Complete Guide to Great Southern Bank Travel Cards: Available Options, Fees, Exchange Rates

Travel cards have changed the way we spend money abroad, offering a convenient alternative to carrying large sums of cash or expensive debit or credit cards. Travel cards allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs abroad and make purchases in local currencies, making it easier to travel.

Banks like Great Southern Bank offer ways to make purchases abroad with their debit and credit cards. Read on to learn more about how to travel with Great Southern Bank cards. We'll also introduce you to Wise Travel Card as an alternative, that can help you save on your international travel by offering currency conversions at mid-market rates without any hidden markups.

Great Southern Bank Travel Cards

Unfortunately, Great Southern Bank doesn’t have a travel card. However, their existing debit and credit cards can be used abroad.

Great Southern Bank debit and credit cards let travellers:

• Withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide
• Make online or in-store purchases from merchants that accept Visa and Mastercard
• Visa PayWave enables you to make purchases under $100 AUD without a PIN or signature

It can be convenient to use the same card abroad as you do at home, but that doesn’t mean it's cheap. Debit and credit cards can come with fees and expensive exchange rates that make using them more costly than cheaper options like a travel card.

Using Great Southern Bank Debit Card Overseas

Great Southern Bank offers multiple accounts that come linked with a free debit card. The cards are typically free of any annual fee and can be used abroad, but only one of them offers no international transaction fees:¹

• Everyday Edge Account: A no-strings account that allows you to make unlimited fee-free transactions including international purchases and ATM withdrawals.
• Everyday Account: A savings account for Australian residents over 18 years old, but has international transaction fees.
• Everyday 50+ Account: An interest-bearing savings account for Australian residents over 50 years but with similar fees as the Everyday account.

The Everyday Edge Account provides a rebate when you spend overseas, so you’ll be charged a fee first but then rebated the next month so it becomes fee-free. To receive the rebate, your account must be eligible. Hop down to our section on fees for a breakdown of how this works.

Using Great Southern Bank Credit Card Overseas

Great Southern Bank offers theLow Rate Credit Card that can be used abroad anywhere Mastercard is accepted:

• At shops, restaurants or merchants to make in-store purchases
• Online at international websites
• Cash withdrawals from ATMs worldwide

While international purchases are permitted with this card, some fees come with it:

• A cash advance fee when taking withdrawals from an ATM abroad
• International transaction fee for every purchase you make outside of Australia
• Exchange rate markup hidden inside the exchange rate.

Adding up all the fees can make this credit card an expensive option when used abroad. Check out our section below on fees to learn more.

Want to learn more about the credit card the bank offers? Read more in our guide to the Great Southern Bank Low Rate Credit Card.²

Traveling Abroad with Great Southern Bank Cards

Great Southern Bank lets you use your debit or credit card overseas. Here is a quick rundown of travelling abroad with one of the cards:

• Withdraw cash: Easily get cash from ATMs around the world.
• Make purchases: Pay for things at shops and online wherever a Visa or Mastercard is accepted.
• Stay safe: Use Apple Pay or Google Pay for quick and secure payments. Mastercard has 24/7 fraud protection to keep your money safe.

Don't forget: Let Great Southern Bank know your travel dates beforehand to help them keep an eye on your account.

Keep in mind that you will be charged a cash advance fee on credit cards used at an ATM.

If you’re looking to send money before your trip instead, check out our guide to international transfers with Great Southern Bank

Limits on Using Great Southern Bank Cards Overseas

Great Southern Bank has some spending limits in place for using your debit or credit cards abroad.^3,4

Cost of using Great Southern Bank Card Overseas

While some banks offer travel cards with no international fees, there are a few things to keep in mind when using your Great Southern Bank debit or credit card abroad. Depending on your account, you might get hit with ATM withdrawal charges, international transaction fees, cash advance fees, and interest on cash advances.

It's also important to remember that banks set their own exchange rates, which can increase the cost of your purchases and eat into your budget. More on that later.

Great Southern Bank International ATM Withdrawal Charges

Here are the fees for ATM withdrawals outside of Australia

As mentioned, Great Southern Bank offers a rebate on some of the fees for using your Everyday Edge Visa debit card internationally, but you need to first be eligible:

• Meet the requirements: You need to receive at least $2,000 in transfers into your Everyday Edge Account from outside the bank each month.
• Make some purchases: You also need to make at least 5 purchases with your Visa debit card from your Everyday Edge Account during the month (but ATM withdrawals and balance inquiries don't count).

If you meet both of these conditions, you'll get a rebate on the cash withdrawal and international transaction fees from the previous month. It’s important to note that the rebate doesn't cover any third-party fees.

Great Southern Bank International Transaction Charges

Great Southern Bank charges a fee for most international transactions made with their debit and credit cards. These fees apply to:

• Purchases made outside of Australia
• Purchases made in foreign currencies, even if you're still in Australia
• Transactions processed by foreign banks, even if you're making a purchase within Australia

Here are the fees:^5,6

Qualifying Everyday Edge accounts will receive a rebate on the fees. The fees are placed on the Australian dollar value after the currency conversion which can include an exchange rate fee.

Great Southern Bank Exchange Rates

We've covered fees, but there's another important factor to consider: exchange rates. When you use your card overseas, the local currency amount is converted into Australian dollars at the bank’s exchange rate and deducted from your account.

Banks and other financial institutions often add a small markup to the exchange rate to cover their costs. This hidden fee is then placed on every dollar that’s converted which means you might end up paying more than you think.

As an alternative, we would like to introduce you to the Wise Travel Card that offers the mid-market exchange rate on currency conversion. You can use the Wise Travel Card in 150+ countries and swipe like a local to make purchases at restaurants, stores and local sites.

Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Meet Wise: Your Smart Travel Money Card

Wise offers a convenient travel card and money transfer services that make managing your finances abroad a breeze. The Wise card lets you spend like a local in over 150+ countries, with

• Excellent exchange rates: Always get the mid-market exchange rate – the same one you usually see on Google – so you get the most out of your money.
• Low, transparent fees: Say goodbye to hidden charges and hefty markups. Wise keeps its fees low and transparent, so you know exactly what you're paying.
• Convenient card and app: Use your Wise card to swipe like a local in supported countries. Manage your money, track spending, and even freeze your card if needed, all through the Wise app .
• Cash withdrawals: Easily withdraw cash from supported ATMs abroad with low, transparent fees. But be mindful that ATM providers may charge their own cash withdrawal fees.
• International transfers: Send money abroad with the same mid-market exchange rates and low fees.

Get your Wise Card 🚀