Getting ready to head abroad? Or considering a big trip overseas next year? It's time for a change: Stop carrying loads of cash with you on your travels, exchanging currency at the airport, or paying exorbitant ATM fees abroad. There's a better way.
If you plan to travel internationally even once a year (or less), you need the Charles Schwab debit card. This free checking account is a must for any frequent traveler because it means you'll never pay ATM fees … in the U.S. or abroad.
To be completely clear: We don't get paid to promote this card – there's nothing in it for us if you add it to your wallet. We just know it's the best solution for travelers to get money while on the road – and it's something travelers should know about. Take it from us, we know the Schwab debit card well: Nearly every member of the Thrifty Traveler team has one in their wallets and makes sure to pack it anytime we head abroad.
Here's everything you need to know about setting up a Charles Schwab checking account for your travels.
Why the Schwab Card is the Best Debit Card for International Travel
Because no other readily available travel debit card will let you withdraw money around the globe for free. And to top it off, setting up an account is free.
The Schwab debit card allows you to take out cash from any ATM (anywhere in the world) and refunds 100% of the withdrawal or ATM fees you pay. This is a foolproof way to avoid international ATM fees and get the best currency exchange rate possible. Schwab reimburses you monthly for ATM fees charged by all outside vendors.
We're begging you: Stop using the currency exchange counter at the airport. They exist for one reason and one reason only – to make money off of you. They profit by offering poor exchange rates, which is why you see them everywhere abroad. Always get cash out of an ATM with your debit card for the best exchange rate.
With the Schwab card, there's no need to visit those currency exchange kiosks or sketchy exchange rate counters – you get the absolute best currency exchange rate possible in every city by simply pulling cash out of the ATM. And since there's no ATM fee to withdraw your money – this is as good as it gets.
Thrifty Tip: If you're presented with the option to withdraw money or make a purchase in U.S. Dollars instead of the local currency, always choose the local currency. You always lose in the currency conversion when choosing U.S. Dollars.
This ATM reimbursement works at ATMs anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. So even if you don't have international travel coming up soon, you can save on ATM fees in the U.S. as well. There are also no fees or even minimum balance requirements for having a Schwab checking account.
There are some other banks out there that have offered some decent international travel debit cards over the years, most notably SoFi Money. But those accounts have taken a hit in recent years as they've limited fee-free ATM access.
And that leaves the Charles Schwab debit card as the #1 way to get cash abroad.
It's easy to apply: simply open a checking account with Charles Schwab and receive your debit card that unlocks free ATM use everywhere in the world. Keep reading for more information on how to open your account.
Read more: The Best Fee-Free Debit Cards for International Travel
Highlights of a Charles Schwab Checking Account
- Unlimited fee rebates from any ATM worldwide
- No minimum balance or monthly fees
- No foreign transaction fees on debit card purchases or ATM withdrawals
- Free Standard Checks and Visa debit card
- Charles Schwab's mobile app allows you to deposit checks with your phone
How to Apply for the Charles Schwab Debit Card
The name of this account is technically the Charles Bank Investor checking account. But hang with us – it's much simpler than it sounds.
When applying for your Schwab High Yield Investor checking account, you will also be required to open a Schwab brokerage account if you don't already have one. This brokerage account (used for investments) is opened automatically when you open a Schwab checking account, but don't worry: The brokerage account is also free and has no minimum deposit or fees. Really, you don't even have to use it.
That means you can use the checking account and never worry about the brokerage side if you don't want to. I leave my brokerage account empty and go on my merry way, getting reimbursed for ATM fees worldwide.
In the past, Schwab would do a credit pull to obtain your credit report in order to approve your application, resulting in a small (and temporary) ding to your credit score. But it seems that has changed: Schwab is generally no longer doing a hard credit pull when you apply for one of these investor checking accounts. That's a big win, removing one of the few roadblocks for opening one of these accounts.
Schwab is an online-only bank, so you'll likely want to keep another account at a local bank or credit union to deposit cash. After depositing locally, you can transfer the cash deposit to your Schwab account – these transfers between banks take about four to five business days, on average.
Nearly everyone on the Thrifty Traveler team uses the Charles Schwab debit card for our international travels and we all swear by it. After years of use, we've never run into issues. Many of us treat our Schwab checking accounts as dedicated travel accounts, simply depositing some cash ahead of each international trip to withdraw while abroad.
Learn more about the Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account.
Alternatives to the Schwab Card
The Charles Schwab debit card has been our go-to recommendation to travelers heading abroad for years. But it's not the only game in town anymore.
In the last year or two, a handful of alternatives have come on the market that are also worth considering – especially if you're leery of the admittedly convoluted setup process with Charles Schwab.
Betterment Checking
Betterment is a relative newcomer in the financial services industry, offering digital investing, retirement, and cash management services including a mobile-first checking account, with a Visa debit card.
Similar to the Charles Schwab Investor checking account, Betterment also reimburses an unlimited amount of ATM fees and doesn't pass along any foreign currency conversion fees, making it an excellent choice for travelers. The lack of a minimum balance requirement also makes it a perfect option for a dedicated travel account. Simply deposit funds before your trip and you're all set to withdraw when you get to your destination.
Best of all, you don't need to have a linked brokerage account with Betterment. For those that invest elsewhere or don't ever plan to use the Schwab brokerage account, opening a checking account with Betterment may be a better option.
The only real downside with Betterment is that it's a relatively young company, compared to its competitors, so it's tough to say whether they'll be able to provide these same features and benefits for years to come.
Fidelity Cash Management
Fidelity is another long-standing financial institution with a variety of financial service products, ranging from cryptocurrency trading to life insurance. One of the products they offer is a cash management account with an accompanying Visa debit card.
Unlike the Betterment checking account or Schwab Investor checking account, the Fidelity Cash Management account is solely a brokerage account. So while you won't be getting two separate accounts as you would with Schwab, you'll be opening a brokerage account in order to have a Fidelity Visa debit card.
Fidelity reimburses you for all ATM fees anywhere in the world, which makes it a great option for international travel. And while Charles Schwab reimburses ATM fees at the end of your statement period, Fidelity will reimburse you on the same day the fee is debited. If getting your money back as soon as possible is a priority, it's worth looking into opening a Fidelity Cash Management account.
On the downside, Fidelity doesn't waive the cash conversion fees for ATM withdrawals (which you shouldn't be paying anyway) on purchases.
Choosing a Credit Card for Travel Abroad
While a debit card is great for getting cash out of ATMs, you'll still want a good credit card when traveling internationally.
We recommend using a credit card for all other purchases – especially because credit cards come with liability protection against fraudulent charges. Most importantly for international travel, you'll want to make sure you use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Fortunately, most of the top travel credit cards on the market don't charge foreign transaction fees. But just in case, here are a few of our favorites.
- The *chase sapphire preferred* has been a mainstay in traveler’s wallets for years thanks to earning 2x points per dollar spent on travel and 3x points per dollar spent on dining, solid travel insurance protections, and no foreign transaction fees … all on a card with just a $95 annual fee.
- The *venture x* is our new favorite travel card, period. On top of a stellar welcome bonus, earning 2x miles on every purchase, and great benefits like lounge access, you won’t pay foreign transaction fees either.
Bottom Line
We don't have any ties to Charles Schwab, nor do we get any kickbacks for promoting this debit card. We just think it's an insanely useful and lucrative card that every traveler should be aware of. It's one of our top recommendations to save money on travel.
Stop paying ATM fees or terrible currency exchange rates. Apply for a Schwab checking account and get the best debit card out there for your next trip.
Check out more on the Charles Schwab Debit Card