I've used MBNA credit cards for a long time now, but now that MBNA has been fully integrated into Bank of America, I'm seeing "foreign currency transaction" fees showing up as a result of my CD Japan purchases.  Since this is total horseshit, can anyone recommend a good replacement provider?  I require the following:

-Assuming good behavior, no fees of any kind
-High credit lines
-Option to have a credit-only card (no forced debit or check card nonsense)
-No interest if bill paid in full and on time
-No requirement to link card to a specific checking account

Thanks!

I wouldn't see an incentive for a bank to provide all those services without side charges.  As for me, the Credit Union is perfect for my needs.  They don't even charge for overseas purchases.  But there's a savings account deposit of $25 for each account you have, which isn't really much to ask.  Free checking account.  However they have overdraft protection enabled by default, which can get spendy, and they charge $1 for each savings account withdrawal past the first 3 every month.  But other than that, it's great.  I don't use credit, so I can't tell you how they are as far as that goes.

There's a strong incentive.  I use my CC for EVERYTHING and the bank gets to take a cut of all of my purchases.  MBNA provided me with all of the above services before Bank of America bought them out, so I'm sure there's another one that wants to make money off of me.

Perhaps consider using a debit card instead?  There's no charges on that at all.  Credit cards are going to result in charges.

i have an MBNA visa card as well.... they used to give you their "adjusted" exchange rate like paypal still does, but about 2 yrs ago they started recording it differently. even though they hit you with the additional exchange rate surcharge recorded separately on your statement, you will notice that they are taking the actual day's exchange rate for the purchase you made (in yen presumably).

all in all i noticed that the final amount charged ends up being the same regardless of the way they are recording it (but the surcharge looks good to their investors)

I wasn't aware of that, so thanks for the info.  Still, if there are cards out there that specifically cater to people who plan to use them in a variety of currencies, I'd love to hear about them.

From my knowledge, all credit cards used for foreign purchases will have a slight premium for currency conversion.  It's never the market exchange rate you pay.  You either pay an adjusted exchange rate, so the bank gets a little money, or they do a straight market rate conversion and charge you a conversion fee.  You can't escape this with a credit card.  I don't know what the rules are for debit cards.

I don't know either.  My debit card always gets billed in US dollars.  But I imagine they would skim a little off the top, which is fine, as long as it isn't a lot of money.

This happened to me recently with my bank card.  Most banks nowadays are charging 1% fees on all internationally placed purchases, it's total horseshit and I agree.  But, you can't really do anything about it.  What I did is just get a credit card, and use the credit card to purchase overseas.  Once your purchase is charged, immediately pay off the credit card with your bank card.  It doesn't count as international that way, and most credit cards don't charge international purchase fees since they bank on making their money off interest and late payments.

Kudos!

~jb

Ever try American Express Blue?  American Express is a pure credit card with no attachments to banks, so most of your banti-anking-related requirements don't even apply.