8 best bank account features for frequent travelers-brfastnews

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2025-09-23

8 best bank account features for frequent travelers

If you travel frequently, the features you get with a standard bank account may not cut it. Limited ATM access, excessive fees, and poor currency exchange rates can quickly eat into your travel budget and make managing your finances away from home a headache.

Those who travel often will appreciate a bank account that addresses these concerns. Finding the best fit is even more crucial for international travelers.

Looking for a bank account you can take on the road? These features are a must for those who are always traveling.

Many banks charge foreign transaction fees, also known as foreign exchange fees or currency conversion fees, when you make a purchase in a currency other than U.S. dollars or when the payment is processed through a foreign bank. The typical fee is about 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, meaning you would pay an extra $1 to $3 per $100 transaction.

The good news: Several of the best checking accounts charge no foreign transaction fees, including the SoFi Online bank account and the Capital One 360 checking account. If you travel often or shop internationally, choosing an account with no foreign transaction fees is an easy way to keep costs down.

Having access to a large number of ATMs is essential for frequent travelers. This feature allows you to access cash regardless of your physical location.

Note that some banks don’t have their own large ATM networks, but partner with shared networks such as Allpoint or MoneyPass to give customers greater access to ATMs.

Others offer monthly ATM fee reimbursements for times when you use an out-of-network ATM. For example, Ally Bank reimburses up to $10 per statement cycle for fees charged by third-party ATM owners.

You may be the type to have a burning question about your bank account at 1 a.m. on a Tuesday. Or maybe you just happen to be in Melbourne, Australia, where the local time is 3 p.m. when it’s 1 a.m. in New York. This is why 24/7 live support is crucial for international travelers.

Several banks offer 24/7 live support — particularly, online banks — including Discover, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Axos Bank, and Alliant Credit Union.

4. Robust fraud prevention and detection

Fraud detection and prevention are crucial, especially if you travel often. One way banks sometimes detect fraud is with unusual account activity, such as activity in a foreign country. However, if you frequently travel internationally, it may not automatically trigger an alert on your account.

Banks with strong fraud detection and prevention keep you safe with solid fraud detection features. Large banks like Chase and Bank of America offer virtual card numbers and multi-factor authentication. These features make it much more difficult for someone to gain unauthorized access to your accounts.

Having an easy way to transfer money electronically is convenient, and many banks integrate Zelle for this very purpose.

Zelle allows you to send and receive money in minutes, directly between U.S. bank accounts. That means if you need to split a dinner bill, reimburse a travel companion, or pay someone back on the spot, you don’t have to wait days for the money to transfer. And unlike many international money apps, Zelle doesn’t charge transaction fees.

Many popular banks, such as Ally, Capital One, and Discover, include Zelle.

If you travel abroad frequently, nothing eats into your budget like poor exchange rates. An unfavorable exchange rate makes your money worth significantly less when shopping internationally. This can have a bigger impact than foreign exchange fees, so minimizing it is key.

Travel-friendly banks such as Charles Schwab and HSBC are often good options, as they prioritize international banking and typically have reasonable exchange rates. Still, it’s often better to buy currency ahead of time because this can lead to even better exchange rates.

A bonus to consider when looking for a checking account is one that pays rewards on spending — especially in categories where you may spend more while traveling, such as dining and transportation.

Rewards checking accounts aren’t too common, but there are a few out there. For example, Consumers Credit Union, Discover, Axos Bank, and Upgrade all offer cash-back rewards on debit card purchases when you meet certain requirements.

It should never be a challenge to perform basic banking activities, such as checking your account balances, transferring money, and moving money into a savings account. Unfortunately, many banks have outdated or clunky online banking experiences that make even the most basic tasks a challenge.

Modern online banks typically fare the best in this category. Look to banks like SoFi, LendingClub, Capital One, and Varo Bank for a seamless online experience. These banks generally make it easy to navigate your account and have excellent mobile apps that are simple to navigate.