travel debit card natwest

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Using your debit card

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What is a debit card?

A debit card is a cash-free way of making payments, with the money deducted from your current account. With your debit card you can:

• withdraw money from a cash machine
• pay for goods and services online, over the phone or in-store
• make contactless payments for items up to £100

How to activate my debit card?

To activate your debit card, simply use it to make a payment or withdraw cash from a cash machine. If you're an existing customer, remember to destroy your old debit card once the replacement is activated.

Make sure to check that your card details are up-to-date for any website that you use regularly to pay for goods or services. Don't forget about subscriptions and recurring payments.

What is the security code on a debit card?

The security code is a 3-digit number found on the back of your debit card. Often called the CVV or CVC, it adds a second level of authentication when making online or over-the-phone purchases.

My debit card is about to expire. What should I do?

Your debit card will expire on the last day of the month / year printed on the front of your card. This is formatted as 'Expires End MM/YY'.

We'll send you a new debit card one in the post at least one week before your current card is due to expire. When you receive your new debit card you should securely destroy your old one.

Think you've misplaced your debit card?

Can't find your debit card? With our mobile app or online banking you can freeze your debit card so it can't be used until you find it. When you find your card you can remove the block.

Using your debit card abroad

It's important to be aware of any fees associated with making purchases or withdrawing money from a cash machine when you are abroad. Use our debit card currency calculator to get an estimate of how much a purchase or cash withdrawal might cost.

To reduce the chance of your transactions being blocked, remember to register your travel plans with us before travelling.

How to register your travel plans with us

Letting us know about your travel plans in advance will reduce the likelihood of your transactions being blocked.

All you need to do is log in to the mobile app then:

• select the account which has the debit card
• choose 'Manage my card'
• select 'Going Abroad'
• follow the on-screen instructions

You will be able to create one Travel Plan at a time by choosing 'Add Country', for a maximum period of 90 days, including up to 7 countries. Each country will need to be registered individually e.g.

• Destination 1 - Germany, entry 27/08/20XX, exit 10/09/20XX
• Destination 2 - France, entry 11/09/20XX, exit 16/09/20XX (etc)

Please check that the Travel Plan:

• does not have overlaps or gaps between destination dates
• is no longer than 90 days in duration

The Travel Plan will apply to debit cards only attached to accounts managed via mobile banking and only in your name. Joint account holders should register separately.

More about the mobile app

App available to customers aged 11+ with compatible iOS and Android devices and a Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK or international mobile number in specific countries .

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Fee free debit card purchases abroad for NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland customers

Despite contactless card use increasing in the UK, Brits have been reluctant to use their debit card abroad. Only two in five British holidaymakers currently use their cards when on holiday, which results in most taking excess cash and four in five returning from holiday with left over foreign currency.*

Les Matheson, CEO for Personal and Business Banking said, “Rewarding our customers is important to us. I’m pleased to announce that we’ll be offering fee free debit card purchases abroad for Reward, Premier customers and all Packaged account customers this summer. Customers can be assured of using their debit card safely and securely for purchases abroad without having to worry about incurring extra fees or having to carry around large amounts of cash”.

Currently customers pay a 2.75% fee (£1 minimum fee) on each debit card transaction when purchasing goods abroad.

Customers with the following accounts: Select Silver, Select Black, Select Platinum, Reward, Reward Silver, Reward Platinum, Reward Black & Premier customers, will not pay for foreign transactions made on their debit card purchased abroad from 3 May until 31 August 2018.

Some NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland packaged accounts also come with either Worldwide or European Travel Insurance and access to airport lounges. The NatWest Reward accounts pay 2% cashback on household bills.**

*Figures on spending abroad taken from the Visa Global Travel Intentions Study 2017. ** Customers can earn 2% back in Rewards on 7 types of household bills paid by direct debit. Reward terms & conditions apply

Disclaimer:

This information is for media use only and is not a financial promotion.

Customers with Select Silver, Select Black, Select Platinum, Select Reward, Reward Silver, Reward Platinum, Reward Black & Premier customers on our Select Account, will not pay fees for foreign transactions made on their debit card purchased abroad from 3 May until 31 August 2018.

Customers can let the bank know they’re travelling abroad through their mobile app, online banking, over the telephone, or in branch. Letting the bank know means their debit card transactions are less likely to be flagged as suspicious or blocked while they are abroad.

In this guide

• Our verdict

Product overview

Fees and charges, application requirements, your reviews, natwest travel reward credit card review.

Offering a host of benefits to make your travels easier and more rewarding; is the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card your perfect travel companion?

With the NatWest Travel Rewards Credit Card, you could earn 1% back on eligible travel spending across a range of categories including flights, trains, car rentals, accommodation and more. Plus, you’ll earn between 1% to 15% at selected partner retailers, and for those everyday expenses that don’t fall into these categories you’ll still earn 0.1% back. To learn more about how NatWest MyRewards work, read our guide here .

Whether you're dining at a charming seaside café or picking up souvenirs from the local market, the NatWest Travel Reward card has no foreign exchange fees, so you won’t be stung by those pesky fees. Plus, there’s no annual fee with this card to nibble away at your travel budget.

However, whilst tapping your card to make purchases is fee-free, withdrawing cash from ATMs abroad or getting a cash advance will incur charges, and local fees might also apply. Additionally, with only 0.1% back on everyday purchases, you might find a more rewarding system with another rewards card . Or, if you want to travel and earn rewards with no FX fees, you might want to check out the Yonder credit card .

If you’re planning to jet off soon, the NatWest Travel Rewards Credit Card could be your ticket to a more rewarding holiday. Just remember, while it’s great for spending, it's best to avoid those cash withdrawals abroad. Stick to using your card for purchases, pay off your balance in full each month and you could enjoy a breezy, catch-free experience.

One last travel tip: whenever you're given the choice, always opt to pay in the local currency rather than letting the local merchant or bank convert it for you. This way, you can take full advantage of the card issuer's favourable conversion rates rather than potentially higher rates charged locally. And if you're venturing outside the EU, be aware that some merchants might add a surcharge on credit card transactions, so it’s always good to ask before you pay.

• No annual fee
• Earn rewards on all eligible spending
• Customers report excellent customer service when dealing with NatWest
• Available to new customers
• Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
• Minimum annual income requirement of £10,000
• You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 4.2 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 100 million merchant locations across more than 200 countries and territories.

How does it compare?

Natwest's card, other popular cards for overseas spending.

Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through NatWest's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 788 8444). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.

A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score , getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.

You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.

Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:

How to apply for the natwest travel reward credit card.

If you've compared cards and settled on the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card, completing the secure online application form takes about 15 minutes. Before you apply, check that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the information and documents you'll need to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Frequently asked questions

What credit limit will i get with the natwest travel reward credit card.

If NatWest offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on NatWest's assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £250, and NatWest does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown NatWest you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.

Can I withdraw cash using the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card?

Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.

The cash advance fee on the NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is 3% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £7.50.

The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 29.9%, which is 7% more than the standard purchase rate (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).

Finder credit card scores

Our experts score travel credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like the cost for non-sterling transactions, any caveats or restrictions related to using your card overseas, travel-related perks/benefits, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use . When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

Izzy Thomas

Senior Associate Publisher

Izzy Thomas is a Senior Associate Publisher at Finder specialising in credit-based products including credit cards, business loans and personal loans. Izzy has a Masters in Publishing and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business Management. See full profile

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NatWest's new credit card has 1% cashback on spending abroad - is it worth taking?

NatWest and Visa have launched a new credit card aimed at tempting holidaymakers

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is aimed at customers who travel abroad frequently, and will offer rewards on purchases made with the card outside of the UK. 

They can earn 1 per cent back in rewards on spending abroad, on purchases including plane and train tickets, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises, campsites and more.

The deal goes up against the best cards for overseas spending , which can cut the cost of holidays. 

The rate for spending in the UK on non-travel purchases is only 0.1 per cent - so it is unlikely to worthwhile for those who only go on holiday once a year.

The card has no foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad so can be used for fee-free spending.

The earnings are in the form of rewards points which can be converted into cash or vouchers to spend in shops.

Every time customers spend with the card, they can earn a percentage of rewards which can then be turned into cash or e-codes to be used at NatWest partner retailers. 

Customers can see the rewards they have earned on the MyRewards section of the NatWest app. 

If a customer were to spend £5,000 on flights, a hotel or car rental for a holiday, they would get £50 back in rewards which could be converted to cash.  

The card comes with no annual fee and it has a purchase rate of 27.9 per cent.

Is it better than Starling, Monzo or Chase for holiday spend? 

Where the NatWest travel credit card shines is on its 1 per cent rewards earn rate for spending abroad. 

Rob Burgess said: 'What's attractive about the NatWest card is that the 1 per cent cashback on travel spend would stack with the FX-free fees, so not only would you get no FX fees on your hotel and car hire - if you paid locally for both - but you'd also get the 1 per cent on top.' 

Digital Banks Monzo, Starling and Chase also offer fee-free spending abroad with perfect exchange rates. 

For that reason they are the first choice of many Britons going on holiday.

However, Monzo and Starling don't offer rewards for spending abroad. 

Chase offers 1 per cent cashback on spending with its current account and this also includes spending abroad. Customers need to pay in £1,500 a month to their Chase account to get the cashback, and cashback is capped at £15 a month. 

Barclays launched a new credit card in partnership with Amazon last week. It lets users earn 1 per cent cashback rewards on all Amazon purchases and 0.5 per cent on purchases outside of Amazon for the first six months, after that it drops to 0.25 per cent. 

Other credit cards like the Marks & Spencer card, the John Lewis Partnership Card or the Sainsbury's Nectar Mastercard credit card offer between 0.1 per cent and 0.25 per cent back in rewards, so the NatWest card earn rate for UK and non-travel spending does not look massively attractive. 

Rob Burgess added: 'Where the NatWest card fails is the 0.1 per cent return on general spending. This is okay for overseas spending, but it a terrible return on your UK pound spending. 

'A card like the Barclaycard Avios Mastercard - which is free and earns one Avios per £1 - should effectively get you 1 per cent back on UK spend if you use your Avios wisely and in the worst possible scenario - converting them to Nectar points - you'd get 0.5 per cent back.' 

'Everyone should have an FX-free card to use outside the UK and - as this card is free - its as good as any alternative.' 

'The NatWest card is worth having for someone who spends a lot of abroad, especially someone who stays in smart hotels where the hotel bill is a large percentage of their overall holiday cost since you get the 1 per cent back plus 0 per cent FX, but I'd keep it in a drawer when not travelling.'

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How do I redeem my Rewards now that I have closed MyRewards?

You won't be able to log in to MyRewards but you will have 90 days to exchange the Rewards balance.

To do so, you will need to contact us.

Call us on 03457 888 444 (Relay UK 18001 03457 888 444) and state 'MyRewards' as the purpose of your call 

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