How to Avoid Foreign ATM Fees and Get Cash Abroad Cheaply

By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026

The short answer: Pulling cash from a foreign ATM can hit you three ways: your bank flat fee, a 3 percent currency markup, and the local operator surcharge. Chase standard checking charges about $5 plus 3 percent, for example. The fix is a fee-free travel account: Charles Schwab refunds every ATM fee worldwide with no markup, Fidelity reimburses fees too, and Wise and Revolut convert near the real rate with generous free limits. Always withdraw in local currency, and use a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card for purchases.

The three fees on a foreign ATM withdrawal

A single foreign cash withdrawal can carry three separate charges that stack. First, your own bank fee for using an out-of-network or international ATM, which at Chase standard checking is about $5 per withdrawal abroad. Second, a currency conversion markup, 3 percent at Chase, applied on top of the exchange rate. Third, the local ATM operator surcharge, set by whoever owns the machine. Together they can turn a $200 withdrawal into $15 to $20 of pure fees. This is exactly why so many travelers get burned: the bad account is the default checking account most people already have.

Chase is not uniformly bad, but standard checking is

It is worth being precise, because the account tier matters. Chase standard Total Checking is a textbook bad case for foreign ATMs, with the $5 fee plus the 3 percent markup plus the operator surcharge. But Chase Sapphire Banking and Premier Plus waive both the $5 non-Chase ATM fee and the 3 percent conversion fee, and even refund the operator surcharge, usually the next business day. So if you bank with Chase, the fix can be as simple as the right account tier, though a dedicated travel account is usually still cheaper and simpler.

The fix: a fee-free travel account

The cleanest solution is to open a separate account whose debit card refunds or avoids all three fees, and use it only for cash abroad. Here is how the main options compare.

Account	ATM fees	Exchange rate	Best for
Charles Schwab Investor Checking	No Schwab fee; unlimited worldwide operator-fee rebates	No markup (network rate)	The gold standard for foreign cash
Fidelity Cash Management	ATM fees reimbursed, often same day	Small markup, around 1 percent	Fast rebates, slight FX cost
Wise	Free up to about $250 a month, then about 2.69 percent on the excess	Mid-market rate plus a small conversion fee	Multi-currency holding and spending
Revolut (free Standard)	Free up to about $200 a month, then about 2 percent	Interbank up to $1,000 a month; weekend markup on the free plan	Low-fee spending with app controls
Chase Total Checking	About $5 per withdrawal abroad, plus the operator fee	3 percent markup	Avoid for foreign ATMs

Which one to pick

For pure ATM cash with zero thought, Charles Schwab wins: its Investor Checking debit card charges no foreign transaction fee and reimburses every ATM operator fee worldwide, automatically, with no monthly fee or minimum. Fidelity Cash Management is similar with faster, same-day rebates but adds a small currency markup. Wise and Revolut are excellent for holding and spending multiple currencies at near the real exchange rate, with cheaper-but-capped free ATM access, so many travelers pair one of them for spending with a Schwab card for unlimited cash. The common winning setup is a Schwab debit for cash plus a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card for purchases.

Rules that save you every time

A few habits matter as much as the card. Always choose to be charged in the local currency at an ATM or terminal, never your home currency, because the dynamic currency conversion they offer adds a hidden markup of 5 to 12 percent. Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee for purchases, not a debit card, for a better rate, rewards, and protection, and keep the debit or travel account for cash only. Never use a credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM abroad, since that is a cash advance with an upfront fee and interest from day one. And withdraw larger amounts less often to spread any flat fees. See foreign transaction fees and surcharges and cash discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a foreign ATM withdrawal cost?

Potentially three fees that stack: your bank out-of-network or international ATM fee, about $5 at Chase standard checking, a currency conversion markup of around 3 percent, and the local operator surcharge. Together they can cost $15 to $20 on a $200 withdrawal unless you use a fee-free travel account.

What is the best card for foreign ATM withdrawals?

The Charles Schwab Bank Investor Checking debit card, which charges no foreign transaction fee and reimburses every ATM operator fee worldwide, automatically, with no monthly fee. Fidelity Cash Management is a strong alternative, and Wise and Revolut are great for multi-currency spending with smaller free ATM limits.

Does Chase charge foreign ATM fees?

On standard Total Checking, yes, about $5 per withdrawal abroad plus a 3 percent conversion markup plus the operator fee. But Chase Sapphire Banking and Premier Plus waive the $5 and 3 percent fees and refund the operator surcharge, so the fee depends on your Chase account tier.

Should I use a credit card at a foreign ATM?

No. Withdrawing cash on a credit card is a cash advance, which carries an upfront fee and starts charging interest immediately with no grace period. Use a debit or travel account for cash, and save your no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card for purchases.

Should I let the ATM convert to my home currency?

No. Always choose to be charged in the local currency. Letting the machine convert to your home currency is dynamic currency conversion, which adds a hidden markup of roughly 5 to 12 percent on top of any other fees.

Are Wise and Revolut good for getting cash abroad?

Yes, within their free limits, around $250 a month for Wise and $200 for Revolut on the free plan, after which small percentage fees apply. They convert near the real exchange rate and are excellent for multi-currency spending, and they pair well with a Schwab card for unlimited fee-free cash.