Originally published May 6, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
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
NEW - 8:12 AM
Rick Steves' Europe: Helsinki and Tallinn: Baltic Sisters
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers
Winter play in the French Alps — without skiing
Carnival group hit by fire cheered in Rio parade
United cuts 2011 growth and Southwest raises fares

- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Club promoter convicted in brutal 2010 murder of Des Moines prostitute
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
472 - Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looming
360 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
307 - 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
243 - Source: NY, California to sign mortgage settlement
231 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
150 - Pac-12 picks ... including the UW game
140 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
131 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
103
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review
