Travel Tips Travelling to the US

Can I use my Barclaycard in America?

Gert Svaiko
Gert Svaiko
14.03.25
Read time 2 minutes

Jetting off to New York, Las Vegas or Miami any time soon? If you’re planning a trip to the US from the UK, you’re going to need a way to spend in US dollars.

If you have a Barclays credit card or are thinking of getting one for your trip, this guide is for you. Below, we’ll take a look at how Barclaycard works in America, including where it’s accepted, fees and exchange rates.

We’ll also show you a great alternative, the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including the US, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate – only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Can I use my Barclaycard in America?

Yes, you can use your Barclaycard in America where Visa/Mastercard is accepted, as long as the vendor accepts credit cards.

This includes shops, restaurants, bars and ATMs, as well as many public transport systems. In many places, you may be able to make contactless payments with your Barclaycard.

However, spending in a foreign currency with your credit card is likely to come with fees attached - we’ll look at this next.

Barclaycard fees, exchange rates & currency conversion in the US

Before using any UK-issued card abroad, it’s important to check out the fees.

Many debit and credit cards charge non-sterling transaction fees for spending in other currencies, along with charges for overseas cash withdrawals.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll pay to use your Barclaycard in America.

Foreign transaction fees

Barclays charges the following to use its credit cards overseas:¹

Transaction typeBarclays fee
Foreign currency purchases2.99% currency conversion fee
Overseas ATM withdrawals2.99% (min. £2.99)

It’s also worth bearing in mind that when you use a credit card to withdraw cash, interest may start accruing right away, regardless of any interest-free period you may have on purchases.

Exchange rates

It’s not just the upfront fee you need to think about when using a credit card abroad. You also need to factor in the exchange rate.

Barclays uses Visa’s exchange rates for currency conversions when you spend or withdraw cash in a foreign currency. You can check the latest rates at any time here.

An important thing to remember when spending overseas is always to choose the local currency for the transaction.

You might be asked if you want it to be completed in your home currency (GBP), but this will mean that the vendor or ATM will choose the exchange rate as part of something known as Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC).

This will likely be a much poorer rate than the Visa exchange rate, so you should decline this option.

Tips for using your Barclaycard in America

To help you get the most from using your Barclaycard in the US, follow these tips:

  • Avoid cash withdrawals with a credit card unless absolutely necessary. Fees can be high, and interest will start accruing right away (unlike with purchases, where you usually get an interest-free period)
  • Use fee-free ATMs if you can - otherwise, you’ll find an ATM operator fee added on top of the Barclays fees.
  • Always pay in the local currency - this ensures you get a better exchange rate and avoid expensive hidden fees.

You don’t have to tell Barclays that you’ll be travelling. Just make sure the bank has your up-to-date contact details, just in case the fraud prevention team is concerned about any transactions.

Travelling to the US? Use Wise for low-cost currency conversion and spending

After reading this, you’ll have a better idea of where you can use your Barclaycard in the US. This includes important info about what fees you can expect to pay.

But remember that there are many great travel-friendly alternatives out there, such as the Wise card.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including the US. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

You also get two free ATM withdrawals for up to 200 GBP (or currency equivalent) each month. Wise will not charge you for these withdrawals, but additional charges may occur from independent ATM networks.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

Sources used:

  1. Barclaycard - Your Barclaycard - the perfect travelling companion

Sources last checked on date: 28-Feb-2024

*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.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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