What's Really in Your Wallet?
 

As there are always posts here about the best credit card and ATM cards to take when traveling, I thought I would post this article that went up today on the site's Wire and out in this week's newsletter.

The Good: Capital One, HSBC, Starwood Card, Wachovia, Washington Mutual, credit unions

and

The Bad: Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo

Want to know why? Check out: http://www.fodors.com/wire/archives/002384.cfm

I'd be interested to hear your own recommendations for top cards--- especially for regional banks.

OMG...I have a Chase and 2 Citibanks!!!!

Don't worry BeachBoi...it's not the end of the world. Just a heads up!

Thanks......I think I have them cuz they were prolly the first to make me an offer after I got out of college....Thanks for the info...:D

Thanks! There was thread here about carrying two ATM/Debit cards when travelling. I only have Bank of America now and was looking to open another account at either Chase or Citibank. But now I know exactly where to go HSBC it is!

Since this is the US Board, it's necessary to point out the conversion fees that wre the main evaluationfactor in that article are irrelevant for US travel.

I like my mastercard that gives point that can be redeemed for all sorts of things rather than hotel rooms. I paid for half of my new laptop with CompUSA gift cards bought with points from my mastercard.

Anon,

Huh? I love to travel throughout the US which is one reason I am on this board. However, the US isn't the ONLY place I travel...

No fee ATM and low fee CCs (the 1% V and MC currency conversion fees are rebated at year end) from USAA for international use and CitiAAdvantage MC for US charges.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

I've got Chase, Citibank, and BofA cards - I never applied for cards through any of these banks, but over time with mergers and acquisitions, this is what I have ended up with - LOL.

My small regional bank, Community Banks of Colorado, rebates the ATM fees that other banks charge when I use other banks ATM. At $3.50 a pop, that is very user friendly in my eyes.

$2,000.00 in cash. I don't like ATM's. Two AM EX Co and two Visa..........

I pay my credit card bill to "First Bankcard" Got the card from the Union Bank, but they've sold their Credit Cards.

I like the way they handle problems, and I like to get cash back - don't save the points, just cash them out.

I wonder what's wrong with the Citibank ATM, used it in several countries.

Oh, another point: I never ever keep those cards in my wallet. A little bit of cash and store cards, that's it.

The credit and health cards I keep in a small "note-book" with clear plastic compartments. If I lose my wallet, at least the cards stay with me.

AmEx (good old green), Citibank Visa and ATM, Chase Visa, Capital One Visa, Fidelity ATM

For credit use AmEx unless the vendor won't take it - except for the low limit Capital One Visa (that's for gas and parking only - so if anything happens the potential mess is limited to only $2500).

The Citibank and Chase cards are free based on other accounts/deposts - and are rarely used. And those are my local banks.

Based on the replies, I would guess most don't travel internationally or don't mind paying high fees.
I thought that was the premise of the original question, lol.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

Chase and Citibank are on our nasty list as well, but not just for exorbitant usage fees. Out of the blue, and after a 15 year perfect payment record, both of these banks decided my roommate's credit card balances were too high. One raised him from 9% to 18%, and the other from 10% to *27%*.

Fortunately he had the resources to pay both cards off immediately and avoid this legal usury.

I travel internationally, but not often enough that international transaction fees would be an issue for me.

I ravel internationally fairly frequently on both business and pleasure. Have not seen any real differences in the cards - although as I said I use AmEx wherever possible - and it usually is.

But - I think there are different rates, fees etc based on your total business with the bank. Have checking (since high school) with citibank along with some CDs - and similar for Chase (got them when both were offering the best rates of any bank I'd ever heard of). I won't use no name banks - still believe there's too much opportunity for playing games with the money.

I'm a hopeless Amex devotee as well. They've always done really well for me, and the service is amazing!

Capital One Mastercard for overseas -- no foreign transaction fee and their ATM fees were only $1.50 overseas compared to $5 with my regular bank (Comerica.)

In the US, Exxon Mastercard with rebates in gasoline; I've had the card for several years and have received about $5,000 in free gas.