Using a CommBank card abroad 2024
CommBank is a popular choice in Australia for day to day banking needs at home – but what about when you travel? Can you use your normal CommBank card for spending and withdrawals overseas? What steps do you need to take to enable your card for international use – and what will foreign currency transactions cost you? This guide covers all you need to know.
If you are looking for an alternative to Commbank cards, have a look at Wise foreign currency account. Hold over 40 currencies in your account and spend at the mid-market exchange rate with the Wise debit card while abroad.
How to order a CommBank card for overseas use
If you want a CommBank card to use overseas, you’ll probably need to get a CommBank Mastercard debit card. CommBank Keycards can no longer be used for spending abroad – but the good news is that you can easily order your debit card in Netbank or the CommBank app as long as you have an eligible account from CommBank, and meet some basic requirements – such as having an Australian residential address and making your application as an individual (rather than on behalf of a business).
To order your CommBank card for overseas use, log into Netbank or the CommBank app and follow the prompts to get your new Mastercard debit card. Once you have your card you need to activate it, and then follow a couple of steps to make sure it’s ready to be used abroad – we’ll look at the process next.
How to use a CommBank card abroad?
As long as your CommBank Mastercard debit card has been activated, and you’ve let CommBank know you intend to travel, you should be able to use your card in the same way as you would at home. Tap to pay where contactless is accepted, make Chip and PIN transactions, and withdraw cash when you need it.
It’s important to note that the fees you pay when using your CommBank card abroad won’t be the same as at home. We’ll look at this in more detail a little later – but you may want to check your account terms and conditions before you travel to make sure there are no surprise fees.
How to activate a CommBank card?
Once you’ve ordered your new CommBank Mastercard debit card, and your card arrives in the mail, you’ll have to activate it. This can be done in Netbank or the CommBank app. Here’s how to activate your CommBank card in Netbank as an example:
- Open the CommBank website
- Click on the ‘Activate in NetBank’ button
- Log into your account on to NetBank
- Enter the last 4 digits from your new card
- Set a PIN and your card is activated
To use your card overseas you’ll need to inform CommBank – via Netbank or the CommBank app – of where you plan to visit. This is a security measure, designed to stop fraud. If you don’t tell CommBank you’ll be travelling you may find your card is limited or blocked – the last thing you want while you’re on an overseas trip.
How to top-up your CommBank card
When you spend overseas with your CommBank card, your purchases will be converted back to AUD and deducted from your linked CommBank account. There’s no need to top up a separate account to spend abroad, just make sure you have funds in your normal CommBank account, and you’re good to go.
Will my CommBank card work abroad?
As long as your card has been activated and CommBank is aware of your travel plans, you can use your CommBank Mastercard debit card abroad. Fees may apply when you spend or withdraw – which will be different to the fees you pay at home. We’ll cover these later.
What to do before using CommBank card abroad
As we’ve mentioned, to make sure you don’t fall foul of fraud prevention tools, you’ll need to let CommBank know, in Netbank or the CommBank app, that you’re travelling. Banks have sophisticated fraud detection tools built into their back of house systems, which look for unusual spending patterns. If an international transaction is detected, these tools may automatically block or limit your card until you confirm it’s you spending. That’s extremely useful if you’re a victim of fraud – but can be super inconvenient if you’re just on your holidays. By telling them where you’ll be, CommBank won’t block your card so you can spend freely.
Before you travel it’s also worth checking if your contact details are up to date with the bank, in case they need to contact you about a transaction. You may also want to check your card spending limits, in case these need to be adjusted to cover your travel spending plans.
Finally, it’s always smart to have more than one payment option in your pocket. Why not also order a travel card from a provider like Wise, so you’ll always have a way to cover your costs, even if for some reason your CommBank card is out of action.
Fees for using CommBank card abroad
| Service | CommBank fee |
|---|---|
| Card order fee | No fee |
| Maintenance fee | Depends on the account you’ve linked your card to |
| ATM withdrawals | Withdrawals at a Commonwealth bank ATM overseas: 2 AUD
Withdrawals at an ASB ATM in New Zealand: 2 AUD
Other international withdrawals: 5 AUD + foreign transaction fee |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3.5% |
*Correct at time of writing – 18th July 2024
CommBank exchange rates
When you spend with your debit card, the CommBank exchange rate is the same as the Mastercard rate on the day your transaction is processed, plus the 3.5% CommBank foreign transaction fee. You can find the Mastercard rate using the Mastercard tools available online, but remember to check the day your transaction was processed – which may be a day or two after you physically made a purchase.
CommBank card limits
CommBank cards come with limits on spending and withdrawals, which you can adjust if you need to. The preset limits are as follows:
| Spending type | CommBank card limit |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawals | 1,000 AUD/day for cards issued prior to February 2015
2,000 AUD/day for cards issued since then |
| POS spending | 2,000 AUD/day |
To change your limits in the CommBank app:
- Log into the CommBank app
- Tap ‘Cards’, and pick the card you want to change settings on
- Tap the settings icon from the top right corner of the card
- Select ‘Daily card withdrawal limit’
- Enter your preferred limit and tap Done
Who is the CommBank debit card for?
The CommBank Mastercard debit card is good for anyone with an eligible CommBank account who wants to use the same card at home and abroad. Spending overseas does cost more with CommBank, though – so if you’re travelling often you may find you’re better off with an alternative for overseas spending, like the Wise card. Wise accounts let you hold 40+ currencies, with no fee to spend any currency you hold. If you don’t have the currency you need in your account, conversion can cost as little as 0.33%.
Is a CommBank card safe?
Yes. CommBank is legit and safe to use. In Australia, CommBank is regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. It’s also covered by various similar bodies in other countries where it provides services.
Is a CommBank card a credit card or debit card?
The CommBank card we’ve covered in this guide is the Mastercard debit card. However, you can also get credit cards and prepaid cards from CommBank – we’ll look at a couple of CommBank alternatives next, and you can also check out the CommBank website to learn more about credit card options.
CommBank card alternatives for overseas travel
CommBank isn’t your only option – specialist providers which offer foreign currency accounts with cards can provide a great alternative. Let’s take a quick look at how a couple compare:
| CommBank card | Wise debit card | Revolut card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Residents of Australia with an eligible Commbank account | Residents of many countries and regions globally | Residents of many countries and regions globally |
| Card order fee | None | 10 AUD | None |
| Monthly or annual fees | Depends on the underlying account | None | 0 AUD – 24.99/month depending on plan |
| International ATM withdrawals | 2 AUD – 5 AUD | 2 withdrawals to 350 AUD/month free, then low fees begin | Some no fee withdrawals, depending on plan – then fair usage fees begin |
| Exchange rates | Mastercard rate + 3.5% | Mid-market rate | Mid-market rate to plan limit, then fair usage fees begin |
| Supported currencies | AUD | 40+ | 30+ |
| Foreign transaction fees | 3.5% | None | None |
As you can see, multi-currency cards come with quite different features compared to the CommBank debit card. This may make them the perfect partner for your travels:
Wise card:
- Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, spend in 150+ countries
- No foreign transaction fee – currency conversion from 0.33%
- Free to spend any currency you hold
Revolut card:
- Hold and exchange 30+ currencies, spend wherever the network is accepted
- Choose from 3 account plans to suit your transaction needs
- No foreign transaction fee – all plans offer some no fee currency conversion
Is a CommBank card good for business travel?
The CommBank card we’ve profiled heere is intended for personal use. However, you can also get CommBank business accounts which come with linked cards. Fees are still likely to apply when you use your CommBank business card overseas. As an alternative, non-bank providers can also offer business cards:
Wise Business card:
- Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, cards available to business owners and employees
- Mid market rates with currency conversion from 0.33%
- Other perks like batch payments, accounting integrations and more
Revolut Business card:
- Hold and exchange 25+ currencies, send money to 100+ countries
- Choose from 3 account plans to suit your transaction needs
- All plans offer some no fee currency conversion and some no fee international transfers
Other things to know before for using CommBank abroad
Double check your card’s expiry date before you travel so you don’t get caught out with an expired card while you’re away from home.
If you ever find you need to cancel or replace your CommBank card, you can do so in NetBank or in the CommBank app. Alternatively, call Commbank on +61 2 9999 3283.
Finally, always take alternative payment methods with you as well, like the Wise card. That should mean you’re never stuck without a way to pay during your holidays.
FAQ
Is the CommBank card free?
There’s no fee to order the CommBank debit card, but you may find there are fees attached to the underlying account you link it to. Foreign transaction and withdrawal fees also apply.
Is CommBank a Visa or Mastercard?
The CommBank card we’ve profiled in this guide is a Mastercard.
Can you travel abroad with a CommBank card?
Yes – but you’ll need to make sure you inform CommBank of your travel plans in advance, to avoid your card being blocked while you’re away.
Can I deposit cash into CommBank?
You may be able to deposit cash to your account in a CommBank location in Australia – check your account terms and conditions to understand if this service is available for your specific account type.
