Chase debit international fees: All you need to know

Chase Bank is based in Manhattan and is one of the “Big Four” banks in the United States. Chase is part of JPMorgan Chase & Co., which operates in over 100 countries around the globe.¹ Chase Bank has more than 5,000 branches, as well as a network of around 16,000 ATMs.²

In this article, you’ll read about what having a Chase debit card will mean for you as an international traveler.

Also, we’ll help you think about your needs and what will best fit them, including a multi-currency account and debit card: the Wise account – from an alternative provider – try it out to avoid foreign transaction fees.

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Chase foreign transaction fees

Is there a foreign transaction fee on Chase debit cards?

Yes - as you’d expect with most cards, there are fees to pay for some services with Chase debit cards. These vary according to exactly which card you pick, but one that you’ll see a lot is the foreign transaction fee.

The Chase debit cards that they show on their website charge a fee of 3% on every transaction you make in a currency that isn’t US dollars. That covers ATM withdrawals, cash transactions away from ATMs, and purchases you make with your card.

You’ll get hit by this if you use your card to get cash from an overseas ATM or to make a purchase from a foreign seller. The ATM situation is the most likely to affect you, since the fees can really pile up if you make a bunch of withdrawals.

💡 Do you have a Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card? We have a guide for you about foreign transaction fees here.

Chase international ATM fees

Below are the fees for foreign ATM transactions with Chase Total Checking Accounts.³

Transaction type	Fees per transaction
Chase foreign ATM fee	$5
International ATM inquiries and transfers	$2.50
ATM operator fees	Depending on foreign ATM used

Try out the Wise debit card

We recommend that you order a Wise debit card for a one-time fee. There are no foreign transaction fees, and you also also receive the mid-market rate on your conversions.

Another amazing feature is the Wise account itself, where you’re able to get your own details for the UK, Eurozone, Australia and New Zealand, and more to pay and get paid like a local. Incredible convenience for both travelers and digital nomads.

To sum it up, a Wise Account gets you:

• Bank details in 8+ currencies
• The option to hold, send, spend and convert 40+ currencies at once
• Send money overseas with low and transparent fees,
• The option to order a Wise card for a one time fee of just $9 - for use in 150+ countries
• Mid-market exchange rates on all transactions.

Get a Wise account

Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visitWise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Chase debit cards other fees and features

Foreign transaction fees aren’t the only things to think about when looking at debit cards from Chase. We couldn’t find a large range of debit cards on the bank’s website, but we’ve put together a summary of a few cards you may want to use while you’re traveling, together with some of their key features and fees.

Card name	Key features	Monthly fee	Other key fees and restrictions
Debit cards linked to the Chase Total Checking account ⁵	Optional Debit Card Coverage for short-term approval of overdrawn purchases	$12 monthly, but fee can be waived if certain account conditions are met	$2.50 for overseas ATM balance inquiry/transfer, $5 for overseas ATM withdrawal
Chase Disney Visa⁶	A debit card offering discounts at many Disney locations and on merchandise	Depends on the account fee, to which it’s linked to	Not available with Chase High School Checking or Chase Access Checking accounts

💡 Check out our guide about Chase’s travel cards here.

Chase debit international exchange rates

When you’re using your card abroad, either to buy stuff or to withdraw money from an ATM, there are two main things that can make a difference to the deal you get. One is that your card provider can charge a fee upfront, but the other is the exchange rate you’re given. You may not think about this at the time, but you’ll notice the difference when you see your statement later on.

Luckily, you can get ahead of the curve. The first thing you’ll need to know is the mid-market rate. This is what banks will use when they’re doing transactions between themselves, and it’s the number you’ll see if you use a site like Google to look up rates.

Unfortunately, it’s often not the rate you’ll be offered abroad. That’s because the ATM operator or card company will likely add a markup — it’s rarely called a fee, but it has the same effect.

With a Wise account, you can seamlessly transfer funds in over 40+ currencies using a single account. The only fee you’ll pay is the one you’ll see clearly stated on the site. That’s it.

And at Wise, we never hide extra fees and charges in the exchange rate. We just use the mid market exchange rate – the one usualy seen on Google . That means fair, cheap money transfers, every time. If this sounds like what you’ve been waiting for, go ahead and try it today.

Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Chase debit Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)

If you travel abroad and use your debit card, you’ll want to make your money go as far as possible, which means getting the best exchange rate. The trouble is, Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) can get in the way of that.

Here’s the scoop. When you use your card to withdraw cash at an overseas ATM, or to make a purchase, you’ll often get the choice to use either the local currency or your own. You might think using your own would be the right choice, and you’ll often see DCC advertised as a great, convenient solution. But there’s a pretty big catch.

Why? Because when you choose DCC, the exchange rate used to convert between the local currency and dollars is picked by the seller or ATM company. It often doesn’t end there, as there can often be extra fees on top. In the end, you could pay a lot more than you’d think from the Visa or Mastercard rate.

So, always choose to use the local currency. You could save a lot. If you want to find out about DCC in more detail, you can check out our handy guide.

Chase’s range of debit cards might be considered limited by some, but they do have offers that may be very attractive for some users.

The Disney-branded card offers discounts on Disney products that could suit people who make a lot of purchases, though it does have a monthly fee.

The Total Checking debit card will hit also you with a fairly hefty monthly fee, as well as charging you every time you use an ATM outside the Chase network.

Whatever your situation, it’s always a good idea to stop and think about what different debit cards will offer you, and comparing plenty before you sign up. If you like the convenience of using a debit card while you travel outside the US, pay special attention to the fees that are charged for foreign transactions or using overseas ATMs.

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Sources

1. About JP Morgan
2. About Chase
3. Chase Total Checking
4. Some other fees
5. Disney Debit

All sources last checked on 17 March 2022