N26 Card
European digital bank with zero forex fees — available across EEA, US and Brazil.
Visit N26ATM detail: Standard: 3 free EUR ATM withdrawals/month in EU, then €2 fee. Abroad: 1.7% fee on Standard, free on paid plans.
Our verdict
N26 is a solid option for EU residents, with zero forex fees on spending. The ATM situation on the free plan is less competitive — 1.7% fee abroad. For EU travellers wanting unlimited free ATMs, Wise or a local equivalent is better. N26 Metal removes ATM fees but costs €16.90/month.
Full review
N26 is a German-headquartered mobile bank founded in 2013, operating across most of the EU and in the US. In Europe, N26 holds a full German banking licence (BaFin), making it a regulated bank rather than an e-money institution. EU and German customers benefit from the EU's deposit insurance scheme up to €100,000.
The N26 Mastercard debit card charges zero foreign transaction fees on all international spending — the Mastercard network rate applies with no additional N26 surcharge. This makes N26 one of the best bank cards for EU residents spending abroad in non-euro currencies (USD, GBP, JPY, THB, etc.). In the eurozone itself, spending is always in EUR with no conversion.
ATM withdrawal policy varies by plan: the free Standard account includes 3 free ATM withdrawals per month in foreign currencies, with a 1.7% fee above that. N26 Smart (€4.90/month) and N26 You (€9.90/month) plans include more free ATM withdrawals and additional travel perks including travel insurance on You.
N26's strength for EU residents is the combination of: full banking (SEPA transfers, German IBAN, direct debit), zero FX fee spending across all currencies, and a well-designed mobile-first app with real-time transaction notifications and Spaces (sub-accounts for savings goals). It functions as a primary bank account that is also optimised for international use.
Availability in the US is a separate N26 product with different terms and limited features compared to the European version. Post-Brexit UK residents cannot open N26 accounts. For EU residents who want a zero-fee travel spending card as part of a full-featured bank account, N26 is a top recommendation alongside Revolut.
Pros
- Zero foreign transaction fee on spending
- Mastercard exchange rate — competitive
- Available across EU, US, and Brazil
- No monthly fee on Standard plan
- Excellent app
Cons
- 1.7% ATM fee abroad on Standard plan
- ATM fees waived only on paid plans
- Customer support has had historical issues