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ING scraps international fees: now the pressure is on the Big 4 to follow suit
ING has today scrapped all international ATM, credit and debit card charges for their customers.
This includes ATM withdrawal fees, ATM currency conversion fees, international purchase fees on debit cards and a refund of any overseas third party ATM fees.
They have also confirmed they will only apply the wholesale exchange rate when converting currency.
The catch? You have to be a “primary” bank customer by depositing at least $1,000 a month into an Orange Advantage Account and making a minimum of five transactions a month.
No credit card international fees will also apply to their credit card product.
The international institution says the move is intended to encourage more Australians to make ING their primary bank.
ING Australia’s head of retail banking, Melanie Evans, said:
“We’re relentless in finding new ways give our customers what they want: convenience and value. All we want in return is that our customers make ING their main bank.”
RateCity research indicates that an average person spending a total of $5,000 a year overseas would save $171 a year if they switched banks to ING. A person spending $10,000 could save $342 a year.
“Using your card overseas always comes with a high degree of angst,” said RateCity CEO, Paul Marshall.
“Most people just shut their eyes and hope for the best, despite knowing they’re being hit with a flood of fees.
“Credit and debit cards used at the point of sale typically incur a 2 or 3 per cent fee, which can add up if you’re using your card for every purchase.
“But the biggest culprit by far is ATM withdrawals. Most Australians using their debit cards are charged a fee from the ATM provider, a fee from their own bank, plus a currency conversion fee which can be as high as 5 per cent.
“It gets even uglier if you use your credit card at the ATM as that’s classified as a cash advance, and should be avoided at all costs,” he said.
If you’re someone who travels a lot, it’s worth looking into the best cards for overseas. Make sure you pick one with low or no ATM fees, minimal currency conversion fees and no account keeping fees. It’s slim pickings but there are a handful of accounts on the market that won’t sting you at every step.
| ING Orange Everyday Account | No overseas fees, wholesale exchange rate, no domestic ATM fees, no account fees |
|---|---|
| Citibank Plus Account | No overseas fees except the ATM vendor fees, free bottle of wine at certain partner restaurants in Australia, free domestic ATM fees at affiliate ATMs only, no account fees |
| RAMS Action Account | No overseas fees except ATM vendor fees, free domestic ATM fees but only at affiliate ATMs, no account fees |
| Macquarie Classic Account | No overseas fees except a $5 ATM withdrawal fee and third party ATM vendor fees, free domestic ATM fees, no account fees |
Overseas ATM fees – What we’re being charged
| Fee type | Average fee | Big 4 fees |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal | $4.51 | $5.00 |
| ATM currency conversion fees | 2.77% | 3.00% |
| ATM provider fee | At cost | At cost if not part of global network |
ATM fees – examples
| Amount withdrawn | Average fee* |
|---|---|
| $200 | $14 |
| $500 | $22 |
*Based on an estimated third party ATM fee of $4.
Disclaimer
This article is over two years old, last updated on November 10, 2017. While RateCity makes best efforts to update every important article regularly, the information in this piece may not be as relevant as it once was. Alternatively, please consider checking recent bank accounts articles.
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Product database updated 26 Apr, 2024
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