Overseas ATM withdrawal fees depend far more on the card you use than on the country you are in. As at November 2026, the main Singapore bank debit cards charge a flat or percentage service fee on most overseas withdrawals, often with a currency conversion cost on top, while travel wallets give a free monthly allowance and then charge around 2%. The ATM operator may add its own fee to any of them.
We compared six common options from each provider’s own fee page and priced two withdrawals: S$300 and $1,000.
How We Compared Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fees
We read each provider’s fee page or terms and noted three things:
- the withdrawal fee charged by your bank or wallet;
- whether a currency conversion fee applies on top;
- any free allowance or fee-free ATM network.
We left out the ATM operator’s own fee, because it varies by machine. The machine should show it before you confirm. We also left out exchange rates, which change by the minute.
The Comparison Table
| Card | Withdrawal fee (as stated) | Conversion | Free or reduced |
|---|---|---|---|
| DBS/POSB debit card | S$7 per withdrawal at other overseas ATMs | Check DBS terms; 0 if drawn from a matching currency wallet in a DBS Multi-Currency Account | Waived at named ATMs, e.g. Westpac Group (Australia), DBS Hong Kong |
| OCBC debit card | 3% of the amount, min $5, max $20 | 3.25% unless drawn from a matching Global Savings Account currency | Free at OCBC ATMs overseas |
| UOB debit card (standard) | $5 per withdrawal plus a 2.5% administrative fee | Check UOB’s terms for conversion | UOB One Debit: no fee at UOB ATMs in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand |
| UOB FX+ Debit Card | $5 at non-UOB ATMs; $5 cashback on the first four a calendar year | 2.5% only if drawn from the SGD balance (waived for nine major currencies in their home country) | Free at UOB ATMs across ASEAN |
| Wise card | $100 a month free, then 1.75% of the amount above | Wise’s conversion fee if converting from SGD | Allowance only |
| Revolut Standard | $350 or five withdrawals a rolling month free, then 2% (minimum $1.49) | Weekend and over-limit fees can apply | Allowance only |
| YouTrip | $400 a calendar month free, then 2% | No stated FX fee | Allowance only |
The bank figures are from DBS’s overseas withdrawal page, OCBC’s debit card page and UOB’s FX+ page and debit cardmember agreement. The wallet figures are from each wallet’s own fee page or terms.
The short version: For occasional small withdrawals, a travel wallet’s free allowance is hard to beat. For a lot of cash, a bank’s own ATM network abroad, or a matching foreign currency balance, can cost less than any card’s percentage fee.
Worked Costs: S$300 and S$1,000
Illustration only, using each provider’s stated fee. It assumes one withdrawal, no ATM operator fee, and for the wallets that the monthly allowance is unused.
| Card | S$300 in one withdrawal | S$1,000 in one withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| DBS debit, other ATM | $7, plus any conversion cost | $7, plus any conversion cost |
| OCBC debit, other ATM, from SGD | $9 fee + $9.75 conversion = $18.75 | $20 fee + $32.50 conversion = $52.50 |
| UOB debit (standard), from SGD | $5 + $7.50 = $12.50 | $5 + $25 = $30 |
| Wise | $3.50 above the $100 allowance | $15.75 above the allowance |
| Revolut Standard | $0 | $13 above the $350 allowance |
| YouTrip | $0 | $12 above the $400 allowance |
Two things stand out. Flat fees punish small withdrawals, and percentage fees punish large ones. And a bank card drawing from a matching foreign currency balance, or at the bank’s own overseas ATMs, removes most of the cost.
Credit Cards: Avoid for Cash
A credit card at an overseas ATM is a cash advance. MoneySense lists the cash advance fee as a separate charge, and interest generally runs from the day you withdraw, with no interest-free period. Use a debit card or wallet for cash, and keep the credit card for purchases. Our guide to how credit card interest works explains the cost.
Who Each Option Does Not Suit
- DBS debit card: small, frequent withdrawals, where $7 each adds up, unless you are near a waived network.
- OCBC debit card from SGD: large withdrawals, where 3% capped at $20 plus 3.25% conversion is costly. Linking a Global Savings Account changes the picture.
- UOB standard debit card: anyone outside UOB’s ASEAN network who withdraws often.
- Wise: heavy cash users; the free allowance is small. See our Wise review.
- Revolut and YouTrip: people who need more than the monthly allowance, or who withdraw many times. See the Revolut and YouTrip reviews.
What To Do Next
- Check which ATM networks are fee-free for your bank in the country you are visiting before you go.
- Decline any “convert to SGD” offer at the ATM; it is dynamic currency conversion. Our DCC explainer shows the cost.
- Work out how much cash you need before choosing; see how much cash to bring overseas and money changer vs multi-currency card.
- Fees change, so check the provider’s own page before travelling. Sign-up offers exist and change often.
