Today, when millions of Ukrainians are forced to stay abroad, the issue of access to their financial resources has become very urgent. Regardless of whether you have moved temporarily or permanently, using Ukrainian bank cards remains one of the most convenient ways to withdraw cash or pay for purchases. However, it is worth remembering that each such operation may be accompanied by various commissions, which can significantly affect your costs.
Users often face unpleasant surprises when overseas ATMs or banks charge high fees for each transaction. In addition, there are different withdrawal limits, which also vary depending on the specific bank and card type. Therefore, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the conditions of your bank in advance and plan financial transactions taking into account possible fees. This will avoid unnecessary expenses and save part of the funds for more important expenses.
Basic conditions for using cards in popular Ukrainian banks
- PrivatBank: When withdrawing cash from hryvnia accounts abroad, there is a limit of up to 12,500 hryvnias for seven days. For currency accounts, the limit increases to 100,000 hryvnias per day. The commission for each transaction is 2%.
- Monobank: Withdrawal of cash with own funds abroad will cost 2% of the amount. However, you should be careful with operations that exceed the account balance or with quasi-currency, because here the commission increases to 4%.
- Sense Bank: Customers with White, Black, Graphite tariff debit cards have the right not to pay commission within the limit of 12,500 hryvnias per week. You can spend up to 100,000 hryvnias per month on purchases abroad without additional fees.
- CredoBank: The limit for withdrawing cash from hryvnia cards is 11,250 hryvnias for 7 days, and from currency cards – 90 thousand hryvnias per day. For customers with Craft Black or Craft packages, cash withdrawals at PKO Bank Polski ATMs in Poland are free, as long as the monthly limit is not exceeded.
- PUMB: The commission for withdrawing cash abroad is up to 1.5% of the transaction amount. However, additional fees from the bank through which the operation is carried out are possible, so you should pay attention to the conditions of a specific ATM.
How to minimize fees and costs
To save your money when using Ukrainian cards abroad, use a few simple tips:
- Check your bank’s rates before you travel. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises and plan your financial operations.
- Use partner ATMs where possible. In some cases, this will reduce or completely avoid commissions.
- Withdraw larger amounts of cash to reduce the number of transactions and therefore save on fees.
- Watch for currency conversion. ATMs may not offer the best rate, so it’s always worth comparing different options.
