Australia dollar
 

Should I get Australian dollars from my local bank before my trip? Do I need a special pin for my bank card to work in ATM’s? Thank you.

Do not get aus$ at home. Use your ATM card and usual PIN When you are in OZ. call your bank and tell them your travel dates.

No and no.

And do NOT choose the conversion option at Aussie ATMs. Just withdraw cash. Your card will give you a better rate than the "conversion" option.

Thank you so much! That helps a lot.

You will need a 4 digit PIN for both your debit card and credit card. At least that is the case in Western Australia

Also, although you can use your debit card to withdraw cash at bank ATM’s retailers use a different system so it will not likely work in shops.

We lived in Western Australia for seven years and used our US issued credit card without a PIN all the time. Never had a problem, anywhere in AUS. Has this changed in the past two years?

Do keep in mind that there is usually a fee tacked on if you use your credit card though, so best to pay in cash (restaurants, cabs, etc) whenever possible.

We used our OZ bank debit card for most purchases. Never tried our US based debit card in Australia, other than at ATMS, which is how we get cash everywhere we travel.

Yes, Melnq8. At least, it’s much more convenient if people have PINs with their credit cards, as all Australians do. Many places have “tap &go”technology, which will require a PIN above a certain $ level.

Whilst retailers can accommodate signatures when overseas visitors don’t have PINs, it’s relatively unusual these days & not all staff will know about it. So, just more convenient, as well as more secure, to have PINs.

We’re Canadian and have had chip card with PINs from our first visit to Oz about 8 years ago. Never occurred to me to ask if a signature transaction was available.

Bokhara -

Yes, I loved the tap and go EFTPOS in Australia (debit card through our AUS bank), but I never used my AUS credit card that way.

Sadly we're way behind the times here in the US. Our bank offers chip and PIN on credit card cash withdrawals only - and who wants to do that? Interest is charged the minute the withdrawal is made!

Our credit card is chip and signature - and that's fairly new - we just got our first one a year or so ago. Retailers across my state are still transitioning to CHIP card readers.

Tiny steps.

I do miss being able to transfer funds from my AUS bank account to the account of accommodation owners, the guy who mowed our lawn, etc with just a few key strokes. In these here parts credit cards rule.

I don't miss the fee for using one's credit card though - that's uncommon here.

You don’t have internet banking in the US, Mel? Gawd - I’d hate to have to go back to the quill & cheque days.

You’ll be pleased to know that in recent days, there has been quite a reduction in cc & bank fees and in ATM fees for other- bank issued cards. Agree - using cc for cash withdrawal is insane.

Yes, we have internet banking, which we use for ongoing monthly bills (we're not quite that bad!), but transferring funds to an individual or small business, as for accommodation or lawn services, etc, isn't as readily available, whereas its commonplace in Australia.

To pay a doctor bill for example, we must log into the provider's website and give credit card details. There's no option for a direct bank to bank transfer.

To book accommodation, we provide credit card details. No bank account information is provided for a transfer.

I was really surprised when I got back to the states and a few businesses I dealt with wanted a check - huh? What's that?

Oh - I see. I pay everyone except my personal trainers by EFT. I’ll use CC if I can for the QF FFs, but otherwise, it’s EFT. These days I write 12 cheques or fewer a year, whereas I used to write more than that in a month.

I don't remember the last time I wrote a cheque.

Credit cards, debit cards and bank transfers make your life much easier. In Oz, we are able to get credit cards and debit cards that do not attract international transaction fees and give a good rate of exchange.