Best current accounts with no fees abroad

After budgeting for your travels, the last thing you need is a current account with high overseas fees that chips away at your funds. Transaction fees and unfair exchange rates can swallow up your spending money, and before you know it, that final ice cream is off the cards.

Fortunately, there are plenty of current accounts with no fees abroad on the market. Let’s take a closer look at accounts with no foreign transaction fees so you can find the right fit for your plans.

And if you haven’t already, consider a Wise account as an alternative to a current account. It’s not a bank, but has many similar features including the linked Wise card so you can spend like a local in 40+ countries.

Current account with no fees abroad: Quick comparison

Here’s a list of the accounts we’ll be covering in this article that have no fees abroad:

• Starling account¹
• Monzo free account⁴
• First Direct current account⁷
• Chase current account¹⁰
• Revolut standard plan¹²

Note: Revolut standard plan has been included as it has no foreign transaction fees up to £1,000. After which, a 1% fair usage charge plus 1% fee on weekends applies¹².

Take a look at the following tables to see options for these accounts with no foreign transaction fees, including ATM fees, exchange rates and more.

ATM fees and limits

Exchange rates

International transfers

Next, let’s take a look at each account in more detail.

Starling current account

Starling’s current account lets you pay on your card and withdraw cash fee-free anywhere in the world.¹

Plus, you can apply in the app a few minutes from your smartphone.

Starling uses the Mastercard exchange rate for foreign currencies. You can check this against the mid-market exchange rate, which is the one banks use, to make sure you’re getting a fair deal.

You can send money internationally with Starling, though there’s a 0.4% currency conversion fee, plus a delivery fee.³

If it’s euros you need, there’s a Starling euro account available that lets you hold, send, and receive them for free.¹⁷

Top features for the Starling current account include:

• Real-time notifications for spending, in GBP and the foreign currency
• Nearby payments and split the bill features
• Send money to 34 countries in 17 currencies³
• Lock your card in-app, should you lose it
• No monthly charges or minimum monthly deposits

Monzo free account

You can pay anywhere in any currency, using the Monzo account debit or credit card. Cash withdrawals abroad are slightly more limited, in that you can make fee-free withdrawals in the European Economic Area (EEA) if you use Monzo as your main account. But, you can only withdraw £200 every 30 days anywhere else. After that, you’ll pay a 3% charge.⁴

Switching to one of Monzo’s paid accounts gives you access to fee-free withdrawals abroad for higher amounts.¹⁸

International payments using Monzo’s free account are powered by Wise²² . You can send from GBP to 35 currencies, for a low fixed fee and a variable percentage on top.

Like Starling, Monzo uses the Mastercard exchange rate and doesn’t add a margin on top. Here are some more Monzo current account features¹⁹ :

• View real-time exchange rates for foreign currencies in the app
• Get notified when you spend
• Split bill feature
• Instant access savings pots of 3.25% interest
• Spending abroad is fee-free

First Direct current account

When you open a current account with First Direct, there are no fees for spending on your debit card abroad. Plus, there’s a £175 switching bonus if you use the Current Account Switch Service.

There’s a daily ATM limit of £500, and First Direct uses the Mastercard exchange rate for foreign transactions.⁸

Depending on where you are in the world, sending money abroad can come at a cost. Euro payments within the EEA have no fees attached, but payments in other currencies elsewhere in the world have a £5 charge.⁹

Top First Direct features for travellers include:

• Spend abroad with no First Direct debit card fees
• Withdraw cash outside of the UK fee-free (ATM charges may still apply)
• A virtual card you can use right away
• Live exchange rates available in the app

Chase current account

You can set up a free Chase current account with the app. There are no fees for using your card abroad, and you get the Mastercard exchange rate for purchases made in local currencies.

Withdrawing cash is fee-free abroad, though ATM charges from other banks may apply. If you’re travelling in the US, you can use a Chase bank ATM to make free withdrawals.¹⁰

If you’re looking to make international transfers, this isn’t something Chase supports yet. You may want to consider an alternative current account if you’re planning to send or receive money in multiple currencies. Chase current account features include:

• 1% cashback in the first year for new customers²⁰
• Withdraw up to £500 a day from ATMs, in the UK and abroad
• £1,500 limit on cash withdrawals abroad in any calendar month
• Invest through the Chase bank app

Revolut standard plan

Revolut’s standard plan operates as a current account. International transfers are supported, and you can hold and exchange money in 30+ currencies. But, there are limitations.

For instance, there’s a £1000 currency exchange limit, and a fair usage fee of 1% for additional exchanges. Currency exchanges also cost more on the weekends, an extra 1% fee for standard customers.¹²

To avoid fair usage fees, you’d need to upgrade to the Premium, Metal, or Ultra plan – which have their own monthly costs attached. Plus, Revolut has its own exchange rate, and this is variable. On the standard plan, you can withdraw up to £200 a month, fee-free.

Any payment outside the Single Euro Payments Area has a variable fee attached. You can check live rates on Revolut website. Other features include:

• Earn points on daily spending
• Invest in global stocks
• Earn up to 5% interest on instant access savings, paid daily
• Send to over 160 countries in 70+ currencies
• Receive your salary 24 hours in advance²¹

Avoid foreign transaction fees abroad with Wise

Travelling can feel a little limited when you’re dealing with high transaction fees and exchange rates.

A Wise account makes it easier to see more of your money abroad. There are no foreign transaction fees when using a Wise card or making international transfers. Wise’s currency conversion fee* is transparent, shared with you upfront, and uses the mid-market exchange rate, which is the one banks use to trade.

Some banks and financial institutions use the mid-market exchange rate, but add their own markup. So, while some current accounts with no fees abroad could look like good options, the exchange rate or additional hidden fees could bump up the cost.

With a Wise account, you can use your card in 150+ countries. It’s a single account for all your overseas adventures.

Sign up with Wise for free

Sources used in this article:

1. Starling - travel money card
2. Starling - avoiding card charges abroad
3. Starling - international money transfer
4. Monzo - online account
5. Monzo - exchange rates
6. Wise - how to make international payments with Monzo
7. First Direct - travel debit card
8. First Direct - using debit card abroad
9. First Direct - international payments
10. Chase - travelling with Chase
11. Chase - international payments
12. Revolut - currency exchange fees and limits
13. Revolut - compare revolut plans
14. Revolut - currency converter
15. Revolut - money transfer app
16. Revolut - personal fees
17. Starling - euro bank account
18. Monzo - plans
19. Monzo - debit and credit cards for travel
20. Chase - account features
21. Revolut - account features
22. Monzo - international transfers powered by Wise

Sources last checked: 20 May 2025