6 Best Banks for International Travel of 2025
Updated: 8 Oct 2025
Written bySingSaver Team
Team
The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. While we review and compare financial products to help you find the best options, we do not provide personalised recommendations or investment advisory services. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.
What to look for in a bank for international travel
Using the right bank can significantly reduce your travel costs and enhance your experience abroad. To identify the best banks for international travel for Singaporeans, we considered key features such as:
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Foreign transaction fees
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Currency conversion rates
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International ATM withdrawal costs
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International money transfer options
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Multi-currency account availability
Here are our top picks for the best banks in Singapore for international travel:
Best banks in Singapore for international travel
Best for: Multi-currency convenience & global reach
DBS Multiplier Account
- Earn up to max. 3% p.a on your first S$100,000
- Enjoy at least 0.30% p.a. interest rate by making a PayLah! retail spend, no min. transaction amount required
- Boost interest rate by increasing your total eligible transactions per month (i.e. salary crediting, credit card spend, investments, insurance)
- Transfer foreign currency funds overseas directly with your account at zero or lower fees. Learn more.
- No initial deposit required
- No monthly account fees
- No minimum average daily balance required if this is your first DBS/POSB account
- Insured up to S$75,000 by SDIC. Additional T&Cs apply.
- Read our full review of the DBS/POSB Multiplier Account
- Fall-below fee of S$5 if average daily balance falls below S$3,000
- Early closure fees of S$30 if account is closed within 6 months
Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
DBS, recognised as Asia's Safest Bank, is a leading Singaporean bank offering a wide range of personal banking services, with a strong emphasis on digital solutions and international functionality. For travellers, DBS provides convenient solutions for managing funds across borders. The DBS Multiplier account allows users to earn rebates on groceries.
Pros
Exchange and spend your foreign currencies in 71 countries at competitive rates.
Transfer foreign currency funds overseas directly at zero fees.
Top up or transfer your excess funds back to your account after your trip.
Earn bonus interest by crediting salary and spending in multiple categories.
Earn cashback on overseas spending.
Seamless currency conversion via DBS digibank.
No monthly account fees.
Cons
Bonus interest tiers can be complex.
ATM withdrawal fees may apply depending on the network.
Requires maintaining relationships with DBS products to maximise benefits.
Related travel card: DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card (for miles accumulation on overseas spending).
Best for: Competitive currency conversion & broad banking services
- Earn up to 8.05% interest p.a. when you:
- Credit salary of at least S$1,000 or more - 1.55% interest (p.a.) earned
- Make card spend of at least S$1,000 or more - 1.55% interest (p.a.) earned, inclusive of prevailing interest rate
- Purchase an Eligible Insurance Policy with a minimal annual premium of S$12,000 - 2.50% interest (p.a.) earned
- Invest in an Eligible Unit Trust with a minimum subscription sum of S$20,000 in a single transaction, or minimum cumulative buy trade volume of S$20,000 within a calendar month - 2.50% interest (p.a.) earned
- Transact in up to 14 currencies from your account, convert at competitive FX exchange rates and enjoy S$0 fees for overseas transactions
- Invest a minimum of S$20,000 in an SC Invest portfolio and earn 2.50% p.a. bonus interest for 6 months on your Bonus$aver account
- MoneyLock: Protect your funds from scams and unauthorised transfers or withdrawals with our new anti-scam security feature.
- Read our full review of the Standard Chartered Bonus$aver
- Fall-below fee of S$5 if average daily balance falls below S$3,000
- Early closure fee of S$30 if account is closed within 6 months
- The average daily balance eligible for bonus interest is subject to a cap of S$100,000 per Bonus$aver account. Any average daily balance amount in excess of the cap is not eligible for bonus interest (but the prevailing interest rates will apply)
Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
Standard Chartered is a global bank with a presence in Singapore, providing a wide array of financial services, including savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management. Known for its international banking services, Standard Chartered facilitates global transactions and offers solutions for individuals with international financial needs. A key offering is the Bonus$aver account, designed to maximise interest earned by meeting specific criteria, such as salary crediting, card spending, and utilising other Standard Chartered products.
Pros
Access up to 14 different currencies with no overseas transaction fees.
Bonus$aver account offers up to 6.05% p.a. interest by meeting certain criteria.
Multi-currency features available.
Global network for easy access to funds.
Cons
Bonus$aver account requires meeting specific criteria to maximise interest.
ATM withdrawal fees may apply depending on the network.
Related travel card: Standard Chartered Visa Infinite Credit Card (for travel perks and miles).
Best for: Comprehensive rewards & travel partners
HSBC Everyday Global Account
- Receive up to S$600 in cashback and bonus interest every month through the HSBC Everyday+ rewards programme
- Bonus cashback and interest granted by spending on HSBC debit/credit cards, making GIRO bill payments, and increasing account balance
- Sign up using SingPass MyInfo to enjoy a quicker application process
- Global Transfers lets you transfer funds to your other HSBC accounts instantly
- Get real-time exchange rates with HSBC's Online GetRate feature
- S$0 withdrawal fees at HSBC ATMs worldwide except for Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, and several other nations
- Insured up to S$75,000 by SDIC. Additional T&Cs apply
- Standing instruction fee of S$10 per item
- Fall-below fee of S$5 if average daily balance falls below S$2,000
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Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
HSBC offers a range of personal banking services, including accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management. A key feature is its international banking services, facilitated by HSBC Global Transfers, which allows for seamless transfers between HSBC accounts worldwide with no transfer fees. The HSBC Everyday Global Account is a multi-currency account that supports transactions in multiple currencies.
Pros
Global Transfers lets you transfer funds to your other HSBC accounts instantly.
Get real-time exchange rates with HSBC's Online GetRate feature.
S$0 withdrawal fees at HSBC ATMs worldwide except for Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, and several other nations.
Hold and transact in up to 11 foreign currencies.
Cons
May have specific eligibility criteria for certain accounts and services.
Fees may apply for certain transactions or services.
Related travel card: HSBC Advance Credit Card (for rewards on overseas online spending).
Best for: Maximum interests & savings
OCBC 360 Account
- Earn bonus interest p.a. on the first S$75,000 of your account balance
- Score higher interest rates when you credit your salary, spend on your credit card, invest, insure, and increase your account balance every month
- Insured up to S$75,000 by SDIC. Additional T&Cs apply.
- Read our full review of the OCBC 360 Account
- Fall-below fee of S$2 if average daily balance falls below S$3,000 (first-year waived)
- Early closure fees of S$30 if account is closed within 6 months.
Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
OCBC provides a range of personal banking services, including savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management solutions. Two notable accounts are the OCBC 360 Account and the Global Savings Account. The OCBC 360 Account allows users to earn bonus interest by crediting their salary, saving, spending on OCBC cards, and purchasing insurance or investment products with OCBC. The OCBC Global Savings Account supports transactions in multiple currencies and aims to minimise foreign currency transaction fees.
Pros
Hold and transact in up to 10 currencies.
No foreign currency transaction fee when you use an OCBC debit card.
Lock in your desired FX rates with FX Auto-Execute Orders on OCBC Digital.
No foreign exchange admin fees will be incurred for cash withdrawals.
Cons
OCBC 360 Account's bonus interest tiers can be complex.
Minimum balances may be required for certain accounts.
Related travel card: OCBC 90°N Visa Card (for rewards on overseas purchases).
Best for: Financial flexibility
- Earn up to 4.0% p.a. with the Citi Interest Booster Account
- Boost your returns with up to 2% cash back* (capped at S$2,000) on your Citi Cash Back+ Mastercard® Credit Card when you spend min. S$500 for a period of 12 months. In addition, enjoy up to S$699 worth of exciting gifts. T&Cs apply.
- Level up your financial literacy with wealth insights and bite-sized personal finance education content
- Access to stocks, investment funds, FX and a wide range of other financial solutions, so you can invest easily, anytime and anywhere, with the Citi Mobile App
- Achieve your goals and protect yourself from life's uncertainties with insurance solutions built around you and your changing needs
- 0.2% p.a. bonus interest earned on savings is only applicable on the incremental account balance
Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
Citibank offers a wide range of personal banking services, including accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management. A key feature for international transactions is the Citibank Global Wallet, which allows users to hold and transact in up to 15 currencies with zero foreign currency conversion fees for overseas and online spending. It also offers real-time FX rates and the ability to set price alerts.
Pros
Free international transfers to other Citibank accounts.
Extensive global ATM network.
Hold and spend in up to 15 currencies.
Zero foreign currency conversion fees with Global Wallet.
Real-time FX rates and price alerts.
Cons
May have specific eligibility criteria for certain accounts and services.
Fees may apply for certain transactions or services.
Related travel card: Citi PremierMiles Card (for miles accumulation and travel benefits).
Best for: Everyday use
UOB One Account
- Earn up to 7.8% interest p.a. on your first S$75,000 when you credit a min. salary of S$1,600 or make 3 GIRO transactions monthly and make a min. credit card spend of S$500
- Choose between salary crediting or GIRO transactions to score higher interest rates, lowered salary requirement of $1,600
- Earn up to 10% cash rebate when you spend on your UOB One Credit Card or Debit Card
- Link Mighty FX to your One Account for competitive exchange rates
- UOB Mighty mobile app allows for tracking of transactions that earn bonus interest
- Insured up to S$75,000 by SDIC. Additional T&Cs apply.
- 6-month fall-below fee waiver for accounts opened online
- Read our full review of the UOB One Account
- Fall-below fee of S$5 if average monthly balance falls below S$1,000
- Early closure fees of S$30 if account is closed within 6 months
Singsaver’s take
Why it’s our pick
UOB offers a comprehensive suite of personal banking services, including savings accounts, credit cards, loans, and wealth management solutions. For those with international transaction needs, the UOB Mighty FX account is a key offering. This multi-currency account allows users to transact in up to 20 foreign currencies and offers competitive exchange rates, particularly through the UOB Mighty app.
Pros
Wide range of banking services and products.
UOB Mighty FX account for multi-currency transactions.
Competitive exchange rates, especially via the Mighty app.
Digital banking capabilities through the Mighty app.
Cons
May have specific eligibility criteria for certain accounts and services.
Fees may apply for certain transactions or services.
Related travel card: UOB PRVI Miles World MasterCard (for miles accumulation on overseas spending).
Can I open an international bank account?
In Singapore, opening an international bank account typically requires proof of identity, proof of address, and may involve meeting certain minimum balance requirements. Some banks may also require proof of income or employment, especially for higher-tier accounts.
More top choices for best banks for international travel
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Wise (formerly TransferWise): Multi-currency accounts with competitive exchange rates and low fees. Read our review.
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YouTrip: A multi-currency travel wallet with competitive exchange rates and no foreign transaction fees. Read our review.
More strategies to keep banking costs down while travelling
Aside from choosing the right bank account, there are several other strategies you can employ to minimise banking costs while travelling. Here's a breakdown of different approaches and accounts to consider:
When spending money abroad:
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Open a multi-currency account: Think of it as your digital travel wallet. These accounts allow you to pre-load foreign currencies at potentially favourable rates, bypassing the often-punitive exchange rates found at airport kiosks. Ideal for frequent flyers and digital nomads, providers like DBS, OCBC, UOB, and fintech disruptors, such as Wise and Revolut, are changing the game.
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Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees: For everyday purchases, a credit card designed for globetrotters is a must-have. These cards typically waive foreign transaction fees, allowing you to spend like a local without the added expense. Compare the best credit cards for overseas travel to find your perfect travel companion.
When dealing with cash abroad:
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Seek out fee-friendly debit cards: A debit card with minimal or no foreign ATM fees is your best friend in cash-heavy destinations. While some banks advertise fee waivers, always double-check for potential charges levied by the ATM operator.
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Leverage your bank's currency exchange services: Before departure, explore your bank's currency exchange options. Often, they offer more competitive rates than those found at tourist traps.
When sending money abroad:
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Consider money remittance services: Skip traditional bank wire transfers and explore specialised services like Wise or Revolut. They often provide superior exchange rates and lower fees, especially for smaller, more frequent transfers.
When managing wealth abroad:
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Explore private banking options: Private banking offers bespoke services tailored to high-net-worth individuals with global interests. Expect dedicated relationship managers and exclusive investment opportunities.
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Consider offshore banking: For those managing international businesses or planning extended stays abroad, offshore banking may offer advantages. However, proceed with caution and be aware of the regulatory landscape.
Frequently asked questions about the best banks in Singapore for international travel
The "best" bank depends on your specific needs, but banks like DBS, HSBC, and Citibank offer robust multi-currency accounts, extensive global ATM networks, and competitive exchange rates, making them strong contenders for seamless international travel.
Requirements vary between banks but typically include proof of identity (NRIC or passport), proof of address, and potentially a minimum deposit. Some banks may also require proof of income or employment, particularly for premium accounts
While some banks advertise "no foreign transaction fees," it's crucial to understand the fine print. Some banks may waive their own fees but not those charged by overseas ATM operators. Multi-currency accounts and certain travel-specific credit cards often offer the most comprehensive fee waivers.
Opt for banks with a wide global ATM network or those that reimburse ATM fees. Consider using a debit card linked to a multi-currency account, and withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimise transaction fees.
About the author
SingSaver Team
At SingSaver, we make personal finance accessible with easy to understand personal finance reads, tools and money hacks that simplify all of life’s financial decisions for you.