If you’re a frequent traveler, you don’t always have the luxury of banking in your hometown. And if you don’t carry a lot of cash in your wallet, you need a simpler, cost-effective way to access your money when traveling domestically or internationally.
It might come as a surprise, but several credit unions offer exactly what you need. Here’s a list of the 10 best credit unions for travelers.
Alliant Credit Union
Open an account with Alliant Credit Union and benefit from more than 80,000 surcharge-free ATMs across the country. The credit union offers convenient features for people on the go, such as online account management, mobile banking, mobile deposits and online bill pay. Are you in the market for a credit card? Alliant offers two options with a 1 percent foreign transaction fee.
America First Credit Union
America First Credit Union might only have branches in Utah or Nevada, but it has more than 28,000 surcharge-free CO-OP network ATMs. With full-service mobile banking and online banking, you don’t have to be in the vicinity of a branch to deposit paychecks, transfer funds, pay bills or check your balance. The credit union’s credit cards feature a low foreign transaction fee up to 1 percent of the U.S. dollar amount.
Read: How to Protect Your Bank Account While Traveling
American Airlines Credit Union
With American Airlines Credit Union, accessing your money has never been easier. Online banking, mobile banking and bill pay provide peace of mind knowing you can manage your account and take care of financial responsibilities even when you’re away from home. Track account transactions, transfer funds and deposit checks. And if you prefer traveling with a credit card, the credit union’s Visa Platinum credit cards feature no annual fees and a 1 percent international transaction fee on purchases.
Andrews Federal Credit Union
Andrews Federal Credit Union has branches in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and New Jersey, as well as branches in three European countries — Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. Members can take advantage of a variety of convenient features offered through SmartSuite eServices. You can manage your money and pay bills online, and if you’re stationed in Europe, Andrews Federal Credit Union’s Euro Bill Pay offers a simple way to pay your European bills. And when using the credit union’s Visa Platinum Rewards credit card, you won’t have to pay international transaction fees.
Apple Federal Credit Union
Apple Federal Credit Union gives travelers 24-hour access to their money and account information. Use NetBranch Online Banking to schedule money transfers, pay bills from any location or check your account balances. Withdraw cash from more than 53,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide, and use one (or more) of the credit union’s six credit card options — all of which have no foreign transaction fees.
Related: What Is the Best Credit Card to Use Overseas?
Associated Credit Union
Associated Credit Union makes it easy to stay on top of your personal finances while you’re traveling. Manage your account with online and mobile banking — pay bills, receive electronic statements, transfer funds, deposit funds or reorder checks. Apply for the credit union’s Visa Platinum Preferred Credit Card, and you’ll not only enjoy a competitive rate, but you’ll also pay no foreign transaction fees on international purchases. Use Associated Credit Union’s ATM locator to find more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs in the CO-OP ATM network nationwide.
ELGA Credit Union
Join ELGA Credit Union and take advantage of member services, such as online banking, telephone banking and mobile banking. You can access your cash and perform transactions at more than 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs. In fact, if you open a free Kasasa checking account with ELGA Credit Union and happen to get charged for using an ATM, you can get your fees refunded. Additionally, the credit union’s Visa Platinum Credit Card only charges up to 1 percent of the U.S. dollar amount of foreign transactions.
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal Credit Union offers six credit cards with low or no foreign transaction fees, including the GO REWARDS Credit Card and the Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Credit Card. Along with the credit cards, the credit union has various tools and features to help you manage your money. Enroll in online banking and access your account no matter where you are. Remote banking lets you pay bills online, transfer funds, order checks and deposit checks via a scanner or mobile device. Search for branches and ATMs using the credit union’s regional and overseas maps. You can also view which new branches are open and which ones are coming soon.
Keep reading: 10 Best Military Banks of 2015
Suncoast Credit Union
No matter your location, Suncoast Credit Union lets you “bank on your terms.” Use the credit union’s online bill pay feature to stay on top of your bills or mobile banking for other services, such as money transfers and mobile check deposits. Suncoast Credit Union’s large ATM CO-OP network and Publix PRESTO ATMs has tens of thousands of surcharge-fee ATMs, giving you access to cash whether you’re in Florida or traveling. The credit union also offers a selection of credit cards featuring competitive rates, and you’ll only pay a 1 percent foreign transaction fee.
Ventura County Credit Union
Ventura County Credit Union only has seven branch locations in Ventura County, but between the credit union’s ATM locations and its CO-OP network ATMs, you can access your money free of charge at more than 30,000 ATMs nationwide. Online banking services allow you to manage your account whenever you’re away from home. Deposit paychecks using a mobile device, and monitor your account balances, pay bills and transfer money while keeping track of transactions. Ventura County Credit Union’s credit cards are also top picks for travelers, since they only charge a 1 percent foreign transaction fee.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Best Credit Unions for Travelers
This article by Valencia Higuera first appeared on GoBankingRates.com and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network.
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