Travellers using the imagin debit card can avoid foreign transaction charges when spending or withdrawing cash abroad, according to details released by the digital banking platform owned by CaixaBank. The card applies a 0% commission on payments in any currency and on debit cash withdrawals outside Spain, removing a common cost associated with international travel.
The product, offered through a fully digital platform, also carries no issuance or maintenance fees. Users can link the card to a mobile wallet for contactless payments, while a physical version is delivered free within 10 to 15 days if requested.
The announcement targets frequent travellers and holidaymakers facing extra costs when paying in non-euro currencies. Foreign exchange fees typically add between 2.5% and 3.95% to purchases, depending on the destination, but imagin says these charges are eliminated with its card.
The savings can be significant for travellers within and beyond Europe. In European Union countries that use non-euro currencies, such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Sweden, users can avoid fees of up to 2.5%. Outside the EU, the avoided charge rises to around 3.95%.
For example, a trip involving 2,000 euros in spending in Turkey could save around 79 euros in fees, based on a 3.95% charge. A smaller trip costing 800 euros in the Czech Republic could result in savings of about 20 euros. The platform does not impose limits on the number or value of transactions, and the zero-commission policy applies throughout the week, including weekends.
Users are advised to select the local currency when paying abroad. This ensures the exchange rate is handled by their own bank, offering greater transparency over the final cost in euros. Transactions appear directly in the account after conversion at the applicable rate.
The card also removes imagin’s commission on debit cash withdrawals abroad. While local ATM operators may still charge their own fees, imagin does not apply an additional charge regardless of the amount withdrawn. This differs from typical banking fees, which can reach 4.5% in the European Economic Area and 5% in other countries, often with a minimum charge of around 4 euros.
In practical terms, withdrawing 400 euros abroad could save around 20 euros in fees outside Europe. Within Spain, users can also withdraw cash without charges at more than 11,000 CaixaBank ATMs.
The platform includes real-time security controls through its mobile app. Users can instantly block or unblock the card if it is lost, either temporarily or permanently. Each transaction triggers a notification, allowing travellers to monitor spending and detect any unusual activity.
The imagin card is part of a broader shift among digital banking services aimed at reducing travel-related costs and improving transparency in foreign payments. As international travel continues to recover, fee-free spending options are becoming an increasingly competitive feature among financial providers targeting younger and mobile-first customers.
Despite the benefits, travellers are still encouraged to check for possible charges imposed by ATM operators abroad and to review exchange rates applied at the time of each transaction. While the removal of bank commissions reduces costs, total expenses can still vary depending on the destination and service providers involved.
