Verdict up front: For a $0-annual-fee credit card with no foreign transaction fees, the Bankwest Zero Platinum and the Latitude 28° Global Platinum are the two standing answers – and for most people the Bankwest is the safer of the pair. The Westpac Lite and ING Orange One are solid bank alternatives. But be honest about what you need: if it’s just cheap spending money overseas, a Wise or Revolut debit card beats every credit card on exchange rates and risk. The right setup for most travellers is a rewards card at home and a no-FX card in the travel wallet – not one card trying to do both.
Last updated: June 2026 | [Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you apply via my links – it never affects what I recommend.]
Most rewards credit cards – including every card I recommend elsewhere on this site – charge around 3% on foreign currency transactions. That’s $30 on every $1,000 you spend overseas or on overseas websites, and it quietly outweighs whatever points you earn on those purchases.
The fix isn’t to abandon your rewards card. It’s to add a no-FX card for the specific job of foreign spending. Here’s the short list that actually does it.
The shortlist
1. Bankwest Zero Platinum – best all-round no-FX credit card
- Annual fee: $0
- Foreign transaction fee: 0%
- Card type: Platinum Mastercard
- Who it’s for: Anyone who wants one set-and-forget travel credit card at no cost
A genuinely free card with no FX fees and platinum-tier inclusions (check the current PDS for the insurance details and conditions). The big trap to avoid: it’s specifically the Zero Platinum – the standard Bankwest Zero still charges a foreign transaction fee. Apply for the right one.
My take: if you just want this problem solved with one application, this is the application.
➡️ Check the current Bankwest Zero Platinum offer → (affiliate link)
2. Latitude 28° Global Platinum – the long-standing traveller’s card
- Annual fee: $0
- Foreign currency conversion fee: 0%
- Card type: Platinum Mastercard
- Who it’s for: Frequent overseas shoppers who will pay it off in full, every month, without exception
The 28 Degrees card has been the backpacker staple for over a decade for one reason: no annual fee and no currency conversion fee. The reason I rank it second: Latitude products lean on high interest rates and assorted service fees to make their money (check the current PDS – cash advance and payment-handling fees have history here). Pay in full monthly and avoid ATMs with it, and it’s excellent. Slip once and it isn’t.
➡️ Check the current Latitude 28° Global offer → (affiliate link)
3. Westpac Lite – the big-four option
- Annual fee: Low (check the current offer)
- Foreign transaction fee: 0% – Westpac’s own fee page exempts the Lite Card from its standard 3% FX fee
- Card type: Low-rate Mastercard
- Who it’s for: People who want their no-FX card from a major bank, in the same app as their other accounts
A modest, low-rate card whose quiet superpower is the FX exemption. You give up rewards entirely – which is fine, because this card’s job is foreign spending, not points.
➡️ Check the current Westpac Lite offer → (affiliate link)
4. ING Orange One (Low Rate or Rewards Platinum) – best if you already bank with ING
- Annual fee: Low Rate is the cheaper tier; Rewards Platinum costs more (check current fees)
- Foreign transaction fee: ING doesn’t charge its international transaction fees on Orange One cards
- Who it’s for: Existing ING customers who want banking and the travel card in one place
ING’s no-international-fee positioning spans its cards; conditions around ING accounts and deposits can apply to its broader fee rebates, so read the current terms.
The honest alternative: a travel debit card
If your real question is “how do I spend money overseas without getting fleeced”, a credit card may be the wrong tool entirely:
- Wise – converts at close to the mid-market rate with transparent fees; the benchmark for cheap currency
- Revolut – similar model, app-first, with plan tiers
- Up, Macquarie and several neobank debit cards – no FX fees on card spend (check each product’s current terms)
A debit card can’t run up 20%+ interest in a hammock in Bali, and you can’t overspend money you don’t have. The credit card’s advantages are the credit buffer, hotel/car-hire holds, and (on some cards) complimentary travel insurance. Plenty of travellers carry one of each.
The maths: two weeks in Europe, $4,000 of spending
| Setup | FX cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Your rewards card (3% FX fee) | $120 | Plus the points earn, worth maybe $20-$40 – still well behind |
| Bankwest Zero Platinum / 28 Degrees | $0 | Mastercard rate, no fee |
| Wise debit | ~$15-$25 | Near mid-market rate; fee depends on currency |
| Airport currency exchange | $200-$320 | For calibration of what “bad” looks like |
My take: the gap between any no-FX card and your rewards card is the whole holiday’s coffee budget. The gap between the no-FX options themselves is small – pick on the features (credit vs debit, insurance, app) rather than the rate.
The two-card travel setup
- At home: your rewards card earns on groceries and petrol as usual – the non-traveller hub covers which one
- Overseas and on overseas websites: the no-FX card takes over – including foreign-currency online shopping from your couch (the 3% fee applies there too, which most people forget)
- Cash overseas: debit card at a bank ATM, not a credit card (cash advances on credit cards trigger immediate interest and fees, even on no-FX cards)
One habit shift – “which currency is this transaction in?” – and the savings run for life.
The one question that decides it
Do you want a credit buffer overseas, or just cheap spending?
Credit buffer (hotel holds, insurance, bigger purchases) → Bankwest Zero Platinum, with 28 Degrees as the alternative.
Just cheap spending → Wise or Revolut debit and keep your life simple.
FAQ
Which Australian credit cards have no international transaction fees?
The standing options are the Bankwest Zero Platinum, Latitude 28° Global Platinum, Westpac Lite and ING’s Orange One cards. Always verify on the issuer’s current fee page – and note traps like the standard Bankwest Zero (not Platinum), which still charges the fee.
Do foreign transaction fees apply to online shopping in Australia?
Yes – the fee applies whenever the transaction is processed in a foreign currency or by an overseas merchant, including shopping from your couch on a US or UK website. This catches more people than overseas travel does.
Is it better to pay in AUD or local currency overseas?
Always the local currency. The “pay in AUD” option at terminals (dynamic currency conversion) uses the merchant’s marked-up exchange rate, which is nearly always worse than your card’s rate – even on cards that charge an FX fee.
Do no-FX-fee cards earn rewards points?
Mostly no – the ones on this list trade rewards for the fee waiver. That’s the right trade: 3% saved beats any earn rate. Keep your rewards card for domestic spending and use the no-FX card for foreign currency.
Can I withdraw cash overseas with these cards?
You can, but don’t – cash advances on credit cards attract immediate interest and fees regardless of the FX policy. Use a fee-free debit card (Wise, Revolut, several Australian banks) at ATMs instead.
Is Wise better than a no-FX credit card?
For pure exchange rates, usually yes – Wise converts near the mid-market rate while cards use the Mastercard/Visa rate. The credit cards win on credit buffer, holds and any included insurance. Many travellers carry both and spend ten seconds deciding per purchase.
← All guides | Amex Explorer review → | Hub: best rewards card if you don’t fly business class →
This article is general information only. Credit cards are financial products – consider whether each product suits your personal circumstances and read the product disclosure statement before applying. Fees and product terms are accurate at time of publishing and subject to change; verify on the issuer’s current page before applying. I earn a commission if you apply via the affiliate links on this page.
