Current Wamu Debit Card Rates?
 

I'm going to Amsterdam, Germany and Austria in June. I'm thinking of opening a Wamu checking account to use the debit card as the last I read it only charges 1% conversion rate and $3 ATM fee. Is this still true? I can't locate any info on their website.

Also, I've read many posts about having difficulties with Wamu's Debit Mastercard in Europe, but they're from 2006 and 2007. If everything sorted now?

I should also add that I currently use Wells Fargo (3% rate and $5 fee) and am moving to Chicago in a few months and need to switch banks anyway. I'd bring my Wells Fargo debit card as a back-up along with my credit card.

I don't have one, but I read an article dated 3/08 that said they still had only a one pct foreign transaction fee. The ATM fee is supposed to be free, isn't it, they tout that all over their website.

Hmmm. I'll have to check that. I thought that the last post I saw said they were charged a $3 fee. Maybe it's different for different types of checking accounts.

I called and they said it's a $2 ATM withdraw fee internationally and a 1% conversion rate for the free checking accounts. Just in case anyone is searching for info later.

Any complaints on being able to use the Wamu Debit Mastercard in Europe recently?

I had good luck with my Wamu debit all over. I noticed my card only has the Star network logo on the back. I think the Master Card logo on the front covers almost all ATM's you are likely to run into.

If you are military, USAA has an even better deal. Free. They deal with a lot of military overseas so it's a much used benefit. I'm former military. I'm considering opening an account with them before my next trip to take advantage of that.

I don't know how they can say there is an ATM fee when right on their website it says there isn't one.

Right on their website section under the free checking it says "free ATM withdrawals worldwide" and if you click for the details it clearly says they are free but that there might be a conversion charge (or charge by the other ATM).
http://preview.tinyurl.com/4p7tr4

Did you ask them why their website is lying?

caitroselin,
Take a look at http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php...reign_Exchange
Toward the bottom of the page is a matrix with debit card charges. This may give you a starting point for a new bank but you still need to check with the new bank.

Henry

I have no problem using my WAMU M/C debit internationally. The conversion fee is one percent and I should pay closer attention because I don't remember paying an ATM fee.

This is what I found on the website:

"Free ATM cash withdrawals worldwide: Withdraw cash from your WaMu Free Checking account at any ATM and we won’t charge you a fee. Sadly, other ATM operators may still charge you a nonrefundable fee and foreign currency exchange and transaction fees may apply."


Below is a cut and past from the Statement of Fees provided before you sign up:

"Non-Washington Mutual ATMs
International ATM Transactions - Balance Inquiry, Funds Transfer or Withdrawal: $2.00"

So maybe they consider this a "transaction fee"?


Also, just as an FYI to other Wamu card holders, at the bottom of the Statement of Fees is a notice that:

"Effective June 5, 2008, our fees will be changing as follows:

Debit Card Foreign Transaction Fee
ATM Transactions: 1% of total
Other Transactions: 3% of total"

I'm not planning on using my debit card other than ATM transactions, so I'm not worried about that.

Thanks to those who reported back on use of their card abroad. I feel confident in opening an account now.

No, a balance inquiry or transfer fee of $2 is NOT the same as a fee just to withdraw money from an ATM.

I made the mistake once of doing a balance inquiry on a foreign ATM and did get a fee when I wouldn't have had one if I didn't do that. I guess I wasn't aware that alone would give me a fee, and was just kind of curious what it was. Won't make that mistake again.

The website says there is no fee internationally just to withdraw money (other than the 1 pct conversion) and yet they told you there was a $2 fee to withdraw money at an ATM abraod, right? If they didn't really say that, but that there could be a $2 fee for some kind of ATM transactions, that's another story (a balance inquiry would be a transaction, I suppose).

In your above post you said they told you on the phone that there is a $2 ATM withdrawal fee.