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Home >> Personal Finance >> Debit Card >> International Debit Card

International Debit Card

An International Debit Card has worldwide acceptance. It can be used to make purchases and payments as well as to withdraw money from ATMs across a number of countries. An International Debit Card comes with a brand logo of either MasterCard or Visa.

Features of an International Debit Card

The features of the International Debit Card include:

  • Primary account: A cardholder is required to open a savings or checking account with the bank that issues the card. All withdrawals and fees levied by the bank are deducted from this account.
  • Wide ATM usage: The card can be used to withdraw money from ATMs of the card-issuing bank across the world without any additional charge.
  • Banking tie-up: The bank issuing an international debit card can join hands with other banks to offer convenience and more efficient services to the customer. Some banks may not have branches in a particular country or region. In this scenario, the tie-ups help the banks to have a wider reach.
  • International Debit Card: Benefits

    An international debit card offers a wide range of benefits, including:

    • International validity and wide acceptance
    • Convenient access to offshore funds while traveling
    • PIN facility for security of transactions
    • Zero liability for lost card
    • Access to mini-statements of the account across the globe.
    • Discounts at various merchant establishments.
    • Control over the spending limit.

    International Debit Card: Limitations

    An international debit card also has certain limitations, such as:

    • Some banks do not have branches in foreign countries. In this case, if the bank is unable to tie up with a local bank, the international credit card’s use for cash withdrawals is restricted.
    • Banks generally charge fees on the use of this card.
    • There is a fixed limit on the amount of foreign exchange that a card holder can acquire.

    Issuers of International Debit Card

    An international debit card is issued by almost all major card providers, including:

    • HDFC
    • Standard Chartered
    • Deutsche bank
    • Citibank
    • HSBC
    • Bank of America
    • Chase

    How to apply for an International Debit Card

    An international card can be applied for by approaching a domestic bank that issues it or by filling an online application. In order to use an international debit card, the card holder is first and foremost required to open a primary account with the local bank and deposit a minimum balance.

    An international debit card is best suited for frequent travelers. It offers freedom from carrying cash or traveler’s checks.