TransferWise Debit Card Review

We review the first debit card in New Zealand to make spending in foreign currencies significantly cheaper, and outline the pros and cons

Updated 16 February 2020
If you're planning to spend money overseas, using a travel money card, credit card or bank-issued debit card have been the most popular methods. With every transaction, cardholders have been hit with foreign currency conversion fees, ATM withdrawal fees and/or a bunch of other fees. The arrival of the TransferWise debit card has shaken things up by offering never-seen-before features - rock bottom overseas currency conversion fees, free ATM withdrawals and even foreign bank account setup. But is this new card right for you?

Summary of the TransferWise Debit Card?
  • The TransferWise debit card is easy to sign up to, free of charge and packed with features. We see it as very similar to a travel money card, but cheaper in seemingly every sense.
  • Right now, banks charge between 2.10% and 2.8% of your purchase price in 'overseas currency conversion' fees when using a debit card. This means if you spend NZ$100 overseas, your bank charges you $2.10 to $2.80 on top of that. It is these fees that soon add up.
  • The TransferWise debit card offers a much better deal. You'll pay between 0.35% and 2.85% in overseas currency conversion fees. For popular currencies such as AUD, GBP, USD and EUR, you'll pay around 0.50%. Additionally, you can withdraw up to NZ$350 free every 30 days from ATMs around the world free of charge. 
  • ​The Transferwise debit card is free and available to all New Zealand customers. It also offers a free New Zealand bank account number.

While we welcome the TransferWise debit card to New Zealand, it is not for everyone. This guide has been prepared to present the pros, cons and everything you need to know about the features offered. We cover:

TransferWise vs Banks and Other Options - Who Offers the Best Deal?

We compared the TransferWise debit card with alternatives, as outlined in our two tests below. Our Comparison and Results Tables PDF suggests TransferWise offers a better deal as it challenges established banks.

Test 1 - How much foreign currency does NZ$250 get me?

To show the difference in dollar terms from the range of options, we should how much spending NZ$250 overseas will get you from popular options offered by banks and challenger providers.

Results:
  • We found that for debit card purchases, the TransferWise Debit Card provides the best deal.
  • For credit card purchases, the Flight Centre Mastercard outperformed all other cards given its 0% overseas currency conversion fee.
  • ANZ offered the best bank deal with its 1.80% overseas currency conversion fee.
Results based on exchange rates as of 16 February 2020. We used rates of 1 NZD = 0.96 AUD, 0.49 GBP, 0.59 Euro and 0.64 USD, with our guide for foreign currency conversions providing the individual card fees.

Test 2 - How much do I pay to use an ATM overseas?

To show the difference in options, we compared the bank debit cards with TransferWise. We tested a cash withdrawal of AU$500, £500, €500, and US$500. 

Results:
  • We found that for debit card purchases, the TransferWise Debit Card provides the best deal.
  • We used a rate of 2%, but TransferWise offers 0% foreign currency fees if you withdraw up to NZ$350 within a 30-day rolling period, and then a 2% fee of anything above that. 
  • Best of all, unlike some banks, there are no ATM withdrawal fees. This means you can make multiple smaller withdrawals as you need the money free of charge. 

How do I apply for a TransferWise debit card, and how long does it take to arrive?

Signing up is straightforward, but there are some personal verification steps to complete. We outline the process below:
  1. Sign up for a TransferWise borderless account. You'll need to select a currency, and the most appropriate is likely to be the New Zealand Dollar. You can add more currencies afterwards. TransferWise then verifies the information, which can take 1-3 business days. 
  2. Order your TransferWise card. Right now, there is no delivery charge, and the estimated delivery time is around three weeks. 
  3. Activate your TransferWise card. Once you receive your card, you will need to activate it. You'll also need to memorise your PIN. Once done, your card is good to use. You can download the TransferWise app and add money.

The slideshow explains steps 1-3 in more detail:

TransferWise Debit Card - Pros and Cons

Pros
  1. Zero foreign transaction fees - you will never pay a fee for withdrawing money from an overseas ATM (banks charge as much as NZ$6 per transaction)
  2. No annual fees - there is no application fee or annual fee
  3. Lower currency conversion fees - banks charge 1.8% to 2.80% for debit card transactions, whereas TransferWise converts major currencies for around 0.50%. 
  4. Mid-Market Rate - TransferWise always uses the mid-market exchange rate (the one you will find on Google). In comparison, exchange rates used by banks, PayPal and travel money cards often conceal a markup. The use of mid-market rates is a major reason why using a bank is so much more expensive. 
  5. Free cash withdrawals up to NZ$350 (or NZD equivalent in foreign currencies) every 30 days
  6. Easy-to-use app - unlike Travel Money Cards and New Zealand bank debit cards, TransferWise's app gives instant transaction notifications on your phone. You can also freeze or unfreeze your card anytime should you misplace it.
  7. You can convert and store foreign currency balances in advance (like you do with a Travel Money Card). Otherwise, TransferWise will convert your money automatically at the real exchange rate (or mid-market rate) on your NZD balance when you make a transaction.
  8. Phone support is available - TransferWise picks up the phone 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday to Friday New Zealand time.

Cons
  1. It's not a credit card, so you will need to have all the money you need in your TransferWise account before making a purchase. 
  2. Replacement cards can take 2-3 weeks to arrive, although you can have them posted anywhere worldwide.

TransferWise Debit Card - The Bottom Line

  • ​TransferWise’s  debit card delivers low, transparent fees and market-leading exchange rates. The card has been popular in Europe where it first launched.
  • The debit card is linked to a TransferWise account, which gives account holders bank account numbers and balances in multiple currencies.

Where it wins:
  1. We are confident that when it comes to purchasing in major foreign currencies, the service is cheaper and superior to all existing travel money cards on offer.
  2. We also believe it offers greater value than bank debit cards when making over-the-counter or online transactions in foreign currencies.
  3. In most cases, spending using a credit card is, like-for-like, more expensive than using the TransferWise debit card. However, there are exceptions such as the market-leading Flight Centre Mastercard.
  4. Payments are processed using Mastercard, which is proven by our research to offer better exchange rates than Visa.

​​Where it falls short:
  1. TransferWise is NOT a bank, so there are some limitations in its functionality. Specifically:
  2. The bank account associated with your debit card prohibits direct debits, automatic payments, and there are no branches to do over-the-counter transactions.  
  3. You won't earn interest on any balance, and there's no overdraft facility, and joint accounts are also not available
  4. While there is a free-fee limit of NZ$350 for ATM withdrawals in New Zealand or overseas, after that is reached there is a 2% fee. The ANZ, for example, charges 1.80%.

Claims made by TransferWise - Are They True?

We examine the claims made by TransferWise and explain the detail behind the headlines.
"Spend in any currency worldwide, receive money for free, and convert currencies with low fees".

Is it true?
  • Yes. ​The TransferWise debit card can be used anywhere Mastercard debit cards are accepted. Conversion charges are a fraction of what banks charge for many of the same currencies (see below). 

"Say bye bye to crazy bank fees. For good".

Is it true?
  • ​In a sense, yes. The currency conversion charges to NZD from USD, EUR, GBP, AUD and other leading currencies will be around 0.35%. Banks will charge between 2.10% to 2.80%.
  • There is no annual fee for the TransferWise debit card, and you can make a limited number of cash withdrawals overseas without a transaction charge. Many banks charge $5 or $6 per transaction.

5 Must-Know TransferWise Debit Card Facts

There are fees for many transactions, so it's essential to understand how they work

The card promises a lot, but not everything is free. This helpful table below explains what's free and what costs.
Service
TransferWise Debit Card Fees
​Card application, issue and renewal
 Free of charge
Spending currency available in your account (NZD and/or any other stored currencies)
Free of charge (foreign currencies are charged with a fee of between 0.35% to 2% of the transaction value)
​Spending currency unavailable in your account
0.35% to 2% conversion fee (most popular currencies are closer to 0.50%, i.e. AUD, USD, GBP and EUR)
ATM withdrawals
Free up to NZ$350 (or NZD equivalent) every 30 days, then 2% on every amount over this. This applies to NZD withdrawals as well.

TransferWise offers far better value than existing Travel Money Cards

Our review of Travel Money Cards showed a range in foreign exchange rates between providers. TransferWise is better than this and offers the market rate, meaning your New Zealand dollars go further. 

And, like Travel Money Cards, moving NZD to a TransferWise account locks in a foreign exchange rate, meaning your foreign currency is fixed in advance. Best of all, there are no upfront card fees, limitations in currencies, fixed ATM withdrawal fees, monthly fees or replacement fees.

Going on an OE? TransferWise will make getting paid a lot easier

  • Moving to the UK, Australia or anywhere else can, generally, be a hassle when it comes to opening up a bank account.
  • The TransferWise debit card, which runs from its borderless account service, gives you a bank account number and sort code for the UK, Australia, the US and all EU countries.
  • It works as an all-in-one account, so if you get a job in London, you can receive GBP and store them in your GBP account, or convert them back to NZD (or any other currency). This in itself is revolutionary and a massive perk of using TransferWise. 
  • Once you've activated your account and selected each of the below currencies, your debit card is linked and will receive:​
  1. An Australian account number and Bank State Branch (BSB) code
  2. A UK account number and sort code
  3. A European International Bank Account Number (IBAN) which all European bank accounts have
  4. A US account number and routing number 

Banks charge between 1.80% and 2.80% in currency conversion fees; TransferWise is closer to 0.50%

On a single transaction, the difference isn't significant. But they add up. We believe the high conversion charges are completely unnecessary. TransferWise charges one quarter to one fifth what the banks charge when processing the same transaction for the most common currencies.

Your money is protected (we think)

  • TransferWise states that "all money in your TransferWise Borderless Account is stored and safeguarded securely in our bank accounts in New Zealand, Australia, the UK or USA depending on the country of residence in your profile".
  • The company also states it is supervised by the Department of Internal Affairs.
  • MoneyHub is unwilling to comment further other than to say deposits sit separate from the bank accounts used by the company for its operations, and for this reason, are less at risk if TransferWise had a financial issue.

Who is the TransferWise Debit Card Most Suitable For?

  • Shop online or travelling overseas? Our view is that anyone who buys items online or in-person using a debit card that is charged in foreign currencies could benefit. TransferWise's debit card charges significantly lower foreign currency conversion fees compared to ALL banks. 
  • Looking for a travel money card? If so, it's a good idea to consider the TransferWise debit card. The features are almost the same, but the fees are lower (or free), and TransferWise's exchange rates are much better. 
  • Going on an OE? Anyone going overseas to live will automatically have a bank account number for Australia, Europe, the US and the UK. This saves a lot of hassle and makes it easier to get paid and, generally, cheaper to spend. 
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