Chime foreign transaction fees: Complete guide

Chime is an online fintech company that provides many of its services fee-free. While it's not a bank, you can still get a debit and a credit card through Chime and their partner banks (The Bancorp Bank or the Stride Bank).¹

If you have a Chime Visa® Debit Card or the Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card and are traveling abroad, you might wonder: "Does Chime charge international fees?".

Most of the time, you can use your Chime cards abroad with no foreign transaction fees. That said, there are still important fees and foreign currency exchange rate considerations that you should be aware of to make the most of your time abroad.

Here's everything you need to know about Chime international fees. We'll also introduce Wise, an easy way to spend money like a local in over 150 countries and save on fees.

Does Chime charge international fees?

Most banks charge extra fees when you use your card internationally - typically between 2% and 4% of each purchase.²

These fees don't just apply to spending that you do while on vacation abroad. You might also see them when shopping on international websites while still physically in the US.

Using ATMs abroad can also trigger multiple extra charges, such as foreign transaction fees from your bank, out-of-network ATM fees from your bank, operator fees from the ATM owner, and currency conversion fees.

You might also face fees from ATM operators and lose some money on currency conversion rates.

That said, Chime is still likely going to be cheaper to use for international transactions than many competitors.

Which Chime cards have foreign transaction fees?

Chime has two card options:

• Chime Visa® Debit Card
• Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Neither card charges foreign transaction fees, which is great. However, you'll still encounter other costs when using these cards internationally.

Chime debit card fees

The Chime Visa® Debit Card doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees, but ATM withdrawals abroad will still cost you. Here’s a look at the fees:

So if you're wondering, "Can I use my Chime card internationally?", the answer is that yes, you can - with some costs, but they're pretty minimal.

An important thing to know is that avoiding foreign transaction fees doesn't necessarily mean that you're getting the best exchange rate.

Chime will need to convert your purchases from foreign currencies to USD, and they don't clearly disclose whether or not that currency conversion includes a markup.

This markup is standard practice for many banks and financial providers, and it's separate from foreign transaction fees. You can contact Chime and ask them about their foreign currency conversion practices.

Chime credit card fees

The Chime® Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card also skips foreign transaction fees, but you'll face charges for international ATM withdrawals:

Just like with the debit card, you may still lose money on exchange rate markups when Chime converts your purchases to USD.

Everywhere money. Meet Wise: the world's most international account

If you’re not living in the US — or if you simply want a more flexible account you can open from anywhere — check out Wise.

Wise isn’t a bank, but a money service business (MSB) that offers an account which allows you to hold, send and receive money. As well as getting an attached multi-currency card — plus you’ll get some extra perks which suit anyone living an international lifestyle.

You’ll be able to hold 40+ currencies, and get local account details for up to 9 currencies including USD, to get paid easily by wire or ACH.

Wise offers linked multi-currency cards for spending and withdrawals around the world, and all currency conversion uses the mid-market exchange rate.

That means that whenever you send a payment or spend in a foreign currency your dollars are converted with the mid-market rate with low conversion fees from 0.41%. Easy.

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

What are Chime's international ATM fees?

For international ATM withdrawals, Chime charges a 2.50 USD out-of-network fee.²

However, that won't be your only expense. You'll also likely have to pay unpredictable ATM operator fees and possible local bank charges.

When you use an ATM abroad, you might also be hit with Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). This is when the ATM offers to convert your withdrawal into USD instead of local currency.

Your first reaction may be that it's the convenient thing to do, but be aware that Dynamic Currency Conversion often comes with poor exchange rates and extra fees.

So, while the Chime international ATM fee is pretty low, you should be conscious of the other ways that this transaction can cost you.

Chime international exchange rates

Every time you use your Chime card abroad, your purchase goes through a currency conversion process.

You can see the current mid-market exchange rate on Google, but banks and financial providers typically use their own rates that include a markup to make a profit on your transaction.

If you want to understand exactly how much you'll be paying for currency conversions when using Chime, get in touch with them directly.

Tips for using ATMs and cards abroad

Understanding how to use your cards and ATMs abroad can help you minimize the costs of Chime international transactions. Here are a few helpful strategies:

• Withdraw local currency before traveling: You can exchange some money at your local bank before you travel to have some cash on hand when you land. You'll still likely pay a markup on the foreign currency exchange rate, but it'll be much lower than what you'll find at currency exchange kiosks at airports and other tourist areas

• Use cards with no foreign exchange fees: Take advantage of Chime's no foreign transaction fees for bigger expenses as well as regular spending, as long as the foreign currency exchange rate is good

• Make fewer, larger ATM withdrawals: Instead of multiple small withdrawals, take out enough cash to last several days. This reduces how often you'll pay Chime ATM charges

• Always choose local currency: If you have a choice between paying in USD or local currency, you should typically pick local currency. Letting your transaction convert to USD usually means paying higher conversion rates

• Enable international transactions: Turn on international transactions in your Chime app before traveling, and your Chime cards will work in most countries where they accept Visa. Keep in mind that there are certain countries where Chime cards don't work, such as Venezuela, China, and Vietnam⁴

Chime doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, but it's still important to keep track of your spending to spot any strange transactions or extra charges that should not have happened.

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

Sources

1. Chime
2. Chime - Foreign transaction fees
3. Chime - Does Chime charge fees?
4. Chime - Can I use my card outside of the United States?