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Washington Mutual* Credit Card Currency Conversion / Foreign Transaction Fees

Washington Mutual* charges additional fees to those already charged by Visa or MasterCard for making purchases in foreign countries. Click here for more information about the fees collected by some credit card companies for making international purchases.

Washington Mutual* International Foreign Currency Conversion Fee:

1% — Standard Rate Charged by Visa or MasterCard +
1% — Additional Rate Charged by Washington Mutual* +
0-5% — Optional “Dynamic Currency Conversion” Fee** Added by Some Merchants =
2-7% — Total Fee Charged

To determine the approximate fee you’ll be charged for making an international purchase take the total value of your foreign purchase and multiply it by the U.S. Dollar exchange rate. Take this figure and multiply it by the total transaction fee listed above. The final amount is what you will pay Washington Mutual,* Visa/MasterCard, or merchant respectively for using this card internationally.

Special Offers from credit cards with LOW foreign transaction fees.
See chart of international conversion fees charged by other major credit card issuers.

*Providian and Washington Mutual have merged.
**Visa and MasterCard are susceptible to “dynamic currency conversion” (DCC) fees charged by some international merchants which can add 3% or more to the total purchase. AmericanExpress cards cannot have “dynamic currency fees” added. The usual DCC fee added is between 3-5% but varies from merchant to merchant. Some merchants will not add DCC fees.

Last updated by TravelFinances.com January 9, 2007
One Update to " Washington Mutual* Credit Card Currency Conversion / Foreign Transaction Fees "
  1. on 03 Apr 2008 at 1:18 pm Posted by: Anon

    I live in Lima, Peru. I have a WaMu MasterCard debit card and am charged 1% (“foreign transaction fee) on all transactions – whether I withdraw USD or Nuevo Soles. I have been charged a fee (~$1-$2, not percentage) by one Peruvian bank’s ATMs, so I just avoid that bank (Interbank).
    I’m actually quite upset by the fee, as I was assured there would be NO fees when I opened my account, which is why I opened it. I know it could be much worse, based on the stories I’ve read here, but I don’t think the fee is necessary and is too costly for a long-haul expat.

 

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