Thank you for contacting Visa. Visa itself does not issue Visa cards. However, many of our 21,000 member financial institutions (the banks) do. Effective April 1, Visa dropped the Multi-currency Conversion Charge (MCC). On that date, a 1% International Service Assessment (ISA) went into effect. The ISA will be charged to card issuing banks on cross-border transactions (i.e. where the Issuer country is different from the merchant country) whether or not currency is converted.

The ISA is not a currency conversion fee but a 1% fee levied on issuing banks for relative usage of Visa's global payment system. The fee Visa charges Issuers for international transactions support ongoing maintenance and development of the Visa global network. Since it is based on use of the global system, we believe it is an equitable way to pay for the costs of maintaining the global network.

Issuers are responsible for setting the prices and terms of the Visa cards they issue, including any charges associated with cross-border or cross-currency transactions. These Issuer pricing changes may not necessarily affect the effective cost to cardholders of using their Visa card to make an overseas purchase.

Each bank sets their own ATM fees and limits. Fees or transaction limits would be located on the ATM screen before completion of your transaction. You can also inquire inside of the bank regarding any ATM limitations or fees.

Any additional limitations or fees charged by the bank which issued your Visa card should be indicated in your cardholder agreement/contract with your bank. Please contact the financial institution that issued your Visa card using the address or telephone number on the Visa statement to inquire further. This number may also appear on the back of the card itself. The financial institution can directly address your inquiry.

To locate the nearest ATMs near where you will be traveling, we suggest that you use our ATM locator. For your convenience, we have provided the link:

http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/...SearchPage.jsp

Please remember that you can also obtain an over-the-counter cash advance with your Visa card. Simply present your card along with a photo identification to the teller at any financial institution that displays the Visa logo to complete this type of transaction. You may wish to contact the local tourist bureaus if you will be traveling. They can provide you with assistance in locating ATMs and financial institutions.

Visa is committed to providing cardholders with a safe, convenient and cost-effective way to pay when traveling internationally. Visa cardholders receive, through their Issuer, an effective foreign exchange rate that is typically better than converting cash at a local currency dealer.

If you are interested in shopping around, you will find a list of several Visa member banks on our web site where you can inquire by phone or mail. Please go to:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/index.html

You may also find additional information, including a currency converter, at:

http://usa.visa.com/personal/using_visa/travel_with_visa.html?it=h4|/personal/using_visa/visa_travelers_cheques%2Ehtml|Travel

We hope this information proves useful.