Using your Metro Bank card abroad

Using your Metro Bank card is a convenient way to spend abroad. However, you’ll need to think about how much it costs to use your UK-issued debit card overseas, including foreign transaction charges.

Let’s take a look at how to use your Metro Bank debit card abroad, including fees, exchange rate costs and a few ways to make the most of your holiday spending.

Heading abroad? We’ll also show you an alternative for spending abroad – the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It’s designed for travel, letting you spend in the local currency in 150+ countries worldwide for low, transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Can you use your Metro Bank card abroad?

You can use your Metro Bank card anywhere that displays the Mastercard logo.¹ This includes international chip-and-pin and contactless payments in shops, restaurants and transport hubs.

However, you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee for purchases in currencies other than GBP – and these costs can start to add up.¹

You can also use your Metro Bank debit card to withdraw money from international ATMs, but you may pay a fee to your bank or the ATM provider.¹

Do you need to let Metro Bank know you’re going abroad?

No, you don’t have to tell Metro Bank if you’re heading abroad. You can simply use your debit card overseas as you would in the UK.¹

However, you may want to make sure your contact details are updated via the Metro Bank app, as the bank may call or message you if they spot a suspicious international transaction.

Metro Bank card security features abroad

Metro Bank debit cards include some key security features. You can use the Metro Bank digital app to:

• freeze, unfreeze or cancel your debit card
• cancel future direct debits and amend standing orders
• authorise transactions
• change your contact details or communication preferences
• receive spending notifications to stay on top of your funds²

If you lose your card abroad, you can call Metro Bank on 0044 203 402 8312 for advice and support. You can also use the bank’s mobile app to block your card via ‘My Services and ‘Cards’.¹

Travel perks

Metro Bank offers a few travel perks for UK travellers heading abroad.

For example, you can convert your money into 26 different currencies before you travel. This makes it easy to use cash in locations where cash is the main form of payment – and you can avoid expensive ATM fees, too.³

You can also access exclusive discounts with your Metro Bank Mastercard. For example, you can currently get up to 6% off accommodation bookings via Booking.com.⁴

Charges for using Metro Bank card abroad

Metro Bank charges for international purchases and cash withdrawals. You’ll need to understand these costs before using your UK-issued debit card abroad.

Let’s take a closer look at how much it costs to use your Metro Bank card on holiday.

This means that it’s typically more expensive to withdraw cash abroad, as you’ll pay a 2.99% non-sterling transaction fee and a flat fee of 1.50 GBP per withdrawal.

It’s also important to look out for additional charges abroad, such as fees charged by individual ATM providers and machines.

What’s the exchange rate for Metro Bank cards?

Every provider uses an exchange rate to convert GBP into a foreign currency for international payments.

However, most banks add a markup to the standard mid-market exchange rate you might see online. This is how they make money – but it can add a significant cost to your global transactions.

Metro Bank uses Mastercard as its debit card provider, meaning you’ll pay the Mastercard exchange rate whenever you spend abroad. This rate can fluctuate depending on when you make your payment, so you may not know exactly how much your transaction will cost.⁶

Many retailers offer dynamic currency conversion (DCC) when you spend money abroad. This allows you to pay in GBP rather than local currency.

However, it’s worth knowing that retailers can set their own exchange rate for the transaction – and this rate is unlikely to be as good as the one offered by your banking provider.

Always choose to spend in local currency to save money on international transactions.

Are there any transaction limits?

There are some transaction limits to consider before using your Metro Bank card overseas.

You can only withdraw up to 300 GBP from cash machines or you can take out up to 1000 GBP in-store. If you need to withdraw more, make sure to give the bank at least one day’s notice.⁷

You may also want to check with your bank before making a big purchase abroad so that the transaction isn’t marked as fraud.

It’s also worth noting that you can only use contactless for payments of up to 100 GBP. For purchases over 100 GBP, you’ll need to use the chip-and-pin function.⁸

Travelling abroad? Use the Wise Card for low-cost spending abroad

Using your Metro Bank card abroad is an easy way to pay on holiday, but you need to be aware of international costs and charges.

Always choose local currency and look into Metro Bank’s exchange rate costs before spending money overseas.

Travelling abroad? Order a Wise card and you can spend at the mid-market exchange rate in 150+ countries, whenever you want.

Open a Wise account online and you can get a Wise card for a one-time cost of just £7. Your card automatically converts currency whenever you spend, so you don’t need to worry about preloading foreign currency to your account or converting cash. There’s only a small conversion fee* to pay.

And if you need cash, your Wise card has you covered. You can withdraw up to £200 a month (max 2 withdrawals) from ATMs for free (although double-check that the ATM operator doesn’t charge its own fee).

Sign up with Wise today

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 10-Sep-2024