My MBNA card was one of the few still having essentially no/1% exchange fee. But I just got a notice that this will change as of June 30, 2006. There will be a new 3% "transaction fee (finance charge)" (their exact words). I'll be switching cards after June 30th.

Check your mail carefully. The new fees are hidden in the fine print.

...not a surprise...has been just a matter of time for a while.

Do remember MBNA has been bought out by Bank of America which is one of those near criminal banks who impose the additional foreign exchange fees for not providing any service as the actual currency exchange is done by mastercard or visa. It is just one of those fees that has no basis in anything but the greed of the banks which always operate under the guise never miss an opportunity to extract money from our customers.

My two MBNA cards switched over to the 3% last year! I still keep one of them but not for traveling!

I've used MBNA for the last six years. Can anyone recommend another mainstream VISA or MC as an alternative?

Capital One may be the only "mainstream" one not imposing the fees these days. I wonder how long that will last?

I got a Capitol One card for this reason, and am voting with my wallet by using it as my primary card both at home and overseas.

Is Target visa considered 'mainstream' ?

It only has the 1% fee, not the 3%.

bookmarking - thanks for the info

Target will work. Thanks.

Is USAA still one percent? FYI, no need to be a USAA member to have one of their cards.

Betsy...absotively posilutely.

I use my MBNA LLBean card only for LLBean. Saves a bundle on shipping and love those $10 coupons!

Capital One goes with me for "foreign currency" transactions (but not cash advances...).

Uh oh...thanks nibblette for reminding me to call about my MBNA card. It's a WorldPoint card I've had since college, and I hope they're not imposing the fees on me yet.

I should get a Capital One card to be safe...even though I still have major beef with them on many many issues.

I went with the USAA card. (I am a member) I cancelled my MBNA after I discovered that they believe that if you ONCE gave the merchant the card that allows the merchant to show up a year later and bill you for things you didn't order and/or receive. (I had to READ their customer service the Fair Credit Act to get them to do something!)

Thanx, 123xyz!

Another vote for USAA credit cards. Their ATM/debit card is great too. No charge for out-of-network use and they will reimburse 10 ATM charges/month if the bank (US) charges for using their ATM machine.

I have an MBNA card through AAA.
I have not yet received notice that the 3% will be imposed, but I expect it any day.

To hedge my bets, I got a Capital One card. But it seems to be something we need to be constantly watching.

My B of A card is just about to bite the dust.

It never came out of my holder last year in Canada, the UK, Germany or Switzerland. I suppose the little guys like us don't swing enough dollars to force a change. My charges of a few thousand dollars are obviously chicken feed compared to the millions they clip for 3%.

I remember once I asked just how the exchange rate for the day was determined because the rate fluctuates continually. The answer was a barely civil statement that said, in effect, "We will not tell you. Please go away."

We had both Visa and Mastercards through MBNA since 1983 and loved them, particularly for use overseas. However, as noted above, since BofA (indeed the greediest of the greedy; Amadeo Giannini must be spinning in his grave!) took over it was like the difference between night and day! For the first time in all those years, we were assessed a late payment fee of $29.00. When we called to explain the reasons and asked to have the charge forgiven, they as much as told us to shove it. So we told them to shove their cards!

We each have a Capital One card. Using mine for the first time for air fare for a fall trip. My husband's miles will be used in the near future also. Fingers crossed that they won't join the rest of the bank gougers.

BofA is the worst. A friend was suddenly hit with all kinds of fees, increases in others with no notification, that when they withdrew almost $250K from various accounts... obviously closing up shop with BofA, no one even bothered to asked why!

I know this post isn't entirely travel related,but here is a link to a column written by David lazarus of the San Francisco Chronicle detailing all the changes to the MBNA CC terms.

Believe me BofA has really changed all your old MBNA terms for the worst.

Thank goodness I have USAA as a backup travel card.

http://tinyurl.com/mdtce