Can I use a Chase card abroad?

Chase UK®¹ is a digital only bank which offers current and savings accounts to UK customers. If you have a Chase current account you can also get a linked debit Mastercard® for convenient spending and withdrawals.

Are you a Chase UK customer planning an overseas trip? This guide walks through all you need to know about how to use the Chase card abroad - plus we’ll touch on Wise as a good option if you need to send a payment overseas, with low fees² and the mid-market rate.

Intro to Chase

Chase UK is the British arm of US bank, Chase®, which offers a current account and a savings account to UK customers.

While Chase isn’t huge in the UK just yet, it is growing. The US bank serves over 56 million people - and there are already more than 2 million UK Chase customers. In the UK, Chase is a digital only bank, using a self-serve approach which lets customers transact through an app and desktop site.

Can you use the Chase card abroad?

Yes. If you have a Chase current account³ you’ll also get a linked Chase debit card which is issued on the Mastercard network and which can be used overseas as easily as at home.

Bear in mind that Chase saving accounts⁴ don’t come with a linked card - so you won’t be able to transact conveniently overseas if you hold a savings account.

Using the Chase card abroad

Using a Chase debit card should be every bit as easy when you’re on holiday as it is in the UK. Let’s look at how you can use your card, and what fees you might need to consider.

How to use the Chase card abroad

Use your Chase card overseas exactly as you would at home. You can use your physical Chase card to spend in stores and restaurants, and to make international withdrawals at ATMs. Just look out for the Mastercard logo wherever you are to check if the network is accepted.

You can view your Chase account and transactions, and manage your card, in the Chase app. This gives you easy access to your account when you’re away from home. For convenience, you can also make mobile payments with a wallet like Apple Pay® or Google Pay®.

Another handy feature for security is that Chase cards don’t have visible card numbers, so thieves can’t copy the details from your physical card. And if you’re ever concerned about security you’ll be able to freeze your card in the app, in just a few clicks.

Fees and rates for using the Chase card abroad

Spending with a Chase card overseas doesn’t usually mean paying any extra fees. Here’s a run through of what you need to know.

	Chase current account and card fee5
Open account	No fee
Monthly fee	No fee
International ATM fees	No Chase fee - the ATM operator may impose their own fees
Exchange rate	Mastercard rate
Foreign transaction fees	No fee

*Fee information correct at the time of writing - 5th October 2023

As you can see, there are no additional Chase fees for using your card overseas. You’ll need to watch out for extra charges applied by ATM operators abroad - usually you’ll see a message on the screen if a fee applies, and you can then pick a different machine if you want to. Also bear in mind that your overseas spending will be converted to pounds using the Mastercard exchange rate. That’s usually a pretty good deal, but may include a small markup on the mid-market rate you find with a currency converter.

Chase vs Wise: international transfers

Chase UK current accounts allow you to spend conveniently overseas with your debit card - but you can’t send or receive international payments from your account.

Need to get money to someone abroad? No need to panic. Instead, you can simply send your international money transfer with a third party digital service like Wise.

Wise international transfers can be deposited in bank accounts in 160+ countries, with the mid-market exchange rate and low, transparent fees from 0.43%². Set up your Wise transfer online or in the Wise app, and see all the fees for your payment split out for transparency, so you can compare your options before you confirm.

You can still fund your Wise overseas transfer with your Chase card or by bank transfer, and your money will be on its way in double quick time.

This guide covers all you need to know before you pop your Chase card in your pocket for your next overseas trip. Plus, you can always choose Wise the next time you want to send an international payment with low fees, and the mid-market rate.

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Sources:

1. Chase UK
2. Pricing/fees: Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
3. Chase current account
4. Chase savings account
5. Chase Bank fees
6. Speed: The speed of transaction claim depends on funds availability, approval by Wise's proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners' banking system, and may not be available for all transactions

Sources last checked: 29-oct-2023