Global Alliance ATMs: partner banks, locations, fees, and tips

Heading off on holiday? If you’re travelling outside the UK and need cash, you’ll need to know the best ATMs to use.

Ideally, you’ll want to avoid or minimise fees, and you’ll need an ATM that accepts your card type.

In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at Global Alliance ATMs. This is a group of banks that have partnered to offer fee-free ATM withdrawals for all its collective customers, and their ATMs are available in selected countries.

Read on to find out which banks are in the Global ATM Alliance and where to find their ATMs. We’ll also look at fees, card acceptance, withdrawal limits and other tips to help you get the most from your travel money.

You’ll also need the right card to withdraw cash. Get a Wise card and you can withdraw up to £200 a month from overseas ATMs for no Wise fees (just check that the ATM doesn’t have its own fees). You can also spend like a local in 150+ countries, for low fees and great exchange rates*.

What is the Global ATM Alliance?

The Global ATM Alliance is a partnership between a number of major world banks. This group offers fee-free ATM withdrawals to customers of any of the banks within the partnership.¹

So, what does this mean for you and your holiday? If you’re a customer of one of the banks in the Alliance, all you need to do is find an ATM operated by any of the other banks - and you won’t pay ATM fees.

It’s important to note that you’ll still need to pay foreign currency transaction fees charged by your home bank, if any apply.¹ But you won’t pay a fee to use the ATM.

Which banks are members of the Global ATM Alliance?

Here’s a look at which banks are in the Global ATM Alliance:¹

• Barclays Bank
• Bank of America
• BNP Paribas
• Deutsche Bank
• Scotiabank
• TEB Turkish Economy Bank
• UKRSIBBANK
• Westpac.

Do Global Alliance ATMs charge for withdrawals?

No, there are no Global Alliance fees for ATM withdrawals. However, there are two important caveats with this.

Firstly, you’ll need to be a customer of one of the banks in the Alliance, otherwise fees may apply.

Secondly, you may still have to pay non-sterling transaction fees for using your card abroad, if your UK bank charges these.

How much can you withdraw from Global Alliance ATMs?

The maximum amount you can withdraw from a Global Alliance ATM per transaction depends on a few factors.

Your home bank will have its own limits on cash withdrawals, so check the terms and conditions for your account or card.

Individual ATMs may have their own limits too, and these will vary between machines and countries too.

What cards are accepted by Global Alliance ATMs?

Most Global Alliance ATMs should accept Visa and Mastercard, which are the most commonly issued cards in the UK - and in other countries too.

Other cards such as American Express and Discover may be less widely accepted, as it depends on the ATM and country. You can tell which cards are accepted by looking at the symbols on the outside of the cash machine.

Can you deposit money at a Global Alliance ATM?

Whether or not you can deposit money depends on the ATM and the operator, as well as your home bank’s services abroad. It’s likely though that unless you’re a customer of that exact bank, you’ll only be able to withdraw rather than deposit money at a Global Alliance ATM.

Global Alliance ATM locations

Global Alliance ATMs are available in the following locations:¹

To find your nearest ATM in your holiday destination, use these locator tools:

• Visa ATM locator
• Mastercard ATM locator.

How to use an ATM abroad safely

Withdrawing cash abroad can be a potential safety risk, especially if you’re taking out a large amount at once.

But there are common sense things you can do to protect yourself and your money. Here are some useful tips to remember when using an ATM abroad:

• Check the ATM before using it, making sure there are no unusual objects, error messages or visible damage to the machine. If unsure, use a different ATM.
• Use ATMs at banks or major supermarkets where possible, or in other well-lit, public areas.
• Have someone with you to keep an eye on your surroundings while you use the ATM - it’s easy to become distracted.
• Never give your PIN or other card details to anyone, and cover the keypad while entering your PIN.

How to avoid foreign ATMs fees abroad

It’s great to know that there are ways to avoid upfront ATM fees while abroad, such as by tracking down a Global Alliance ATM.

But there are some other surprise fees you need to look out for, as these make a dent in your holiday money.

Here are a few things to remember for your next trip:

• Always choose to be charged in the local currency - this will mean your card provider converts the currency rather than the ATM applying an exchange rate. Say no to currency conversion at the ATM and you should get a better rate.
• Do some research on fee-free ATMs before you travel
• Double-check that your bank doesn’t charge fees for overseas cash withdrawals
• Never withdraw cash using a credit card - this usually results in a fee, and interest starts accruing right away.

You might also want to get a card that’s designed with travel in mind.

For example, the Wise card lets you withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) in 150+ countries worldwide for no fee*.

Just make sure the ATM doesn’t charge its own fee.

Better still, opt to withdraw in the local currency and Wise will do the conversion at the mid-market exchange rate - without any expensive mark-up, just a small conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

And that’s it - our handy guide to Global Alliance ATM locations and participating banks, along with fees and other useful info. You should be all set to plan your trip and hopefully enjoy fee-free withdrawals while abroad.

For more tips on using ATMs abroad, check out our guide to Euronet ATMs or learn all about the highest ATM fees in Europe.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 24-Jul-2024