Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Travel / Outdoors


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published May 6, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM

E-mail article     Print view

WaMu raises fees on foreign debit card purchases

Washington Mutual raises fees on foreign debit card purchases

Seattle Times travel writer

Thousands of travelers who use Visa and MasterCard debit cards issued by Seattle-based Washington Mutual will pay higher fees on overseas purchases starting June 5.

Washington Mutual notified customers that it will raise its fee from 1 to 3 percent on debit card purchases made in foreign countries, including Canada and Mexico. This means that if you use your debit card to make $5,000 worth of purchases in another country, you'll pay $150 in fees, up from $50.

The fee for credit card purchases and ATM/debit card withdrawals at foreign cash machines remains at 1 percent.

Visa and MasterCard International charge banks a 1 percent fee to process overseas transactions. Most banks pass that on, and some then tack on an additional 1 or 2 percent. The fees appear on billing statements as a separate charge.

Locally, Frontier Bank, First Tech, Boeing and Watermark credit unions are among those issuing debit and credit cards with only a 1 percent foreign transaction fee. Most national banks, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank, charge 3 percent on both.

Carol Pucci: 206-464-3701 or cpucci@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Travel headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland

Travel notes: Sand-sculpture contest on Long Beach Peninsula

NEW - 11:20 AM
Climbers may be barred from Australia's famed Uluru rock

UPDATE - 11:20 AM
Getty Center, college evacuate due to LA fire

NEW - 12:10 PM
Museums celebrate Apollo 11, 40 years after first moonwalk

Advertising

Video

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising