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Using your debit cards outside the UK

You don't need to tell us when you are travelling abroad, we will monitor your account in the same way as if you were using your card in the UK.

Here is some information you may need before using your card abroad.

Contact us

Call
0800 678 3380
(Monday to Friday 8am - 9pm
Saturday 8am - 9pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm)

This service may be temporarily unavailable during periods of routine maintenance.

Exchange rates
Fees for card payments outside the UK
Product comparisons
Travel options
  • Yorkshire Bank debit card
    If you make a debit card payment in a foreign currency, we will convert this at the Mastercard exchange rate, usually on the day you use your card. Please see the link below to the Mastercard website.
    You may be able to convert the currency directly with the retailer or ATM provider. In this case, they will show the exchange rate and any fees to you on screen before you agree to go ahead with the transaction.
    The rate that you will see on your Current, Savings or Business account statement will be the Mastercard exchange rate. Additional fees will be shown separately in the statement wording (see "Fees for card payments outside the UK")

    You can find the latest and historical payment scheme exchange rates at Mastercard

    For card transactions made within the EEA or in an EEA currency you can find out the reference exchange rate by calling us on 0800 678 3380.

    You can find out how the exchange rate for EEA currencies compares with the latest foreign exchange reference rate issued by the European Central Bank here (opens in a new window).
  • Yorkshire Bank debit card
    You will pay these charges if you use your debit card to pay a supplier based outside the UK:

    Within the EEA
    If the currency is Sterling, Euro, Swedish Krona or Romanian Leu:
    • Foreign Purchase Fee not charged
    All remaining currencies:
    • Foreign Purchase Fee of 2.75%, min £1.50
    Outside the EEA
    All currencies:
    • Foreign Purchase Fee of 2.75%, min £1.50
    For further information, including the countries in the EEA - please visit our charges when using your card abroad page.
    You will pay these charges if you use your debit card to withdraw cash from an ATM abroad.

    Within the EEA
    Currency is Sterling, Euro, Swedish Krona or Romanian Leu:
    • Foreign Cash Fee not charged.
    All remaining currencies:
    • Foreign Cash Fee of 3.75%, min £1.50
    Outside the EEA
    All currencies:
    • Foreign Cash Fee of 3.75%, min £1.50
    Foreign Purchase Fee 2.75%, minimum £1.50
    • If you pay in local currency and are charged a fee, your statement will show "FGN Purchase Fee"
    • If you pay in Sterling and are charged a fee, your statement will show "FGN PurchFee inGBP".
    Foreign Cash Fee 3.75%, minimum £1.50
    • If you withdraw Sterling from an ATM outside the UK and are charged a fee, your statement will show "FGN Cash Fee"
    • If you withdraw Sterling from an ATM outside the UK and are charged a fee, your statement will show "FGN CashFee inGBP".
    Please refer to 'illustrative examples' below.
    Foreign Cash Fee is charged on the value of withdrawals made from ATMs. A purchase with cashback outside the UK is not is not treated as cash and is charged a Foreign Purchase Fee.
    Where a foreign purchase transaction is refunded by a retailer, the purchase transaction amount will be credited back to the account based on the exchange rate on the day of refund. The Foreign Purchase Fee charged for the original transaction will not be refunded. For any foreign reversals received, the original Foreign Purchase Fee will be reversed. If a foreign transaction is reversed, your statement will show "FGN PurcFee REV" for a local currency transaction, and "FGN PurcFee GBPREV" for a reversed transaction in sterling.
    Daily cash limits apply outside the UK as they do for our debit cards in the UK:
    £350 (Debit Mastercard online contactless or Debit Mastercard non contactless) or
    £500 (Retail/Private Debit Mastercard contactless).
    Higher cash amounts may be available over a bank counter.

    International purchase limits also apply to transactions with suppliers outside the UK -
    £5,000 per day (Debit Mastercard online contactless or Debit Mastercard non contactless) or
    £10,000 per day (Retail/Private Debit Mastercard contactless)

    Illustrative Examples

    Yorkshire Bank Debit Card:

    This example is based on a $100 cash withdrawal in the USA using a Mastercard exchange rate of $1.00 = £0.70649

    $100 equivalent is £70.65 and will be shown on your statement with the Mastercard exchange rate. On separate lines your statement will show related fees -
    The 3.75% Foreign Cash Fee is FGN Cash Fee £2.65
    Total sterling equivalent cost will be shown on your statement as £73.30

    Yorkshire Bank Debit Card:

    This example is based on a €100 purchase in Spain and using a Mastercard exchange rate of €1.00 = £0.864638
    €100 equivalent is £86.46 and will be shown on your statement with the Mastercard exchange rate.
    No Foreign Purchase Fee is applied
    Total cost £86.46

  • These examples compare the cost of making certain transactions. The debit card rates used are the payment scheme exchange rate set by Mastercard which applied on 1st June 2021. On this date Mastercard quoted £1.00 = €1.1648726, or €1.00 = £0.864638 & £1.00 = $1.4248526, or $1.00 = £0.70649.

      Debit card Euro travellers' cheques and foreign currency
    €100 purchase
    In the EEA    		 £86.46 total


    		 €100

    The cost in sterling depends on the rate which applied on the day when foreign currency or travellers' cheques were purchased.
    €100 cash withdrawal
    In the EEA    		 £86.46 total

    		 Encashing traveller’s cheques may incur an additional fee, charged by the local bureau.

    Sterling travellers' cheques or notes will be encashed at a rate set by the local bureau.
    $100 (USD) purchase £72.59 in total

    including our Foreign Purchase Fee.

    		 $100

    The cost in sterling depends on the rate which applied on the day when foreign currency or travellers' cheques were purchased.
    $100 (USD) cash withdrawal £73.30 in total

    including our Foreign Cash Fee.    		 Encashing traveller’s cheques may incur an additional fee, charged by the local bureau.

    Sterling travellers' cheques or notes will be encashed at a rate set by the local bureau.
    Other comments Transactions are taken from your current or savings account Purchased in advance before travelling. Unlike foreign currency cash, travellers' cheques can be replaced if lost.

  • Yorkshire Bank offers the following travel facilities:

    • Use your existing debit card abroad
    • Annual family travel insurance
    • Travel insurance plus more for £14.50 per month with Club M Account. Applicants must be aged 18 years or over.
    • Travel money – foreign currency and travellers' cheques

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You can find impartial information and guidance on money matters on the “Money advice service” website.
Yorkshire Bank is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Find out more.