of America, Barclays, Scotiabank, and Westpac customers skip the foreign-ATM surcharge at every Deutsche Bank machine.
Sparkasse (Germany)
Germany's biggest ATM network: 22,000+ machines under the red "S" sign run by 350+ regional public-sector savings banks. Cheaper than Deutsche Bank for non-Alliance cards, and the only real bank in most small German towns.
Caixa Geral de Depósitos (Portugal)
Portugal's largest bank: state-owned since 1876, ~600 branches, the densest Multibanco ATM coverage in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and Madeira. Cleanest non-Alliance bank-ATM choice for foreign cards in Portugal.
Millennium BCP (Portugal)
Portugal's largest private bank: ~450 branches, dense Avenida da Liberdade and Praça da Liberdade coverage, and the most polished English-language Multibanco screen in Portugal. Tied with CGD for best non-Alliance Portuguese ATM choice.
Bangkok Bank (Thailand)
Thailand's largest bank by assets, founded 1944. Densest tourist-area ATM network across Sukhumvit, Silom, Siam, and Chinatown plus Suvarnabhumi airport. Per-transaction limit up to ฿30,000, the highest among Thai banks.
Kasikornbank (Thailand)
Thailand's second-largest bank, originally Thai Farmers Bank (1945). Strongest mall-network presence at EmQuartier, EmSphere, Siam Paragon, and Central Festival Chiang Mai. Identical ฿220 fee, slightly tighter per-transaction limit.
Banorte (Mexico)
Mexico's largest Mexican-owned bank, founded 1899 in Monterrey. Around 9,000 ATMs nationwide and the cheapest foreign-card operator fee of any Mexican bank. The only real bank ATM inside Cancun's Hotel Zone (Plaza Forum), plus strong CDMX coverage on Insurgentes, Reforma, and Centro.
Barclays (United Kingdom)
Founded 1690 on Lombard Street, the UK partner in the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance. Zero operator fee, ~1,200 UK branches, the densest London tourist-area cashpoint network. Bank of America debit cards withdraw with zero operator fee and zero BoA non-network surcharge.
Lloyds Bank (United Kingdom)
Birmingham, 1765. Black-horse cashpoints across the UK with zero operator fee on foreign cards. ~1,000 Lloyds branches plus the Halifax and Bank of Scotland sister networks under the same Lloyds Banking Group umbrella give the widest same-group UK cashpoint footprint (~1,800 machines).
RBC Royal Bank (Canada)
Canada's largest bank by assets, founded 1864 in Halifax. ~1,200 Canadian branches plus a US wealth-management business (City National in LA) and Caribbean retail reach (Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman, T&T). Not the BoA Alliance partner; for that, use Scotiabank.
TD Bank (Canada)
Toronto-Dominion Bank, founded 1855. ~1,100 Canadian branches as TD Canada Trust plus the TD Bank N.A. US retail network (~1,100 US branches from Maine to Florida). Standard checking debit does not waive cross-border fees; specific cross-border banking products do.
National Bank of Greece
Founded 1841 as the country's first bank, today Greece's largest by branch count. Zero operator fee on foreign cards, Syntagma Sotiriou Sofouli flagship, broad mainland and island coverage. Greece has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner.
Piraeus Bank (Greece)
Greece's largest bank by assets, founded 1916 in Piraeus. Zero operator fee on foreign cards, head office at Amerikis 4 at the port of Piraeus (one block from the ferry terminal), broad central Athens and island coverage.
Commonwealth Bank (Australia)
Australia's largest bank by assets, customer count (~17 million), and branch network, founded 1911. Zero operator fee on foreign cards since the 2017 Big Four reform, head office at 11 Harrington Street Sydney plus 385 Bourke Melbourne, broad nationwide coverage.
ANZ Bank (Australia)
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, founded 1835. Zero operator fee on foreign cards since 2017, 20 Martin Place Sydney flagship and 100 Queen Melbourne head office, the strongest trans-Tasman and Asia-Pacific footprint of any Big Four.
ING Bank (Netherlands)
Largest Dutch retail bank by customer count (~8 million), founded 1991. Geldmaat shared-network co-operator since 2020 (zero operator fee on every yellow Geldmaat ATM). Capital One 360 is the historical US successor (acquired by Capital One in 2012).
ABN AMRO (Netherlands)
Second-largest Dutch retail bank by assets, formed 1991 by the ABN + AMRO merger. Geldmaat shared-network co-operator since 2020. Head office in Amsterdam Zuid; partial Dutch State ownership remaining from the 2008 bailout. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
UBS (Switzerland)
Switzerland's largest bank by assets and the world's largest wealth manager. After the emergency March 2023 acquisition of Credit Suisse, every former Credit Suisse Bancomat in Switzerland is now rebranded UBS. Zero operator fee on foreign-card withdrawals.
PostFinance (Switzerland)
The Swiss Post bank with Postomat-branded ATMs inside every SBB train station and post office across all 26 Swiss cantons. The standard zero-fee option for travelers arriving by train or moving through alpine resort villages.
AIB (Ireland)
Allied Irish Banks, formed 1966 by the merger of three older Irish banks. Ireland's largest retail bank by branch count post-2023 Ulster Bank exit. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. Government took a 99.8 percent stake in 2010; gradual re-privatization since 2017.
Bank of Ireland
Ireland's oldest continuously-operating retail bank, founded by Royal Charter 1783. Headquartered at 2 College Green in the historic Irish Houses of Parliament building directly opposite Trinity College Dublin. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
Landsbankinn (Iceland)
One of three Icelandic commercial banks, reconstituted in October 2008 after the original Landsbanki's collapse during the Icelandic financial crisis. Austurstraeti flagship on Austurvollur square in front of the Althingi parliament. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
Islandsbanki (Iceland)
The second of three Icelandic commercial banks, reconstituted from the former Glitnir Bank after the 2008 collapse. Re-privatized through public offerings starting 2021. Kirkjusandur and Hverfisgata branches. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
Ziraat Bankasi (Turkey)
Turkey's oldest bank, founded 1863 during the late Ottoman Empire's Tanzimat reforms. State-owned through the Turkey Wealth Fund. Approximately 1,700 branches across all 81 Turkish provinces. TRY 30-100 foreign-card operator fee. The Tahtakale doviz burosu swap is often cheaper.
Garanti BBVA (Turkey)
The privately-owned, BBVA-controlled Turkish bank. Founded 1946 by the Dogus Group; rebranded from Garanti Bankasi to Garanti BBVA in 2019 after BBVA Group's gradual majority acquisition (completed 2017). Lower foreign-card operator fees than state banks. Strong Istiklal Caddesi and Asian-side branch network.
CSOB (Czech Republic)
Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, founded 1964 as the state foreign-trade bank, wholly owned by the KBC Group of Belgium since 2007. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. Branches across Prague, Brno, Ostrava, and Plzen.
Komercni banka (Czech Republic)
Societe Generale-owned Czech retail bank, founded 1990 as the commercial spin-off of the Czechoslovak State Bank, privatized to Societe Generale in 2001. Na Prikope 33 flagship one minute from Mustek metro interchange. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
Erste Bank (Austria)
Erste Group Bank AG, founded 1819 as the Erste Osterreichische Spar-Casse, the world's first general-purpose savings bank. The largest Austrian retail bank by branch count, parent of the Sparkasse rural network. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. The cleanest Stephansplatz-area alternative to the Hofburg standalone Euronet machines.
Raiffeisen (Austria)
Three-tier cooperative network founded 1886 on the model of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen's German rural cooperatives. Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) at the center, eight regional Raiffeisenlandesbanken, and several hundred local member-owned Raiffeisenbanken. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. Yellow cross-and-horse logo.
Zagrebacka banka (Croatia)
The largest Croatian retail bank by branch count, founded 1914 in Zagreb. Wholly owned (~84%) by UniCredit S.p.A. of Italy since the 2002 takeover. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. The cleanest Stradun alternative to the dense Pile Gate Euronet trap.
Privredna banka Zagreb (Croatia)
The second-largest Croatian retail bank, founded 1962 as the Zagreb commercial spin-off of the Yugoslav State Bank. Wholly owned (~97%) by Intesa Sanpaolo of Italy since the 2002 takeover. Radnicka cesta headquarters in Zagreb. Zero operator fee on foreign cards.
Vietcombank (Vietnam)
Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam, founded 1963 in Hanoi. State-influenced (the State Bank of Vietnam holds ~74.8 percent, Mizuho Bank of Japan holds ~15 percent since 2011). The most internationally-oriented Vietnamese retail bank: ₫5-10 million per-transaction cap, often-waived operator fee on foreign cards. Always decline DCC.
BIDV (Vietnam)
Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, founded 1957 in Hanoi as the Vietnam Construction Bank. State-owned (~80.99 percent State Bank of Vietnam, ~15 percent KEB Hana Bank since 2019). Vietnam's densest provincial branch network outside Hanoi and HCMC. ₫30-50k operator fee, real interbank rate on the dispense. Always decline DCC.
BCA (Indonesia)
PT Bank Central Asia Tbk, founded 1957 by Salim Group founder Sudono Salim, controlled by the Djarum Group Hartono family (~54.94 percent) since the 2002 post-Asian-Financial-Crisis reprivatization. The largest Indonesian private bank, with dense mall-based ATM coverage at Beachwalk Mall Kuta, Bali Collection Nusa Dua, Ubud Town Center, Plaza Indonesia and Plaza Senayan Jakarta. Rp 25-50k operator fee. Always decline DCC.
BNI (Indonesia)
PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk, founded 1946 as Indonesia's first central bank. State-owned (~60 percent through Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises). Dense urban Bali and Jakarta branch network, plus mid-tier provincial-capital coverage where BCA is thinner (Padang, Manado, Pontianak, Mataram in Lombok). Rp 25-50k operator fee, Rp 1.25-3 million cap.
SBI (India)
State Bank of India, founded 1806 in Calcutta as the Bank of Calcutta. State-owned (~57.6 percent through President of India / Ministry of Finance). The largest Indian bank by branches (24,000+) and assets. Often-waived operator fee on the first 5 monthly pulls for foreign cards under the RBI rule, ₹125-200 thereafter. Always decline DCC.
HDFC Bank (India)
HDFC Bank Ltd, India's largest private bank by total assets, formed 1994 as a Housing Development Finance Corporation subsidiary, merged with HDFC parent in July 2023 in India's largest-ever corporate merger. The most modern EMV-firmware Indian retail ATM network. ₹125-250 operator fee per withdrawal, no RBI fee-waiver application. Always decline DCC.
Emirates NBD (UAE)
Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, formed 2007 from the merger of Emirates Bank International (1977) and the National Bank of Dubai (1963, the first national bank in the UAE). Majority controlled by the Government of Dubai through Investment Corporation of Dubai (~56.46 percent). The densest in-mall and Metro-station ATM coverage in Dubai. AED-USD peg of 3.6725 on the dispense.
FAB (UAE)
First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, formed April 2017 from the merger of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (1968) and First Gulf Bank (1979). Majority controlled by the Government of Abu Dhabi through Mubadala Investment Company (~37.8 percent). The largest UAE bank by total assets, dense Abu Dhabi and DIFC presence. AED-USD peg of 3.6725 on the dispense.
KB Kookmin Bank (South Korea)
Kookmin Bank Co Ltd, the largest South Korean retail bank by total assets, formed 2001 from the Kookmin Bank + Housing & Commercial Bank merger. Retail arm of KB Financial Group (Korea Exchange 105560, NYSE ADR KB). KB Financial Tower HQ on Yeouido. ₩3-5k operator fee on foreign cards at Global ATMs (always verify the English 'Global ATM' label).
Shinhan Bank (South Korea)
Shinhan Bank, traced to 1897 as Hanseong Bank in late-Joseon-dynasty Seoul, the first modern joint-stock bank in Korea. 1897 lineage consolidated into modern Shinhan through the 2006 Shinhan-Chohung merger. Retail arm of Shinhan Financial Group (Korea Exchange 055550, NYSE ADR SHG). The flagship Myeongdong-gil Global ATM near Myeongdong Station Exit 6 is the single most-used tourist ATM in Korea.
Banco Nacional / BNCR (Costa Rica)
Banco Nacional de Costa Rica, state-owned and founded 1914, the largest bank in the country with 170+ branches and the broadest rural reach. As a state bank it adds no operator surcharge on most foreign-card withdrawals, the cheapest colón pull in Costa Rica. Not inside SJO airport arrivals, so refill in the city.
BAC Credomatic (Costa Rica)
The largest private bank and card issuer in Central America (Grupo Financiero BAC Credomatic), tracing to Banco de América Central (1952, Nicaragua). The widest tourist-town and airport ATM network in Costa Rica, often the only bank-branded machine in beach towns, but it charges ~$5–6 per pull, the highest of the major banks. Pair with a fee-refunding card or use a state bank in the city.
Scotiabank DR (Dominican Republic)
The Bank of Nova Scotia's Dominican operation, in the country since 1920 and unaffected by the 2025 Davivienda sale that ended Scotiabank in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. The cheapest pull in the DR (~RD$150 fee, ~RD$20,000 cap) and the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner here. A Scotiabank ATM sits in PUJ arrivals.
Banco Popular Dominicano (Dominican Republic)
The largest private bank in the Dominican Republic (Grupo Popular, founded 1963), with the widest ATM and branch network in the country including both airports and the Bávaro resort zone. Reliable for foreign cards but ~RD$300 per pull (~RD$10,000 cap), so use Scotiabank when you can and a fee-refunding card to neutralize the fee.
Bradesco (Brazil)
One of Brazil's largest private banks (founded 1943), the most consistently foreign-card-friendly major ATM network with an English menu and the highest withdrawal cap (~R$2,500). The federal IOF tax (~1.1% debit) still applies and machines disable foreign cards overnight, and Brazil has no Bank of America Alliance partner. The Bradesco ATM is the one to use at GIG.
Banco do Brasil (Brazil)
The oldest bank in Brazil (founded 1808), federally controlled, with the most ubiquitous ATM network in the country (the best for the interior) and an English menu. Reliable for foreign cards but caps low (~R$500) and disables them overnight, plus the IOF tax. Not a Bank of America Alliance partner, despite a common myth, and no Brazilian bank is.
OP Financial Group (Finland)
Finland's largest banking group, the customer-owned OP cooperative banks (Osuuspankki) founded 1902, and an owner of the shared Otto. ATM network. No operator surcharge on foreign cards at the interbank rate. No Finnish bank is a Bank of America Alliance partner, and in near-cashless, euro-using Finland you may barely use an ATM.
Nordea (Finland & the Nordics)
The largest Nordic bank, headquartered in Helsinki since 2018 and operating across Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. In Finland it uses the shared Otto. network with no operator surcharge on foreign cards; not a BoA Alliance partner. Handy if your trip crosses several Nordic countries.
Danske Bank (Denmark)
Denmark's largest bank, founded 1871 and headquartered in Copenhagen, the creator of the MobilePay app. No operator surcharge on foreign cards at the interbank rate. No Danish bank is a Bank of America Alliance partner, and in near-cashless Denmark you may barely use an ATM.
Jyske Bank (Denmark)
Denmark's third-largest bank, formed in 1967 from four Jutland banks and headquartered in Silkeborg, with its strongest ATM coverage in Jutland and the regional towns. No operator surcharge on foreign cards; not a BoA Alliance partner.
SEB (Sweden)
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, founded 1856 and Wallenberg-linked, a leading corporate and private bank in Sweden and the Baltics and a co-owner of the shared Bankomat ATM network. No operator surcharge on foreign cards at the interbank rate. No Swedish bank is a Bank of America Alliance partner, and in near-cashless Sweden you may barely use an ATM.
Swedbank (Sweden)
One of Sweden's largest retail banks, with savings-bank roots and the broadest everyday footprint in Sweden and the Baltics, and a co-owner of the shared Bankomat ATM network. No operator surcharge on foreign cards; not a BoA Alliance partner. Many Swedish shops refuse cash, so you will mostly tap a card.
DNB (Norway)
Norway's largest bank and ATM network, headquartered in Oslo and partly state-owned, the creator of the Vipps mobile-pay app. No operator surcharge on foreign cards at the interbank rate. No Norwegian bank is a Bank of America Alliance partner, and in near-cashless Norway you may barely use an ATM.
SpareBank 1 (Norway)
An alliance of independent Norwegian savings banks (SR-Bank, SMN, Nord-Norge, Østlandet and others), one of the largest groups after DNB, with especially strong ATM coverage in the western fjords, central Norway, and the Arctic north. No operator surcharge on foreign cards; not a BoA Alliance partner.
ASB Bank (New Zealand)
A big-four New Zealand bank, founded 1847 as the Auckland Savings Bank and now owned by Australia's Commonwealth Bank. No operator surcharge on foreign-card withdrawals at the interbank rate, strongest branch and ATM density in Auckland. Not the Bank of America Alliance partner (that is Westpac NZ), but cost-equivalent for every other card.
DBS / POSB (Singapore)
Singapore's largest bank (founded 1968) and its consumer arm POSB, which has the most numerous ATMs in the country. No operator surcharge on foreign-card withdrawals, interbank rate, machines in every mall, MRT station, and Changi terminal. The S$5-7 'DBS fee' is for DBS's own customers withdrawing abroad, not foreign cards in Singapore.
OCBC (Singapore)
The Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (founded 1932), Singapore's oldest and second-largest bank. No operator surcharge on foreign-card withdrawals, interbank rate, reliable EMV with an English interface across the city and Changi. An equally cheap alternative to DBS whenever its machine is closer.
Banco Nación (Argentina)
Banco de la Nación Argentina, the state-owned giant (founded 1891) with the widest network including the provinces. The highest ATM limits and lowest fees of a generally expensive set, plus an official-rate exchange counter, now competitive since the 2025 convergence. But a no-fee card gets the market rate and beats it; Argentina has no Bank of America Alliance partner.
Banco Galicia (Argentina)
The largest private bank in Argentina (founded 1905), on the Banelco network, with wide coverage in Buenos Aires and the big cities. Reliable for foreign cards but a low cap and a high fixed fee. After the 2025 rate convergence a no-fee card gets the market rate and beats it; no Bank of America Alliance partner exists in Argentina.
National Bank of Egypt (Egypt)
Egypt's largest and oldest bank (founded 1898), state-owned, with the widest ATM network and a role running the airport $30 visa-on-arrival kiosks. Works for foreign cards at a fair rate since the 2024 pound float (commission cut to 3% in 2025), but caps lower than CIB/HSBC (E£4,000-6,000) and can run empty. No Bank of America Alliance partner.
Banque Misr (Egypt)
Egypt's second-largest bank (founded 1920), state-owned, with a wide ATM network and a role running the airport visa kiosks. Fair rate since the 2024 float, ~3% commission, but lower foreign-card caps than CIB/HSBC and sometimes-empty machines. No Bank of America Alliance partner exists in Egypt; bring crisp USD for the $30 visa.
Coming soon
More banks are being added. The rule of thumb if your bank is missing: any "checking" account from a major US bank charges $5 per foreign ATM withdrawal plus 3% FX, unless you bank with one of the no-fee names. The next batch of guides will cover Charles Schwab, Wise, Capital One 360, Fidelity Cash Management, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Revolut, Monzo, Amex, HSBC, and Discover.
The universal rule that beats every bank guide
If you only remember one thing: at the ATM or card terminal abroad, always choose the local currency, never your home currency. The "would you like to be charged in USD?" prompt is a scam called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) that adds 3-13% to every transaction. No card can save you if you tap the wrong button. Read the full DCC explainer.