Just returned from Japan.. did some charges on the CitiBank cards.

Exchange rate is about 1% surcharge... there is another column showing the 4% charges making a total cost of 4 % to me.

another interesting things is, some local bank charges 1 % while other charges 2 or 3 % in the exchange rate, in addition to the CitiBank 3 %. The total cost of using your credit card can be as high as 6%.

From the ATM, Citibank ATM is 1.2% and Bank of America ATM is about 1.5% in getting cash.

There is no way out from the greedy banks.