Travelling with your debit card

Wherever you’re going, you’ll pay no first direct debit card fees* when spending abroad. Nice.

Fuss free spending overseas

No first direct fees

Pay no first direct fees when purchasing on your Mastercard® debit card or withdrawing cash from an ATM abroad.

*you may still be charged fees that are outside of our control

In-app management

Track your spending, freeze or unfreeze your card, and top up your spending money all within the first direct App.

Add it to your (digital) wallet

Last minute travel plans? No need to wait for your physical card to arrive - spend right away with your virtual card using Google Pay and Apple Pay.

We pass the Mastercard® exchange rate directly on to you, with no added fees or charges. So if you use the Mastercard® Currency Converter Calculator Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first], you can put a big fat zero for Bank Fee.

If you’re using your card outside of the UK and given the choice of paying in pounds or in local currency, consider choosing local currency. By selecting this option, you’ll avoid any additional conversion fees the retailer or their bank may charge.

If you'd like to be prepared with cash in the local currency before travelling, you can order this from us too. Be it for shopping at the local markets or tipping the waiter after dinner, having some cash to hand can really come in handy when you're abroad. Using your 1st Account you can order many different currencies direct to your door, with fee free delivery.

Find out more about our travel money service.

Useful Information

Important account documents

Join first direct

Want to take first direct on your next trip but haven’t joined yet? Download our App and open an account in minutes.

T&Cs eligibility criteria apply.

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Apply now

FAQs

Can I use my debit card abroad?

Yes, you can use your first direct debit card abroad and won't be charged any conversion fees for making purchases or withdrawing cash. But, you may sometimes be charged by the ATM to withdraw cash - this should be displayed on the screen at the time of making a withdrawal.

Do I need to let you know when I'm travelling?

How much can I withdraw from ATMs overseas?

You can take out up to £500 per day. There is a daily cash withdrawal limit of £500 (or the foreign currency equivalent) at ATMs and you may need to enter your card twice depending on the ATM as some ATMs only allow lower amounts.

How are the exchange rates worked out?

The exchange rates you get when using your debit card abroad, or when making cash withdrawals in a foreign currency, are converted to GBP by using the Mastercard Exchange Rate. This rate changes daily so you'll get the rate that applies on the day the conversion is made. Take a look at the Mastercard Currency Converter Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] to find out more information.

We pass this rate directly onto you without any additional fees or charges.

Your eligible deposits with HSBC UK Bank plc are protected up to a total of £85,000 or up to £170,000 for joint accounts, by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme.

This limit is applied to the total of any deposits you have with the following: HSBC UK Bank plc and first direct. Any total deposits you hold above the limit between these brands are unlikely to be covered.

If you're not happy with your account, you have a 14 day period after you receive your welcome pack to close your account. Please see the Account Terms and Conditions and Charges for full details.

first direct is a division of HSBC UK Bank plc and HSBC has accounts more suitable for customers living outside of the UK. For more information please call HSBC on +44 1226 261 010 or visit hsbc.co.uk.

For more information about accounts and other products you can refer to the Money Advice Service™ website Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first].

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