Originally Posted by Roger
Just to be clear, you don't need a Nationwide current account for the Natonwide credit card (though clearly you do with a debit card).
Also, to get the 0.5% cashback (1% for the first six months), you need to select the Cash Reward card - they also have a standard card with a lower APR and a Comic Relief charity card, neither of which offer cashback to the cardholder.
Nationwide have upped their cash advance charge recently although I am not sure what the current rate is, I know it used to be really low at something like 1%. Tis is quite important since Nationwide charge cash advances for interest from the day of withdrawal. So the effective fee you pay is the cash advance fee plus the interest, which can work out to about 2.5% if you time it badly. All that said they do seem to use genuinely commercial rates. The Nationwide card is I think much more competitive for straight purchases overseas.
The amex rates are a complete rip off at 2.75% plus they also convert foreign currency through the US dollar to its ultimate currency. S ofor instance spending using Amex in Thaland, A Thai Baht Spend is converted into US Dollars which is converted into Sterling. The rate sems to deteriorate during its adventures through the multiple currencies.
It is also worth noting that genuinely commercial rates can be obtained from Xe.com's (the universal currency convertor people) partner organisation which will quote you an exchange rate for a cash sum (larger rather than smaller) and then the transfers are handled using CHAPs.