Dec 29, 2013, 6:37 am
Last edit by: seawolf
Google Doc - Debit Cards Available with no Fees
Please refer to the Google doc and update as needed for the most comprehensive list of debit cards and their charges (or lack thereof)
Visa Exchange Rates
MasterCard Exchange Rates
Please refer to the Google doc and update as needed for the most comprehensive list of debit cards and their charges (or lack thereof)
Visa Exchange Rates
MasterCard Exchange Rates
Debit cards without forex fee and other-bank ATM fees?
May 31, 2012, 11:47 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
It is in the T&Cs but it is never actually charged based on the historic exchange rates I checked. I used it exclusively in Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe and Canada, covering probably over 50 countries if not more. There was never a 1% extra built in the exchange rate. The rates hardly varied more than 0.5% if that much when comparing to the inter-bank mean daily rate. The explicit 1% fee charged by BNP was the FIRST I ever encountered in the history of using it.
May 31, 2012, 12:36 pm
#47
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
What bugs me about BofA is the 3% foreign purchase fee. Steep.
Chase Sapphire Preferred will not cut it for me - it's a credit card and I am not a US person. Just someone added my question to this already established thread.
I may look for a credit union around NY (that is the arrival point) that's a good idea! Any ideas for a good credit union in the NY area?
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...d_credit_cards
So here 1% is 1% and 0% is 0%? I should look for the 0% option rather than the 1%?
Chase Sapphire Preferred will not cut it for me - it's a credit card and I am not a US person. Just someone added my question to this already established thread.
I may look for a credit union around NY (that is the arrival point) that's a good idea! Any ideas for a good credit union in the NY area?
http://www.flyerguide.com/wiki/index...d_credit_cards
So here 1% is 1% and 0% is 0%? I should look for the 0% option rather than the 1%?
May 31, 2012, 12:47 pm
#48
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
So where can I find the international (non 800) numbers for USAA, and Fidelity? It's annoying that they don't have international numbers on their site. If a US person baking with them and he is abroad he gets onto trouble 
For BofA I just found this number:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditc...lost_popup.cfm
1.302.738.5719
But no one is on the phone. Strange.
For BofA I just found this number:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditc...lost_popup.cfm
1.302.738.5719
But no one is on the phone. Strange.
Last edited by mia; May 31, 2012 at 1:26 pm
May 31, 2012, 1:36 pm
#49
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,958
It might prove helpful if you were to tell us more about what you are trying to accomplish. If you are not moving to the USA, only visiting, I think you will find it is difficult to open a bank account without a Social Security number and other familiar forms of identification.
May 31, 2012, 2:34 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
I would be interested to know HOW you can cal 1-800 from aboard other than using Skype. If you are not travel with a device, or not a Skype account owner, you are out of luck.
Normally the call would NOT even go thru, toll or no toll. The system simply would not recognize the 1-800 number. That is why ALL cards (credit or debit) would have the "normal" telephone number also on the back of the card for International collect call.
The only financial institution I know that actually have Toll Free International number for a lot of countries, is Fidelity - the extensive list is on its website.
Normally the call would NOT even go thru, toll or no toll. The system simply would not recognize the 1-800 number. That is why ALL cards (credit or debit) would have the "normal" telephone number also on the back of the card for International collect call.
The only financial institution I know that actually have Toll Free International number for a lot of countries, is Fidelity - the extensive list is on its website.
May 31, 2012, 5:03 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 218
contact USAA by email. Don't know their requirements for opening an account, but their customer service, by email or phone, is excellent.
They started by catering to the US military, so they're used to having customer issues all over the world. Their financial products are available to everyone, though.
They started by catering to the US military, so they're used to having customer issues all over the world. Their financial products are available to everyone, though.
May 31, 2012, 5:37 pm
#52
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
It might prove helpful if you were to tell us more about what you are trying to accomplish. If you are not moving to the USA, only visiting, I think you will find it is difficult to open a bank account without a Social Security number and other familiar forms of identification.
Sounds a bit fishy to me to actually want to open a bank account in the US. If I had my way, I'd rather open a bank account in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
May 31, 2012, 5:55 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
USAA site is very funny. They want a social Security Number just to be able to send them an e-mail.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_logon/Logon
I use Betamax for VOIP. Cheapest for mobile:
http://backsla.sh/betamax
Why I want a US account? Everyone wants it! Just search on the Internet it's one of the hottest topics for people earning in USD. And I want good exchange rates. That's all.
https://www.usaa.com/inet/ent_logon/Logon
I use Betamax for VOIP. Cheapest for mobile:
http://backsla.sh/betamax
Why I want a US account? Everyone wants it! Just search on the Internet it's one of the hottest topics for people earning in USD. And I want good exchange rates. That's all.
May 31, 2012, 6:02 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...07807&p=2&#r24
I opened a Bank of America account...
Tip for the day: If you travel to the USA (or any other country regularly) investigate any fee free account options that may be of benefit to you in the future.
This Australian guy did it!
I opened a Bank of America account...
Tip for the day: If you travel to the USA (or any other country regularly) investigate any fee free account options that may be of benefit to you in the future.
This Australian guy did it!
May 31, 2012, 7:10 pm
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
So where can I find the international (non 800) numbers for USAA, and Fidelity? It's annoying that they don't have international numbers on their site. If a US person baking with them and he is abroad he gets onto trouble
For BofA I just found this number:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditc...lost_popup.cfm
1.302.738.5719
But no one is on the phone. Strange.
For BofA I just found this number:
http://www.bankofamerica.com/creditc...lost_popup.cfm
1.302.738.5719
But no one is on the phone. Strange.
There is a laundry list of various countries where either a direct toll free number or a "patch over" toll free number available for that country. I even found a number for calling from Czech Republic, that is a "patch over" local toll-free, i.e. you call a local number first, when prompted, give another number which is very similar to Fido's US toll-free but with an extra 6.
I called Fidelity from Spain, France in the past. Just 2 weeks ago I called Fidelity from Italy. All these 3 countries have local direct toll free number to reach Fidelity in US.
Jun 1, 2012, 7:20 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 1.5MM, Asiana Club Silver, KE Morning Calm, Hyatt Platinum, Amtrak Select
Posts: 7,161
Welcome to BofA though. It'll be nice to withdraw AUD from Westpac ATMs in Australia and NZ directly from your BofA account without high fees or ATM surcharges.
Jun 1, 2012, 10:24 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
As long as you can make any international calls, you can call a toll free number. Rebtel is an excellent example, and who I currently use. Calling plans to call internationally, which will vary by country, but allow you to make international calls from your cellphone with your mobile company billing the call as local airtime. There are many options, but again, this depends on your country. I can only tell you about Israel, though I have been to Europe enough times that I needed a plan there, and managed. What country are you in?
The only calling plan I can think of that allows 1-800 toll free number going thru is Onesuite which does cover Western Europe, some Asian countries and Australia - but the coverage is still quite limited though it actually covers Israel.
http://www.onesuite.com/access_international.asp
Skype is by far the most popular mean for those who travel with a device that can use VoP connection. Onesuite also has VoP coverage. A friend used it in Australia.
Jun 1, 2012, 1:42 pm
#58
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
Thanks for the help guys!
Progress report:
Fidelity open a checking account for non-residents - but without the Visa card. Not cool.
USAA - they don't open an account for non-residents.
BofA - unavailable on their international number, I also called a branch and they hang up on me.
Progress report:
Fidelity open a checking account for non-residents - but without the Visa card. Not cool.
USAA - they don't open an account for non-residents.
BofA - unavailable on their international number, I also called a branch and they hang up on me.
Jun 1, 2012, 1:47 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 64
The big question is: you said that Visa charges a 1% international fee but MasterCard do not or they also charge the fee?
How can banks offer 0% transaction fee on international transfers (according to Flyerguide Wiki) if there is the 1% Visa fee?
Is it true that BofA charges 3% on foreign purchases?
How can banks offer 0% transaction fee on international transfers (according to Flyerguide Wiki) if there is the 1% Visa fee?
Is it true that BofA charges 3% on foreign purchases?
Jun 2, 2012, 1:07 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Oh wow, next time before you give out info you may want to be more specific - many posters here are based in US - what you posted probably have very little value for us who reside in US. No US cell phone company here would bill you local airtime from calling overseas.
The only calling plan I can think of that allows 1-800 toll free number going thru is Onesuite which does cover Western Europe, some Asian countries and Australia - but the coverage is still quite limited though it actually covers Israel.
http://www.onesuite.com/access_international.asp
Skype is by far the most popular mean for those who travel with a device that can use VoP connection. Onesuite also has VoP coverage. A friend used it in Australia.
The only calling plan I can think of that allows 1-800 toll free number going thru is Onesuite which does cover Western Europe, some Asian countries and Australia - but the coverage is still quite limited though it actually covers Israel.
http://www.onesuite.com/access_international.asp
Skype is by far the most popular mean for those who travel with a device that can use VoP connection. Onesuite also has VoP coverage. A friend used it in Australia.