💳 Banks & Cards for Nomads

Revolut, Wise, N26… Which cards have no foreign fees? Complete comparison.

A traditional bank typically charges currency conversion fees (2-3%) and foreign withdrawal fees. Over a year of travel, that quickly adds up to several hundred euros lost.

🏦 Neobanks worth knowing

Revolut - Currency conversion at the real market rate (within a monthly cap on the free plan), fee-free withdrawals up to a certain amount/month. Handy for daily multi-currency use.

Wise - Historically built for low-cost international transfers, also offers a card with real-rate conversion. Very useful if you regularly send/receive money in different currencies.

N26 - An alternative closer to a traditional bank in how it works, with fee-free options abroad depending on the plan.

📋 What we check before choosing a card

• Monthly free withdrawal cap (often limited past a certain amount)
• Exchange rate applied (real market rate vs a “house” rate with a hidden markup)
• Possible blocking on unusual activity - always give your app/bank a heads-up before a big withdrawal in a new country
• Have a backup card, ideally from a different provider, in case of a block or loss

💰 Potential savings

~€50/month in avoided fees compared to a standard French bank card abroad, for regular nomad use.

A card we didn’t mention that you use? Tell us in the comments, we’ll add it to this guide: romain.steph@ourlifeabroad.com