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For international travelers, accessing cash without paying unnecessary fees can be surprisingly difficult. Many banks charge out-of-network ATM fees, add foreign transaction fees, or limit reimbursements. Those small charges add up quickly on longer trips.
That’s where the Charles Schwab Bank Visa® Platinum Debit Card stands out. For years, it’s been a favorite among frequent travelers thanks to unlimited ATM fee rebates worldwide, no foreign transaction fees, and no account minimums or monthly fees. Any ATM fees you’re charged — domestically or abroad — are automatically reimbursed by Schwab at the end of each month.
Whether you want a reliable way to withdraw cash anywhere in the world, a backup to your credit cards, or simply a debit card that won’t nickel-and-dime you overseas, the Schwab debit card remains one of the best options available. Here’s a closer look at its benefits and how to get one before your next trip.
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Charles Schwab Debit Card Benefits
No fees on ATMs or foreign transactions
In addition to charging no foreign transaction fees, no currency conversion fees, and no ATM fees worldwide, Schwab issues rebates each month for any fees charged by international ATMs. At the end of the month, you'll see a lump-sum credit for the fees incurred.
For instance, I withdrew cash twice on a 12-day trip to Asia. A Seven Bank ATM in Tokyo's Haneda Airport didn't charge a fee, but a Shanghai ATM charged $0.74. That's not much, but on longer trips, ATM fees really add up. Schwab reimbursed me for that ATM fee at the end of the month.
There's currently no cap to how much you can get reimbursed. For example, AwardWallet Editor-In-Chief JT Genter completed a challenge to visit 40 countries during 2025. September 2025 was a particularly busy month, during which he racked up a whopping $27.56 in ATM fees. All of those were reimbursed at the end of the month.
Remember that all ATM fees for the month are reimbursed in a single transaction at the end of the month, so you won't see multiple ATM rebate transactions from Charles Schwab right after you withdraw money from an ATM.
Related: How to Save Money While Traveling Internationally
Security features
Banking and transaction alerts
You can set alerts to be emailed or texted whenever you have a transaction or whenever a transaction exceeds a certain amount.
Lock/unlock through the mobile app
You can keep your debit card locked at all times, when you're about to make an ATM withdrawal or purchase, or always keep it unlocked. If your card is stolen or skimmed, you can always lock it and get a new one.
Security alert services
Stay informed about account activity through two-way text alerts for travel and fraud.
Dovly uplift
Cardholders receive complimentary enrollment in this smart credit engine designed to help raise your credit score. Dovly helps your credit score via scanning, detecting, and disputing inaccuracies on your TransUnion credit report. 90% of enrolled members see a double-digit score increase within six months. In addition, Dovly monitors your credit score and alerts you whenever there is a 10-point or more change in your credit score.
Shopping benefits
- Extended warranty protection: Purchase even a portion of an item with this card and double the manufacturer's warranty, up to one year total, on eligible warranties of three years or less. Up to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 lifetime per cardholder.
- Price protection: Receive a price adjustment if you see something purchased on the card sold for a lower price elsewhere within 60 days — up to $250 per item and $1000 per year. Claims must be submitted within 10 days of the lower price being advertised.
- Purchase security: Purchases made with the card are covered for up to 90 days, for replacement, repair, or reimbursement — up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per card. Claims must be submitted within 60 days of the incident.
Travel Benefits
- Travel accident insurance: If you purchase a fare on a common carrier with the card, you qualify for a $100,000 accidental death and dismemberment policy.
- Travel and emergency assistance services: Provides 24/7 emergency referrals for assistance while traveling; cardholder pays for services used. Services available for cardholders, spouses, and dependents under 22.
- Roadside dispatch: Pay-per-use roadside assistance program (a fee of $79.95). Set price per service for a tow of up to 5 miles, tire change, jump start, lockout service, fuel delivery, or standard winching.
Why You Need the Charles Schwab Debit Card for International Travel
No one wants to deal with the hassle of getting cash in foreign currencies prior to a trip or exchanging it at the airport at subpar rates. In addition, if you're carrying a lot of cash and it is lost or stolen, you will not be able to get it back. But travelers do need to carry at least a little cash for places where credit cards don't work. That's why you need a debit card for international travel, since you can withdraw money as needed and in the currency native to the country you are in.
You can withdraw up to $1,000 per day with the Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card, with no withdrawal fees, anywhere in the world. However, it seems that there are instances online of cardholders temporarily increasing their daily ATM withdrawal limit. You may be able to withdraw more than $1,000 if you call ahead.
While there are some fee-free ATMs, like the Seven Bank ATM at Haneda airport, you cannot count on finding one of those everywhere you go.
That's what makes the Charles Schwab debit card so great: you don't have to worry about which ATM will charge the least fees. Schwab reimburses your ATM fees at the end of the month, regardless of the ATM branch or country.
How to Get a Charles Schwab Visa Debit Card
In order to get a Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card, you can open a fee-free Schwab Bank Investor Checking account. While the checking account must be linked to a brokerage account, you can either open a no-fee Schwab One brokerage account at the same time or link it to an existing Charles Schwab brokerage account.
While the Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account or the Schwab One brokerage account does not charge a monthly fee or require a minimum balance, Schwab sometimes offers bonuses for setting up an account with a minimum deposit, so check for promotions before opening.
Schwab does not have a hard credit pull for opening an Investor Checking account. While it did conduct hard pulls in the past, these have not been in place for several years. Both your Investor Checking account and the corresponding brokerage account are FDIC insured, up to $250,000.
Steps to open an account
If you don't have any Schwab accounts, visit this website and click “Open a Checking Account.”
Next, choose between an individual or joint brokerage account, either of which works for obtaining the debit card in question.
On this last screen, you'll be invited to open both accounts at once.
Before a recent overseas trip, I wanted to get a Schwab debit card to avoid ATM fees. Since I already had a Schwab account — but not a brokerage account — I simply logged in and easily set up an individual brokerage account and a linked checking account. “Open An Account” is an option in the upper right-hand corner when logged into an existing Schwab account.
My card arrived in the mail within two weeks, so keep the arrival times of the debit card in mind when you are planning your next trip. We recommend opening your Charles Schwab Investor Checking account and getting the Charles Schwab debit card a few weeks before your international trip.
Funding the account
I funded the checking account with an ACH transfer from another checking account before traveling. Be aware that Schwab can take up to three to four business days to make funds available if transferring from an external account.
I moved $1,000 into the account and then moved nearly the entire remainder back out of the account after I got home. I left $100 in the account because I've heard anecdotally that Schwab sometimes closes inactive checking accounts with a zero balance (though I plan to use this card and its associated account again on my next international trip).
You can also fund the account with direct deposit, which I have also done when getting a paycheck.
Bottom Line
For anyone traveling internationally or wanting to use ATMs without fees domestically, the Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card is an essential part of your wallet. It's easy to get, charges no fees for transactions or ATM withdrawals, and even reimburses ATM fees charged by other domestic and international banks.
Knowing you can grab cash whenever you need without worrying about the fees will take a lot of the guesswork out of your next international trip. Pair it with your favorite no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card, and you're absolutely ready to head overseas.
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