Bendigo Bank Travel Card Review – All About Bendigo Cash Passport
Bendigo Bank offers a standalone travel card called the Cash Passport, which is issued through the Mastercard network, and which lets you hold and spend 10 currencies conveniently. As the card isn’t linked to your main Bendigo Bank everyday account, it’s safe to use, and can be a smart way to set a travel budget and manage your money while you’re away.
This guide looks at how the card works, the key benefits and fees associated with it, and a couple of alternatives to use abroad. We’ll highlight the card from Wise as a flexible way to hold, spend, send and exchange 40+ currencies, as well as the Travelex Travel Money card as another good alternative.
Bendigo Bank travel card: key features
- The Bendigo Bank travel card can hold 10 major currencies, and is issued in partnership with Mastercard for global use
- It’s free to get your Bendigo Bank travel card and there’s no fee to add money by bank transfer or BPAY
- Once you have a balance in your Bendigo Bank travel card you can spend currencies you hold with no additional fee
- Exchange rates are likely to include a markup, and ATM withdrawal fees apply at home and abroad
- You may find you get a more flexible card service from a provider like Wise which supports 40+ currencies for holding and exchange and does not use exchange rate markups
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Hold and spend 10 major currencies easily
✅ Add money online or in a bank branch ✅ Make local and overseas ATM withdrawals ✅ No fee to spend a currency you hold in your account ✅ Mastercard perks and benefits, as well as support, available |
❌ Exchange rates are likely to include a markup
❌ ATM withdrawal fees apply at home and abroad ❌ Some top up methods have fees |
The Bendigo Bank travel card can offer increased security compared to spending with your normal debit card overseas, and can also be a good way to manage your travel budget effectively. There’s no fee to get your card in the first place, and you can also add money for free using some top up methods. Fees do apply to some services, and exchange rates are likely to include a markup – which is a charge. You may get a more flexible card service which supports more currencies from a provider like Wise. We’ll explore how the Bendigo Bank travel card works – and some alternatives to consider – in this article.
Who is the Bendigo Bank travel card for?
The Bendigo Bank travel card is suitable for spending online and in person, and for making ATM withdrawals. That means it’s suitable for:
- People visiting any of the countries which use the card’s 10 supported currencies
- Travellers looking to make Chip and PIN and contactless payments overseas
- Travellers who need to get cash at local ATMs when abroad
- Anyone who wants to spend in foreign currencies online
What is a Bendigo Bank travel card?
The Bendigo Bank travel card is a multi-currency travel card which is issued by Bendigo Bank in association with Mastercard. It’s usually referred to as a Cash Passport, ideal for travellers to spend and withdraw when overseas. You can use your card to add, spend and withdraw 10 major currencies. Some fees apply which you’ll want to consider in advance, but it can mean you avoid the foreign transaction fees your bank may charge when you travel.
Is the Bendigo Bank travel card a multi currency card?
Yes. The Bendigo Bank travel card is a multi-currency travel card which supports 10 currencies for holding:
- Australian dollars – AUD
- US dollars – USD
- British pounds – GBP
- New Zealand dollars – NZD
- Hong Kong dollars – HKD
- Singapore dollars – SGD
- Japanese yen – JPY
- Canadian dollars – CAD
- Thai Baht – THB
- Arab Emirates dirham – AED
- Euro – EUR
You can add money to your card from your Australian bank, and convert to the currency you need using the Mastercard/Bendigo Bank exchange rate.
Other travel card options may offer more currencies, such as the Wise card which lets you hold 40+ currencies, and spend in 150+ countries easily. Compare a few travel cards before you decide which suits your specific needs, based on features and fees.
Alternatives to Bendigo Bank travel card
It’s important to compare a few different travel cards before you sign up to one. Different cards have their own benefits and drawbacks, so shopping around is the only way to find the right match for your needs. For example, the Bendigo Bank travel card supports only 10 major currencies, while the Wise card has 40+. However, the Bendigo Bank travel card is free to order, while the Wise card has a low, one time fee when you sign up.
Here’s a head to head comparison on some important features, looking at the Bendigo Bank travel card compared to a couple of alternatives, to give you a flavour:
| Bendigo Bank travel card | Wise debit card | Travelex Travel Money card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Eligible customers in Australia | Eligible customers in Australia and many other countries globally | Eligible customers in Australia |
| Card order fee | No fee | 10 AUD | No fee |
| Monthly fees | No fee | No fee | No fee |
| International Money Transfers | Not available | From 0.65% | Not available |
| International ATM withdrawals | Available, variable fees of around 3.5 AUD | 2 withdrawals to 350 AUD/month free, then 1.5 AUD + 1.75%* | No fee |
| Currency Exchange | Mastercard rate applies, which may include a markup | Mid-market rate with no markup | Travelex rate applies, which may include a markup |
| Supported Currencies | 10 currencies supported | 40 currencies supported | 10 currencies supported |
| Inactivity fee | No fee | No fee | 4 AUD/month |
| Business Accounts | Not available | Available | Not available |
*Details correct at the time of writing – 13th January 2025
*Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but some additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks
As you can see, the features of these card options are quite different. While the Bendigo travel card and the Travelex travel card are focused on overseas spending and withdrawals only, the Wise card can also allow you to send and receive international payments, and access the mid-market rate with low fees for conversion. This gives you flexibility wherever in the world you’re heading, alongside handy tools and day to day ways to manage your money across currencies. The right option for you will depend on exactly what you’re looking for.
Here’s a little more information about the Bendigo travel card alternatives we’ve picked out:
Wise debit card
Open a Wise account online or in app and add money in AUD from your bank or with a card. You can then convert to any of 40+ supported currencies for spending and exchange, with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees. You can use your card in 150+ countries, with some free ATM use before the Wise withdrawal fee begins. Plus your account has extra perks like ways to send money to 160+ countries, and to receive payments in foreign currencies with local and SWIFT account details in 8+ currencies.
Travelex Travel Money Card
The Travelex Travel Money Card lets you load 10 currencies for overseas spending and cash withdrawals. You can get the card online or in store, making this a helpful option if you’ve left it late and need a card immediately. Once you have your card you can top up online or in a Travelex store, and then spend with no extra fees to transact in the currencies you hold in your account. There are no Travelex ATM fees, although there is an inactivity fee if you don’t use your card frequently enough, and the exchange rates used for currency conversion are likely to include a markup.
Bendigo Bank travel card fees & spending limits
Whichever card you select, it’s important to know the fees and limits which will apply. You’ll be looking for a card with low or no fees for the types of transactions you make often – and with holding and spending limits which suit your specific needs, too.
First, let’s look at the limits which apply to the Bendigo Bank travel card:
| Spending & topping up limits | Bendigo Bank travel card limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum load | 100 AUD |
| Maximum load | 50,000 AUD |
| Maximum balance at any one time | 50,000 AUD |
| Maximum annual balance | 75,000 AUD |
| Maximum value of daily cash withdrawals | 3,000 AUD |
| Maximum value of daily transactions | 15,000 AUD |
*Details correct at the time of writing – 13th January 2025
Next, the fees you’ll need to know about:
| Fees & charges | Bendigo Bank travel card fees |
| Charge for top ups |
|
| Cash withdrawals |
|
| Foreign transaction fee | No separate fee – exchange rates may include a markup |
| Closure fee | Not specified |
| Maintenance fee | None |
*Details correct at the time of writing – 13th January 2025
Exchange rates
When you use a Bendigo Bank travel card you’ll add money in AUD and then convert it to the currency you need, either when you top up, or at the time you make a purchase. In either case, the rate which applies is decided by Bendigo Bank and Mastercard, and might include a markup. This is a fee which is added to the mid-market exchange rate to calculate the retail rate used for customer conversions. This method of setting exchange rates is very common, but it can be hard to see exactly what you’re paying for currency conversion as the fee is included in the rate rather than being shown as a separate line item.
Not all providers set exchange rates in this way. Wise, for example, uses the mid-market rate with no markup added, and then splits out the costs of currency conversion to make them easy to see and compare.
How to get Bendigo Bank travel card
To get your Bendigo Bank travel card you can place your order online, pay for your initial top up, and then receive your card by mail to your home address in about 3 working days. You’ll need to add money using a debit card or BPAY, and if you choose to organise this in a bank branch rather than online, there’s a fee to pay. Debit card top ups are also subject to fees.
What documents you’ll need
When you order your Bendigo Bank travel card you’ll need to verify your identity with either an Australian driver’s license or Australian passport.
What happens when the card expires?
There’s no fee to get a new Bendigo Bank travel card once your card expires. However, you’ll need to place a new order to have your card delivered to your home. If you still have a balance in your card account when it expires you can cash it out online or in a bank, but there may be a fee to pay for this service.
How to use a Bendigo Bank travel card?
Your Bendigo Bank travel card is issued on the Mastercard network which is extremely popular globally. This means you should be able to use your card for Chip and PIN and contactless spending more or less anywhere in the world. You can also make cash withdrawals at an ATM quickly and easily, wherever you see the network logo displayed.
How to withdraw cash with a Bendigo Bank travel card?
You can use your Bendigo Bank travel card in an ATM globally, to make cash withdrawals to the value of about 3,000 AUD a day. Bear in mind that individual ATM operators may have lower limits, and there’s a fee to pay for taking cash out. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Look for an ATM which displays the Mastercard logo
- Insert your card and follow the prompts to enter your PIN
- Confirm the amount you want to withdraw
- Wait for your money to be dispensed and retrieve your card
Is the card safe?
Yes. The Bendigo Bank travel card is safe to use. It’s issued by Bendigo Bank in partnership with Mastercard. Bendigo Bank is licensed for all its operations in Australia, and Mastercard is a giant in global payments. They’re both considered to be very safe and secure to use, with normal precautions, such as keeping your PIN a secret.
How to use the Bendigo Bank travel card overseas?
You can use your Bendigo Bank travel card overseas more or less just as you would use any debit card at home. Bear in mind that there’s likely to be a fee included in the markup to convert currencies, and some top up methods also mean paying a fee.
Conclusion: is the Bendigo Bank travel card worth it?
The Bendigo Bank travel card is a solid option for people who want to spend in any of the 10 supported currencies. However, there are a few downsides – particularly when it comes to fees. Costs can be included in the exchange rate used to convert your AUD to the currency you need, plus there are fairly high ATM fees, and some top up methods also have associated charges.
Compare your options, looking at the Bendigo Bank travel card and a similar competitor like the Travelex travel money card, or a more flexible card and account service from a provider like Wise. Wise offers a far broader selection of supported currencies, with no markup on exchange rates and easy ways to hold, send, spend, receive and exchange currencies with just your phone.
Bendigo Bank travel card review FAQ
How does the Bendigo Bank travel card work?
Order your Bendigo travel card online and top it up. Your card will be dispatched to you in about 3 working days by mail so you can start to spend.
Is the Bendigo Bank travel card an international card?
Yes. The Bendigo Bank travel card is a multi-currency travel card which supports 10 currencies for holding and exchange, and which can be used internationally wherever you see the Mastercard logo.
Are there any alternatives to Bendigo Bank travel cards?
Yes. You might also want to look at the Travelex travel money card, which is relatively similar but which you can get on the same day if you walk into a Travelex store. Or look at Wise for low cost cards and account services spanning 40+ currencies with the mid-market exchange rate.
