Is there a fee associated with using your debit card as a visa for purchases?

[jennfl]

Sorry, this isn't really a diving question. But thought someone may know.

We called our bank, BB&T, and asked if they would charge us a fee to use our debit card for purchases while in Bonaire (restaurants, etc). They said there was not a charge. Are there any other fees associated with doing this like international rates, or anything like that? Wasn't sure. I know their currency is now the US dollar.

 

[Peter_C]

You could very well get hit with the stolen identity fee. This fee quickly empties your entire bank account before you return home.

For safety I would recommend using a credit card and save your debit card to get cash from ATM's.

 

[Mossman]

But it still raises an interesting question to which I don't know the answer: now that Bonaire charges transactions in U.S. dollars, do most credit cards still impose a "foreign transaction fee" of 3% or so? When I travel, my credit card statement usually shows the fee imposed along with the exchange rate, but if it stays in dollars?

 

[Waterskier1]

I just got my credit card bill with charges from Bonaire. I was charged a 3% Foreign Transaction Fee. I called (CitiBank) and this fee applies whenever doing business with a foreign country - including internet orders (something like Skype) from a company doing business outside the USA. One doesn't have to physically be outside the USA. There may also be an Exchange Fee (if one needs to exchange between USD and another currency).

I believe there are some credit cards that don't charge this fee (Capitol One?) and there may be others that charge at a lower rate (Pentagon FCU?).

I don't know about debit cards, I didn't use mine.

 

[DiverVince]

Jenn..I use my debit card on Bonaire all the time and have never had a problem but it is drawn on a local bank, MCB. I note you indicated "BB & T" I assume you mean RBTT? If so they are local on Bonaire so you shouldn't have any problems. If not, I can't answer your question.

 

[jennfl]

Our bank is a US bank, BB&T. Not a Bonaire bank. I don't know if it's just in Florida or other states.

Sounds like it might just be safer to use the ATM and pay with cash.

 

[SEVADiver]

We just returned from Bonaire in March. We used our credit card (USAA Bank Mastercard) everywhere. We were charged a foreign tranaction fee of only 1%. It didn't add up to much for the convenience. Maybe each bank is different.