Foreign exchange fees on credit cards should be of keen interest to those traveling outside Malaysia. However, the most important is the overseas transaction fees that your card-issuing banks may impose.
Normally for foreign exchange, transaction made outside Malaysia will be converted to US Dollar, which is determined by Master Card or VISA International or AMEX on the date the transaction received and/or processes by the Bank. The value of US Dollar is then converted to Ringgit Malaysia. The exchange rates may vary according to market fluctuations.
For overseas transaction, most card-issuing banks impose overseas transaction fees on all transaction made outside Malaysia.
As of now card-issuing banks revealed the following overseas transaction fees:
|
Banks/Issuers
|
Rate (%)
|
|---|---|
|
AEON
|
1.5
|
|
Affin Bank
|
0
|
|
AmBank
|
1
|
|
American Express (AMEX) with Maybank Logo
|
1.5
|
|
American Express (AMEX) without Maybank Logo
|
2.5 |
|
Al-Rajhi Bank
|
???
|
|
Alliance Bank
|
1
|
|
Bank Islam
|
0
|
|
Bank Rakyat
|
1.5
|
|
BSN
|
???
|
|
CIMB Bank and Direct Access
|
1
|
|
Citibank
|
1
|
|
EON Bank
|
1
|
|
Hong Leong Bank
|
1
|
|
HSBC
|
1
|
|
Maybank
|
0.5
|
|
MBF Cards
|
???
|
|
OCBC Bank
|
1
|
|
Public Bank
|
1.25
|
|
RHB Bank
|
???
|
|
Standard Chartered
|
1
|
|
Synergy+
|
???
|
|
UOB
|
1
|
Click here for VISA card exchange rate.
Feel free to put your comments if you like to add additional information.
Last update : 1st August 2011
Hi!
I have read conflicting views on whether credit cards issued by local banks encounter problems when one if overseas – as in, could the card be rejected even if it is a MasterCard/Visa. Specifically, do you know whether Direct Access credit cards have problems with being accepted overseas (Europe, in particular?)
No, problem to use local bank credit card in overseas. Just remember to call customer service before you go.
Thanks a bunch!
i think u gonna update this. Bank rakyat is charging 1.25% for oversea transaction.
http://www.bankrakyat.com.my/idebitkad
Thanks Felix 🙂 Table updated.
EON bank also changed to 1%, your table need to be updated. The link is
http://www.eonbank.com.my/personal_banking/standard_bank_charges/12_cards.shtml
BTW, thanks for the effort to list down all bank charges in one site.
Thanks LX, table updated.
Need clarification. Alliance bank 0% oversea transaction charge? I cant find any details on their website.
yyun09, I just do a quick check. They have change it to 1% now. You can take a look at “Product Disclosure Sheet” on Credit Card page at Alliance bank webpage.
Useful table. Thanks for putting it together. My 2 cents below.
Though I am not sure if these fees don’t differ also based on the issuing credit card company.
I couldn’t find anything about those fees on Maybank website, so I called their call centre and was told they don’t charge any extra on top of the Visa/MS published exchange rate but they do charge 2.5% Oversees transaction fee to AMEX holders.
Asked whether those info are published anywhere on Maybank website but the agent didn’t know the answer.