Time to swap your Nationwide account

 If you are over in Spain for a couple of weeks then I think you would find it cheaper to use a credit card like the Clarity where your rate of exchange is the full commercial rate not just 98%.   At an interest rate of about 12% pa this would equal less than 1/2% over 2 weeks not the 2% you lose by using currency direct - as long as the balance on your account is paid of straight away as soon as you get home.  You could even - by using wi fi on your phone or computer - make a payment over the internet whilst you are in Spain or even set up a payment to be made from your English bank account on a specific date whilst you are in Spain.

Hi,

Have a look at FairFX card.  You can load up to E7000 maximum, you get a spot rate which is always better than the banks and Post Office.  It costs E1.50 per withdrawal but that's for ANY amount.  You can also use it like a credit card with a pin for which there is NO charge!  The best thing aout this card is that you can load the card when the rate is good.  we've used it for a couple of years and had no problems with it.  You will need a UK bank account to make the purchase.

Maria

Just Reporting back on a previous post

Back In January I Withdrew €330 at the Cam Bank using my new Halifax Clarity card paying £281.55 on my statement giving me  an exchance rate of 1.17.

Checking my statement I have £0.75p to pay in interest for the transaction. I paid off the transaction 15 days after the withdrawal.

So in all Not a bad card to use.

Better than the NW flex

Still better than the 1.15 rate given by HIFX used at the same time to transfer to my account in Spain.

Still not bad with the free transfer.

JB

Have used my Citibank Account in Tenerife in several machines and not been charged a fee.  It does indeed seem to be the answer.