International travel and payments
Using ATMs overseas
While travelling overseas, you need to know you can access money anywhere, anytime. Using Automatic Telling Machines (ATMs) is one of the most convenient ways of withdrawing money, and checking your account balance.
Be aware, though, that some foreign countries have limited, or no access to, ATMs. So, it's a good idea to have other ways of accessing money overseas, such as traveller’s cheques, foreign currency or credit cards.
Before you leave home
Different countries have different ATM systems. This means, before you leave home, you need to have:
- Your four digit PIN for each card including your credit card, and
- Your accounts linked correctly to the cards you intend using overseas.
When you are overseas
You can make withdrawals and check account balances using your existing Australian cards at most overseas ATMs as long as you have your PIN.
The guide below shows you how you can access money overseas using ATMs, depending on where you are travelling.
| You can make withdrawals and check balances for your: | Using your: |
|---|---|
| Savings or Transaction accounts | Debit MasterCard or HandyCard. Note: MasterCards or Visa cards linked to these accounts won't work. |
| Credit accounts | MasterCard or Visa (PIN required) |
| You can make withdrawals and check balances for your: | Using your: |
|---|---|
| Savings or Transaction accounts | Debit MasterCard, Handycard or Linked MasterCard |
| Credit accounts | MasterCard or Visa |
Note
‘Debit' on most foreign ATMs is equivalent to 'savings' in Australia. So, when selecting your savings account at an ATM overseas, choose ‘debit’ on the ATM.
How much you can withdraw
You can withdraw $AUD1,000 each day. This includes withdrawals from ATMs and EFTPOS during one 24 hour period, starting at midnight. If you need more than this, you can withdraw up to $AUD2,000 by visiting any Westpac branch, or using telephone banking on 132 032.
Saving on ATM fees and charges
You can save a $5 withdrawal fee by using ATMs belonging to the following Global Alliance partners:
| Country | MasterCard/Cirrus ATM network |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | Westpac NZ |
| Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, PNG, Solomon Islands | Westpac Pacific Banking |
| France | BNP Paribas |
| Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland | Deutsche Bank |
|
UK, Spain, France, Portugal and Gibraltar Africa - Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles,Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, |
Barclays Bank |
| South Africa | ABSA |
| USA | Bank of America |
|
Canada, Chile, Guyana, Mexico, Peru |
ScotiaBank |
| Ukraine | Ukrsibbank - Private Bank |
ATM fees and charges
The following fees and charges may be charged when using ATMs overseas:
- $5 fee applies when you withdraw money from ATMs not listed in the table above. However, checking your account balance is free and account balances will be displayed in local currency
- Some overseas banks may apply a surcharge on withdrawals. This will be brought to your attention before you proceed with the transaction.
-
The Westpac foreign currency fee is payable and will be incorporated into the $AUD transaction amount shown on your statement. The fee charged will either be:
(a) 3% of the $AUD transaction amount where a transaction is made in foreign currency and the merchant or financial institution accepting the
card is located outside of Australia (comprising of 2% Westpac Processing Fee plus 1% Westpac On-Charged Scheme Fee); or
(b) 2.2% of the $AUD transaction amount where a transaction is made in foreign currency and the merchant or financial institution accepting
the card is located in Australia (comprising of 2% Westpac Processing Fee plus a Westpac On-Charged Scheme Fee of 0.2%).
For more details, please refer to the Deposit Accounts for Personal Customers Term and Conditions (PDF 1MB).
