I’m an American who travels often and spends extended periods outside the U.S. for work. I originally chose Chase Bank because I assumed a large corporation would be well-suited to handle international transactions.
Unfortunately, my experience has been the opposite. My Chase card gets declined frequently for legitimate transactions, especially in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. I’ve had several work opportunities fall through because of it, including charges like visa fees, payments to major companies, and even rent for my landlord. Despite calling Chase numerous times, often informing them in advance about the transactions, I still face constant declines, and my account even gets locked. I’ve been told that an AI system is now responsible for approvals, and if it flags a charge, there’s often nothing the customer service team can do.
I’m looking for recommendations on a reliable bank card for international use where decisions aren’t entirely AI-driven, or at least one that’s more travel-friendly. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know!
U.S. banks, especially large ones, aren’t always great for people living abroad or traveling long-term. I’ve found that credit unions, especially ones familiar with expats, are a better fit. Look for a local credit union near your home where you can talk to the staff in person. It can make all the difference if you need flexibility for travel.
Most major banks have algorithms that flag ‘suspicious’ activity. Citizens Bank has a reputation for being lenient on international charges and offers a Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees.
I’d recommend the State Department Federal Credit Union. As an expat, it’s been a solid choice for me, with no foreign transaction fees. They understand international needs, so you’ll have fewer issues.
Chase might be stricter because of past fraud issues. If your account wasn’t initially set up with a lot of foreign activity, that could explain some flags. Citi has good options for global accounts, or consider having a Visa, Mastercard, and Amex for different situations. Capital One and Fidelity have been reliable for international use, and Amex has good fraud protection as well.
American Express could be a good option since they have their own network, which helps with fraud prevention. Keep a few backup cards just in case, though, as Amex isn’t accepted everywhere.