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Using Your Debit Card Internationally

If you are planning to use your Hingham Savings debit card while traveling abroad or making purchases from international merchants, it is important to understand how fees are applied and the fraud prevention country blocks in place.

Written by Fionna Feerick
Updated today

Traveling Soon? To help prevent declines, please see our guide on Traveling with Your Debit Card for instructions on how to place a travel notice.

International Transaction Fees

Hingham Savings applies a 1% foreign transaction fee to all debit card activity conducted outside of the United States. This fee applies to:

  • In-person purchases made at merchants located outside the U.S.

  • Online purchases from businesses based in foreign countries.

  • ATM withdrawals made at international machines.

How International Fees Appear On Your Statement

To help you track your spending, the 1% foreign transaction fee appears as a separate line item for each transaction. This allows you to see the exact cost of your purchase alongside the associated fee.

International ATM Withdrawals

If you use an ATM outside of the U.S., please be aware of the following:

  • Third-Party Fees: The local bank or ATM provider may charge a surcharge for using their machine.

  • Currency Conversion: If you withdraw cash in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, the 1% foreign transaction fee is applied to the converted U.S. Dollar amount.

  • ATM Rebates: While Hingham Savings provides rebates for out-of-network ATM fees on qualifying accounts, these rebates apply to the surcharge from the other bank, not the 1% foreign transaction fee.

Country Restrictions & Security

We adjust card accessibility based on fraud levels and government regulations. Please review these restrictions before your departure.

Countries and Regions with Elective Blocking

We have elective blocks in certain countries due to fraud levels. We may be able to modify these rules for your travel in the following locations if you notify us in advance:

  • Afghanistan, Angola, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Cote D'Ivoire, Cyprus, Estonia, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Myanmar, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan

Important: Certain merchants or ATMs abroad may still refuse Mastercard® transactions due to local high-risk concerns. Hingham Savings cannot override rules controlled by external networks or ATM owners.

Restricted Countries and Regions (No Access)

Due to high fraud risk or government regulations, we cannot process transactions in the following locations. Restrictions cannot be lifted for:

  • The Balkans, Belarus, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe

Essential Travel Tips

  • Notify Us: Set a Travel Notice.

  • Carry a Backup: It is always recommended to carry a secondary form of payment when traveling internationally.

  • Use Your PIN: PIN-authenticated transactions are more secure and less likely to be flagged as suspicious.

Contact Us

If you have questions about international fees or need assistance while traveling, please contact our Customer Experience Team at (781) 749-2200.

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