NAB Traveller Card

Best Travel Card on the market! – I used this travel card on my last 2 trips to Europe back in 2018 & 2019. Used it in London, Italy & Paris & never once had a problem. It worked perfectly & was so easy & convenient to manage through the NAB banking app. Couldn’t fault it at all. Such a shame NAB have now discontinued it. I am yet to find a travel card as good at this one was. Show details

Now discontinued – Received an email 29 June 2022 from NAB, stating that the card is being discontinued as at 30 September 2022. I had used the card many times before this; and found it more than acceptable. Will be swapping to a different bank now. Show details

My money disappeared / dreadful service – I transferred AUD1K to my traveller's card online. It vanished - no record on my card, and not returned to my account. Instead, a notice that it would be returned to my account in a "few" days. No offer to pay interest, I note. When I rang the London number to get the situation rectified, after answering endless security questions, the call cut out. USELESS. Show details

Won't honour purchases without calling them every single time and did not disclose internal policy changes to users – I obtained this card to buy goods from AliExpress. I had been buying things from AliExpress on this card for years when suddenly in mid 2019/early 2020 the transactions stopped going through. I called what I thought was 'NAB' but is in fact an American organisation and separate call centre which manages these cards (they are not an internal NAB… Read more

product) and they said they class AliExpress all of a sudden as 'risky' and would not allow me to make purchases on AliExpress unless I called them up and unblocked the time prior to making any transaction. They REFUSED to apply an exemption on my account for AliExpress. Imagine that, a credit card that requires permission prior to purchases?!

There are numerous reasons why this just isn't practical - notably that AliExpress often works with partner cashback organisations to grant special cashback rewards at particular times like 6-9PM. And the NAB traveler card happen to have their call centre closed at that time. Even if I had prior notice of instances when I'd like to use the card, these changes to their policies of which I was not given notice of renders my card worthless.

I have moved to a Commonwealth Bank traveler card who does not block AliExpress.

UPDATE - Further Benefits of NAB Traveller Card – After first using our Traveller Cards in Italy, and after getting them stolen, and promptly receiving replacement cards to continue our holiday after one phone call (see separate review), we have continued to use our cards for overseas holidays without any problems. In particular, we booked online from Australia, obtaining advanced purchase… Read more

berths for the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen in July 2019, and paid in Euro using the Traveller Card. This was cheaper than using an Australian credit card and paying the foreign transaction and conversion fees. Secondly, we booked Danish State Railways (DSB) advance purchase (much cheaper) train tickets online, using our NAB Traveller card. We were aware that the DSB booking system only accepts European card numbers. The NAB Traveller Card is a European Card, with European numbers, so we were able to get the really cheap fares and booked seats, well in advance of our travel. In addition, you can check recent transaction details at any time online, logging in to the Traveller Card site while you are away (not the NAB site in Australia), or getting full details to check all transactions on your return. Detailed statements are mailed every 6 months, but you can order a statement at any time, and receive it by email, with just a phone call. Finally, with regard to the ATM transaction fees referred to in many reviews, this fee is a local bank charge, and not a result of using the NAB Traveller card. Just like in Australia, many ATM's charge a fee for cash withdrawals, depending on which card and which ATM that you use. You just need to do a little research on line to find which banks give fee free cash withdrawals. Alternatively, all ATM's I have found advised the fee before you confirm. If you are in a big town, just reject and find another machine/bank that does it for free. We travelled in Spain in 2018, and there were two ATM's in two different banks one block apart in Tarifa (little town at the southern tip of Spain). One ATM was fee free, and the other charged 10 Euro per withdrawal! Just pick your ATM. Alternatively, use you Traveller card for all purchases as much as possible at the supermarket, shop, restaurant or railway station, and you won't need to use much cash at all. It just takes a bit of planning and preparation to get the maximum benefits.

Stolen Cards Replaced while on Holiday in Italy – I first purchased a NAB Travel Card to use while holidaying in Italy in 2014 and experienced all the benefits of this Card after it was stolen! I originally purchased the card after receiving a promotional brochure from NAB (I was already a customer), and was attracted by its benefits of carrying foreign currencies to avoid the more expensive… Read more

credit card conversion fees, and because it promised fast replacement if lost or stolen overseas.

The card allows a variety of foreign currencies to be loaded by simple transfer from your NAB savings account to the NAB Traveller Card via internet banking. This feature allows simple top-up and balance checks via internet banking. Originally topping up was done with Bill Pay, but the current system is even easier. The card is a MasterCard and has always been well received when touring through Europe, from Ireland and Portugal in the west to Turkey in the east, and paying in euros and British pounds. I have also used it to pay advance travel costs on line when the currency required was in euros!

Unfortunately, I had a disturbing experience while travelling in Peru. Before I obtained a NAB Traveller card, a bank ATM in Peru took the Australian credit/cash card without returning it, the bank opened in 3 hours but the tour group was leaving immediately. A replacement card could only be delivered to an Australian home address! Fortunately, I had a spare card.

With this experience in mind, I took up the offer to obtain a NAB Traveller Card for the next holiday to Italy, with its promise of speedy card replacement wherever in the world. It also has the duplicate card feature, which gives you two cards, with a spare to activate in event the original is lost or stolen.

Unfortunately, my card was stolen in Rome, along with its spare, both contained in my backpack within my hire car, while i was standing beside it, thanks to a well orchestrated team theft at the hire car pickup point at Rome Termini Station. (Moral of the story is keep one card in you hand carry/wallet, and the backup card separately in your main luggage!)

I reported the theft within the hour to the 24 hour NAB Traveller Card emergency number, the cards were then cancelled and the funds quarantined. The operator, who I believe was in London, arranged to have new cards issued, and delivered to the hotel where I was booked in three days time. I continued the holiday and on arrival, replacement cards were waiting for me at hotel reception, with my cash reloaded and ready to go.

It is a brilliant system and I was pleased with the great response, although I never expected I would ever need it.

Well done NAB Traveller Card.

Awesome product – Zero problems Only got charge fees in 1 country qatar, No fees other than stated currency changeover. So easy to use, if you read the t&c make it work for you reading some of the reviews people have failed to understand the t&cs Show details

An awesome card – Travelled to Italy, Greece, Qatar and Croatia, what a perfect card, it would be the only card I would use. I read the T&Cs I understood them and the only charges was $2.46ish for cash withdrawal in Qatar (which I expected). People make the card work for you. Show details

Worked Perfectly in the USA – I used the card extensively in the USA (San Francisco, LA etc). It worked every time. Easy to load via the NAB app - instant and no extra fees except the initial slightly poor conversion rate ~3% to USD. As long as you load to USD and not leave it in AUD, then everything it smooth. And select "Credit" if asked - then all is ok. Show details

Do yourself a favour - do not get this card – I had 2000 euros left on my card & decided to deposit it into my NAB account, converting into Australian dollars. The charge was an unbelievable $200. No explanation. No chance of it’s recovery.

Avoid this card - Horrible exchange fees then 4% conversion fees anyway! – Exactly the experience of Bee below. On ill advice of this bank, I loaded a NAB Travel card with USD at a terrible exchange rate, then I was charged 4% conversion fees on transactions because - although I made purchases in USD, these were made online in AUS. As for customer service - forget it! Just another off shore call centre Show details

Please DO NOT GET THIS CARD – Went to Canada Hotel would not accept this card as it had no name printed on the card, so we were forced to use our credit card. The worst thing, decided to cancel this card and transfer the funds to my bank account it took 2 months, when they state 3-5 days. I am still waiting, because there is a dispute now about the currency rates. The NAB has… Read more

washed there hands, as they do with everything. They do not cover you if you lose the card and your funds are stolen. REMBER THIS. They don’t tell you that.

No fees, big deal, no service – No trouble using some for transactions while on holidays some months ago. It was a test run before the now cancelled trip to Europe. Since returning I cannot access a statement, the registration page has had the same issues with not accepting passwords, the staff in the branch cant assist, online there is no joy, and when you call the number the online chat directs you to the options dont function.

Left me broke and stranded in Europe – Card was fine in a couple of countries around Europe, only uses 10 currencies though so it doesn’t have a lot of potential to begin with. And then it left me stranded in Slovenia WITHOUT ANY money whatsoever, because suddenly the load from my NAB account to my NAB traveller card said it would take up to 3-5 days!!! I had used it for over a month… Read more

with instant transfers - this is ridiculous!! My only saving grace was that I was travelling with my sister who lent me food money until money from my mother came through. Don’t bother calling the help line, after putting me through to 3 other departments they said there was nothing they could do to get my money back, so I’m still waiting - WHAT A JOKE! Don’t bother, if you’re based in the UK just get a Monzo card instead.

The card could not be used – I could not use this travel card at all when I travelled in Europe in December, 2019 (I visited three countries, and there I tried to withdraw cash 6-7 times as well as trying to pay using the card), which forced me to use my credit card despite I had already transferred 500-600 Euro in this travel card account. It was not ideal, particularly when… Read more

I needed to have some cash, because ATM charged me a lot for the fee. When I rang the NAB traveller card service desk back at home, I was told the card had not been activated. The letter attached to the cards sent to me clearly stated 'Your cards are active and ready to use immediately' and said nothing about activating the cards. (I read the letter thoroughly multiple times! ) The person on the phone apologized and activated the card on the spot, but I am very unhappy about this whole ordeal because of the inconvenience and extra expenses I had to face. I do not recommend anyone to use this card.

Disappointed – Originally obtained the card for use in Bali, and it worked ok - a few mysterious declines. On my new trip to India multiple unresolvable problems - luckily I started using it to purchase hotel and ferry from Australia, they had blocked the transactions because they thought it was dodgy - every single purchase was dodgy to them, I had to ring up… Read more

every time, explain, and then wait for a call back and then they would lift the block for 24hours. So I knew this card will have problems in India and took cash and tried to use alternative cards to prepay for most activities. ATM withdrawals are possible but exchange rates and fees are a legal scam. Do not rely on this card, could have saved hundreds of dollars if I used cash. Worked out to around 20% fees per transaction.

Never again – Traveled to London. Card was accepted everywhere with no prob. The exchange rate to get "leftover" money back form the account after finishing my trip was absolutely disgusting! The worst you can possibly find around Australia. NAB simply ripping you off on completely legal grounds. Would never use them again and definitely not recommend this card to anyone. Just use your credit card - it will be cheaper. Show details

NAB has led is down big time – Tried to get euros out of NAB travel card. No success. Wrote to bank and they said call them. Can't they fix this on line? It's really inconvenient for me to call Australia and be put on hold only to be given the run around. Show details

DO NOT GET A NAB TRAVELLER CARD – My card was scammed in Seville at a ATM. I put my card in to withdraw money and cancelled the transaction as i didn't want to pay 8 EURO to withdraw money. On checking my bank statement it showed i withdrew $397AUS and it came out of US dollars that i also had added to my NAB card. How can a ATM in Europe show I took out AUS dollars and then… Read more

withdrew money out of US dollars not EURO. I went through filling in the form and like so many other complaints the NAB said they checked with the bank and they gave me 10, 20 and 50 euro notes totally in $200 euro. Total lies as every other ATM across Europe dispensed $50 euro notes. i would have been better off taking cash. my friend had a ANZ travel card with no problems at all.

Do not get this card. It's a rip off with enormous, hidden fees – I was charged at least 4% on every foreign ATM withdrawal...in addition to a terrible exchange rate. Also, you cannot check your account online. I received a paper statement 3 months after my trip ended. It was only at that point I realised how much I had been ripped off by fees. I cut the card up and will never use NAB for anything ever again. Show details

Useless card and took my money – This card is for my emergency expenses only once I finished my cash. I am in osaka right now and I used this card for the first time yesterday. I went to shop and used the card and they said that it was declined. I log in to my bank but it was debited. I ended up paying my last cash. I am so frustrated the nab took $450 to my account. I hope they will resolve this. I emailed them but no response yet. So useless Show details

What a useless card – Just home from the trip. My NAB online banking cannot provide a statement. The online chat cannot help unless you wish to use an app. I wish to print out on a computer which the system cannot do. They give you a number to call to order a statement. This person transfers around the globe a few times then you are told the queue is very long & hold for 20 mins. The you give up and acquire a different card foe next time. Show details

Not exactly as the nab web site says – Web site says , go to nab branch and pick up a traveller card. No nab account needed. So i went to a branch and asked for a card. A nab account is required or no traveller card. They would not give me the card unless i loaded it immediately in the bank. So i left with no travellers card. Nothing is as on the nab web site

Ripped off! – I have used my NAB travel card on three trips to Europe. Twice ATMs apparently dispensed cash and money was withdrawn from my account. We disputed these and recouped the money in one instance with proof from a receipt. The second time no receipt was issued from the stand alone ATM machine. NAB contacted the ATM company who said the money was… Read more

dispensed, however no funds were actually released. NAB took the other banks word over mine.

I’m glad it was only 100 Euro I lost. It could have been much worse. Don’t trust this card!

Blocked my card, left me stranded – Was travelling to Phuket, told the bank my travel dates, arrived in Phuket was getting a tattoo, needed to pay , went to ATM machine, card was immediately blocked. Had no other cash, the trouble this caused me is a story in itself. Show details

Daylight Robbery – The money was transferred out of my bank account immediately. The money in my chosen currency was available four business days later. I could go a street money changer in the country of the chosen currency and get at least 10% better rate. When I returned to Australia, I went into a NAB branch to express my opinion of the travel card and why I would never use it again. The response was "Don't blame you, we don't like it either, Show details

I've never left a bad review until NOW – I've never, NEVER left a negative review. But this is exceptionally, by far the worst, stressful, tear-inducing experience I've ever had. I'm stuck overseas with a card that doesn't work, apathetic (and truly condescendingly rude!) customer service who have pinged me from one to the other shrugging their shoulders all to be left with a large phone… Read more

bill, which I had to front, no working travel card and no way to access my money I'd saved for my first holiday in 5 years. I have to rely on the friends I've made overseas to support me with cash, transferring money to their accounts which I feel SO uncomfortable doing, rendering me dependent and hopeless. Yes, I've done everything to fix this. Yes, I've called and stayed on the line for hours. Yes I've lodged formal complaints with their supervisors. Yes I've called back between Australian business hours to fix the issues, to NO AVAIL.

My specific issue, expired travel card reissued with new card and they didn't attach it to the correct internet banking account. Could not get the new card attached to my account, loaded money via BPAY but did not work at any ATM I tried in Europe. Called 7 times, stayed on the phone for NINE HOURS. More than an hour each time, re-explaining my issue. Was told (although I'm in bloody London) to fix it I'd have to come into an Australian branch because their systems just didn't recognise the card number variance. Never resolved, left distraught.

Please, don't make the same mistake. I've been failed by the people that I trusted to set up my account correctly and have had my holiday ruined. NEVER again will I ever use NAB.

Travel card stolen on metro in Athens – My wallet was stolen with the travel card in it by professional thieves on the train from Athens airport to Athens , when getting off train at Monastiraki Station,on the first day of our holiday. We informed Nab travel services with in 30 minutes of the card being stolen, we were later informed that the card had already been used 3 times… Read more

totaling 1800:00 euro, within minutes of being stolen. Card services originally said they would transfer money from our nominated account (1200:00 euro) onto our spare travel card which would take 3 days!. This did not happen, when we enquired a couple of days later we were told this would only happen if all the money was taken and we were left with a zero balance. We had to wait 7 days to see if they were going to refund the stolen money, they declined paying the refund saying we must have left the pin with the card, which it wasn’t.We have disputed their claim twice. The ramifications of losing the card have been substantial , totally spoilt our holiday. The customer service was conflicting, they were difficult to understand and were not helpful at all during this stressful time.

I definitely would not recommend this card

Ridiculous fees – I opted for a NAB traveller card for the ease of linking to my existing NAB accounts, which is handy. I transfered across 1500AUD to USD, within 10 minutes of the transfer I checked how much I would get back in AUD and to my surprise my 1500 turned into 1340 i.e. 160 in fees/ rates conversions. Show details

Worst travel card – I could not change my pin once my card expired and had to use one which the bank gave me. Terrible service too because the person on the phone gave me a different set of instructions to what I was told when I talked to the person in my local branch. Show details

Useless. Waste of time – I don’t see the point to this card as it doesn’t work anywhere. I have tried over a dozen ATM machines in Europe and yet to be able to withdraw money. I have 300€ sitting in my account that I can’t access. Useless, pointless, don’t waste your time. Show details

Can't transfer money – I have $3000 AUD sitting in my NAB account and everytime I go to "manage" my NAB traveller so I can transfer my money it crashes. So I am now in a foreign country (UK) with NO money. This has only just started doing this. Over the past few months I've had no issues. Show details

Worst – Ridiculous fees and just does not work. I get caught out in every country simply because the app won't load. Has "problem retrieving your travel card" Do not recommend to anyone.

i would rather stick to my credit card – I was using this card in New Zealand, some small merchants in woop woop town don't take any foreign cards. so I ended up using an atm nearby and they changed me 10 backs AUD just to take out cash. and the ATM convert my NZ dollars back to AUD and then spit out the NZD I need. what a waste of time. oh and the NAB internet banking statement… Read more

doesn't exactly tell you how much I have been charged for the ATM withdraw its just say PURSE CURRENCY CONVERSION FEE with no amount on it.

It was a Westpac machine with a master card logo by the way. so this is all B.S. most places accept credit cards anyway. and yes there is a 3% credit card transaction fee but the exchange rates are so much better than NAB. NAB charging more for their currency exchange.

if I have to waste my time to do research on which ATM to go take cash out, what's the point on all the stress and time wasting just to use a damn card that is supposed to be convenient.

next time if I need foreign cash I may just bring AUD and exchange cash at the airport.

Complete rubbish – I'm in Tokyo right now, half way through a 14 day trip. The NAB app says I have 220 yen available, but if I go to the manage account section, it says I have over 26000 yen. This is because these transactions are still ongoing. I called the helpline for information on when the last of it will be available and they tell me it will be done in a… Read more

month! For a transaction made yesterday!

And this transaction already shows up on my account history, a long with some others. Crunching the numbers by subtracting these from my memory of my previous reload (another dumb feature-they don't show credit, only debit) I should have about 7000 yen available. Where did that go?!

Don't buy.