How ATM fees work overseas

An overseas cash withdrawal can involve separate charges from the machine operator, your card issuer and currency conversion. Check each layer before accepting the withdrawal.

Three possible cost layers

The ATM operator may display a local-currency fee. Your bank may charge a fixed or percentage withdrawal fee under your card's product terms. The conversion from local currency to AUD may use a rate different from a public reference. If the ATM offers to charge in AUD, it may be offering dynamic currency conversion at its own rate.

A transparent estimate

Start with the cash received plus the local operator fee. Convert that total using a reference rate, apply the markup you want to model, then add the bank's percentage and fixed fee. The ATM fee calculator shows those components separately and asks you to supply the fees; it does not assume a universal bank charge.

Your actual bank debit can differ because the card rate, processing date and issuer terms may differ. See Westpac's overseas access guidance as an example of product-specific terms, and verify your own issuer's current schedule. Reviewed 31 October 2026.