Credit Card and Banking Recommendations for Digital Nomads

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This is chapter 8 of an 18-part series about digital nomading and location independence. To see all of the other chapters, click here!

There are four cards you need:

  1. An ATM card that doesn’t have ATM fees or international transaction fees (Charles Schwab is the most popular option and my personal choice)
  2. A credit card without foreign transaction fees (here’s a list of options)
  3. A backup ATM card stored separately
  4. A backup credit card stored separately

Backup cards are critical because you will lose a card or two at some point. Getting stuck without money or access to money in a foreign country is not an ideal situation and is a very easy one to avoid.

I love Schwab because every time I’ve lost my Schwab card, they’ve express shipped me a new card for free. This process is easy, you just contact your card provider and let them know where to ship the new card!

Keep Reading: Click here to read Chapter 8: What To Pack When You’re Digital Nomading

I've been building digital businesses, wandering the world, and writing about optimizing life for freedom since early 2017. My mission is to lower the barrier for people who want to live with more freedom: whether that be as an entrepreneur, a digital nomad, an early retiree, or just as someone who wants to live a happiness-driven life.