PNC international wire transfer: Fees, limits, and rates
Read on for everything you need to know about sending and receiving international wire transfers with PNC.
Looking for a card to make spending overseas simple and safe? If you’re in the market for an international debit card you might be considering the Wise Multi-Currency Card. Or if you want a credit card, Chase® offers the Chase Sapphire®¹ series of credit cards which have no foreign transaction fee and premium travel rewards.
But which is right for you: Wise Multi-Currency Card vs Chase Sapphire? Or maybe having both in your wallet will give you more options and flexibility to spend while you’re away from home? This guide will help you decide.
Before we get into the details, let’s look at an overview. Chase offers 2 Sapphire cards - here we’ve focused on the Chase Sapphire Preferred² which has a lower annual fee compared to the other option - the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Wise Multi-Currency Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred | |
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Card type | Debit card from a non-bank provider | Credit card issued by a major bank |
Key features |
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Main fees | 9 USD card order fee* Currency conversion from 0.42%* No monthly or annual maintenance fees | 95 USD annual fee4 10 USD or 5% cash advance fee, whichever is higher Variable interest rates, plus penalty fees, depending on how you use your account |
Great for | Low cost debit card linked to a flexible international account with options to send, spend, hold and exchange 40+ currencies | Credit card with no foreign transaction fee which allows you to earn rewards as you spend, and spread your costs over a few months if you want to |
Accepted in | 150+ countries globally, wherever the network is supported | More or less globally, wherever the network is supported |
Exchange rate | Mid-market rate | Network rate, which may include a markup |
Note: Information correct at the time of writing (7th March 2024)
Both the Wise Multi-Currency Card and the Chase Sapphire card can be great choices if you spend overseas. However, they’re pretty different in how they work, and what features you’ll get. Let’s take a look.
Wise is not a bank, it’s a money service business. It’s regulated and licensed to provide some financial services, such as money transmission or multi currency accounts in the US, and is safe to use - but the way Wise works won’t necessarily be the same as a bank.
Wise has a focus on supporting people who need to manage multiple currencies - travelers, expats, international students, and anyone who needs to hold, send, spend and receive foreign currencies.
The Wise Multi-Currency Card is linked to a digital multi-currency account that can hold and exchange 40+ currencies and send payments to 160+ countries, plus you’ll be able to receive money from others in major currencies easily.
Here are some features of the Wise Multi-Currency Card: |
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Chase offers plenty of different credit cards - but if you’re planning on using a credit card to pay for travel, or to buy things while you’re away, it makes sense to have a card which is optimized for travel use.
The Chase Sapphire credit card series has no foreign transaction fee and lets you earn rewards faster when you’re spending on travel and leisure. You may also unlock extra protections when you pay for travel and services with your card, such as insurance if anything goes wrong on your trip.
Here are a few of the features you’ll get from Chase Sapphire Preferred: |
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The way the Chase Sapphire card works on fees and costs is different compared to the Wise Multi-Currency Card. The Wise Multi-Currency Card is a debit card which means you need to add money in advance, but there’s no credit check and no interest to pay.
Chase Sapphire cards are credit cards, which have annual fees and may incur interest if you don’t clear your bills in time. Here’s a quick comparison on the fees of both:
Service | Wise Multi-Currency Card cost* | Chase Sapphire Preferred card cost |
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Card order fee | 9 USD | Not applicable |
Annual fee | Not applicable | 95 USD |
Exchange rate | Mid-market rate | Network exchange rate |
Make ATM withdrawals in the US and abroad | Up to 2 withdrawals to the value of 100 USD/month for free 1.5 USD + 2% after that | 10 USD or 5%, whichever is higher |
Interest | Not applicable | Variable based on credit score and card policies: 21.49% - 28.49% |
Penalty fees | Not applicable | Up to 40 USD |
Note: Information correct at the time of writing (7th March 2024)
Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information_
Still not sure which will work for you - here are a few more pros and cons to consider:
Pros | Cons |
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Pros | Cons |
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The Wise Multi-Currency Card is a debit card with a linked digital account which has options to hold and exchange 40+ currencies, get paid by others with local account details in major currencies, and send payments to 160+ countries.
The card itself is accepted in 150+ countries, with no fee to spend any currency you hold. This makes it a good choice if you want a flexible multi-currency account and you’re happy to add money in advance of spending to get low cost international features.
The Chase Sapphire card is a credit card which has no foreign transaction fees. When you spend overseas your purchase costs are converted back to USD with the network exchange rate to be added to your monthly bill.
Credit cards have a few advantages - they can be used as a payment guarantee when checking into a hotel or renting a car, and you can spread your costs out over months if you choose to. However, they tend to come with higher fees compared to debit cards, including annual charges which are unavoidable even if you repay your bill monthly to skip interest charges.
Whether the Wise Multi-Currency Card or the Chase Sapphire card is right for you will depend on your personal preferences and how you like to spend.
For many customers, having both a low cost international debit card to use for some spending and for cheap or free ATM withdrawals - and a travel focused credit card for high value purchases or as a payment guarantee - can work well.
Use this guide to compare them both and pick the one which best suits your own unique needs, or get both so you’ll always have the right way to pay in your pocket.
Sources:
Sources checked on 03.19.2024
*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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