Charles Schwab Checking Account: How to Avoid High ATM Fees
Are you tired of paying high ATM fees when you travel? Looking for a cheap way to exchange currency? Here's the secret...get a Charles Schwab checking account.
It's one of the easiest, cheapest, and safest ways to get money while traveling.
Brad wanted to know an inexpensive way to get foreign currency so he sent me this email:
Your blog rocks! We're going to Europe and don't want to spend a lot of money exchanging currency and getting hit with ATM fees. Do you know any foreign currency hacks?
Well, yes, Brad, I do.
You can exchange currency for free and avoid ATM fees with a Charles Schwab checking account.
Keep reading to learn more and find out how you can get $100.
Free money? Yes, please!!
Charles Schwab Checking account: How to Avoid High ATM Fees
Founded in 1971 Charles Schwab is an online broker that manages $3.39 trillion for their clients.
But don't let the word broker scare you.
You don't have to have a trust fund, be a celebrity, or have won the lottery to bank with Charles Schwab.
Anyone can open a Schwab One brokerage account.
There is no minimum balance required. And there are no fees.
Ever.
You pay $0 fees. Zip, zero, zilch.
The Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account is one of the best no-fee checking accounts.
Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card
After opening a Schwab checking account you get a Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card. You can use the Schwab Bank Visa debit card anywhere that accepts Visa. Use your card at your local grocery store or at a hot dog stand in Vienna.
With a Charles Schwab checking account you don't need to buy currency before your trip.
You can use your Schwab debit card to withdraw money from an ATM when you arrive.
Get Money From an ATM
ATM withdrawal is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get foreign currency.
Reduces Counterfeit Currency Risk
There's less risk of counterfeit currency because you're getting money from the ATM than using a currency exchange surface.
Pro-tip: Use a bank ATM to reduce the risk of ATM skimming.
No Currency Transaction Fees
There are no currency transaction fees. So you don't have to worry about getting the best exchange rate.
Save Time
Getting foreign currency from the ATM can save a lot of time. There are more people waiting to get currency from the brokers than people waiting to use the ATM.
Carry Less Cash
With a Schwab Bank Visa debit card, you don't have to carry a lot of cash. You can make unlimited ATM withdraws and not worry about high ATM fees.
Because when you have a Charles Schwab checking account they reimburse your fees. You're only limited by how much money you have in your account. 🙂
I love my Schwab debit card. It's one of several cards in my wallet on every trip:
- Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card: 3x points on travel
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: if flying through an airport with a Centurion Lounge
- The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card: if staying at Hyatt
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: if visiting an office supply store
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: for the 3X points on dining including takeout and eligible delivery service. Use only in the US because it has foreign transaction fees)
Pro-tip: Only use your debit card to get cash. You don't want to lose out on any points you could earn by using travel rewards cards.
Schwab Mobile Deposit
You can make mobile deposits into your Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking account.
Download the Schwab Mobile App and apply for the Schwab Mobile Deposit service.
Mobile deposits can take 1 business day to clear. They clear same business day when you deposit before 4 pm within the US.
Pro-tip: You can mobile deposit money orders. But be careful when buying money orders.
How to Get $100
You can get $100 if you don't currently have an existing Schwab account.
Leave me a comment below and I'll email you a referral code
When you add the referral code to your checking account application, you'll get $100. And I get $0.
Yeah, kinda bites. But hey, at least you'll get $100. 🙂
How to Open a Charles Schwab Checking Account
1. Open a Schwab Checking Account
Visit CharlesSchwab.com and click "Open a Checking Account."
Choose from an "Individual" or "Joint" account. Click "Continue."
2. Open a Schwab One Brokerage Account
Click the "Add an offer/referral code (optional) link.
Add the referral code I emailed to you.
Pro-tip: Remember to leave a comment below so I can send you a referral code and you'll get $100.
Click on "No, I'm new to Schwab."
3. Provide Your Personal Information
Enter your personal information then click "Next."
Pro-tip: Charles Schwab will do a credit check and it's a hard pull on your account.
4. Verify the test deposits
Schwab will transfer a small amount to the bank account you listed on your application. You have to log into your Schwab account to verify the test deposits.
5. Request your Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card
It's been a long time since I opened my account. I was able to request my debit card without depositing money into my Charles Schwab checking account. But things might have changed.
Conclusion
With a Charles Schwab checking account, you can get foreign currency for free and avoid ATM fees. The Charles Schwab Visa Platinum Debit Card is one of my favorite travel tricks.
Using the Schwab Bank debit card saves you time, reduces the amount of cash you have to carry, and saves money because you get reimbursed ATM fees.
It's a win-win and a must for every traveler.
Don't have a Charles Schwab High Yield Investor Checking Account? Leave a comment below and I'll send you a referral code. You'll get $100 when you open an account.
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Hello
I need the code to get the 100$ after opening a schwab checking account to get the debit card for no fees from ATM machines.
Thanks
Thanks for the info. Please send me the code.
Thanks!
Hi Tina,
You're welcome. Code sent via email. 🙂
Code requested please.
Hi Md,
Code sent.
can i please get code.?
Hi Jeremy,
Yep, sent via email.
Please send me the code too.
thanks
Hi William,
Check your email for your code. 🙂
Hi I need the code too...thanks much
Hi dfost,
Sent 🙂
Hello
I would like to sign up for this card, may I please have a code for the discount?
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Yes, you may. 🙂 I've sent the code via email. 🙂
Hello. Thanks for making this great step by step tutorial, this is just what my wife and I were looking for. Can you please email us the referral code for the $100?
Hi Eric B,
Check your email. 🙂
Thank you for the info. Please send me my code to use to get $100.
Hi Stephen,
Sure thing, I've emailed you the code.
Hi Eric,
Your email bounced. Send me an email if you want to the referral code. Thanks
Thank you for a great article. ATM fees are particularly troublesome to me. I would appreciate a code.
Hi Vicki,
Check your email. 🙂
Hi Debra,
May I get a referral code too? would appreciate it! 🙂
Kind regards,
Pat
Hi Pat,
Code sent. 🙂
Could I have a referral code please? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Amy,
Just sent it to you via email.
Hi could you please send referral code. Thank you!
Hi Steve,
Sent you the code in your email.
HI DEBRA ,
PLEAES E-MAIL ME THE CODE TO RECEIVE $100 TOWARD MY CHARLES SCHWAB CHECKING ACCOUNT . THANK YOU.
Hi Richard,
Code sent via email.
Hi Debra,
Can you please email me the referral code?
Thank you!
Hi Danielle,
I'd be happy to. I've just sent it to your email. 🙂
Hi
Thank you for a great article. ATM fees are a pain.
I would appreciate a code.
Thanks !
Hi Damien,
Glad you enjoyed the article. I've emailed you a code.
Need referral code
Hi Jamie,
Check your email.
Great tip, thanks for the article! Are the Charles Schwab accounts available for Canadian residents?
Hi Hal,
Glad you liked the post. I don't believe so but just in case I've sent you the referral code anyway. Because it doesn't hurt to check. 🙂
Hello please send a referall code!
Hi Rachael,
You got it, email sent.
Hello! I'd like the referral code too, please! Thanks:)
Hi Mercedes,
You got it. Email has been sent. 🙂
Hi - I'd love a code too.
Traveling abroad soon - looking for no fees.
Thanks!
Hi Angela,
Sent you an email.
Send me a code please!
Hi Ian,
Check your email.
I would like to get the referral code. Would you please send it to me? Thank you!
Hi Chong,
Sure thing, check your email. 🙂
Hi,
Just found this post today. I just set up my Schwab account 2 days ago. Is it too late to get a referral code for $100?
Hi David,
It doesn't hurt to ask. I've sent you a code in case they let you use it retroactively.
Great article, thanks! Hello can you send me a code please? Thanks!
Hi Steve,
Thanks, glad you liked it. Check your email. 🙂
If you could send me a code that would be awesome! You are the best!
Hi Jennifer,
Code is on the way. Check your email. 🙂
The Schwab checking account sounds like the exact product I've been looking for. Coming across your sight in my search for checking that meets my lifestyle was a real added bonus! You have some top-notch advise here, some of which I haven't come across on other sites. Can I get the Schwab code please? Thank you!
Hi Eve,
Thanks for the kind words, glad you liked the post. I've emailed you a code.
Code Please! Thanks!!
Hi Angela,
Email sent!
Thanks for the info Debra! Could you possibly send me the code? Thanks!
Hi Marc,
Glad you enjoyed the post. I've sent you the code via email.
Hi,
Could you please send me the code as well? Thank you.
Hi Max,
You've got it. Check your email. 🙂
Hi Debra!
I would be so grateful if you can please share your referral code.
Thank you!
Hi Mel,
You are most welcome. I've emailed you a referral code. 🙂
Loved the article! I would love to get the code to get the $100 bonus
Hi Itzel,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post! I've sent you a code via email.
Great write-up! Could you send me the code, please?
Hi Kristen,
Thank you very much, glad you liked the post. I've sent you the code via email.
Would you be so kind to send me the code?
Thanks!
Hi Connie,
Of course. Code sent to your email. 🙂
Hey Debra,
Could you send me the referral code? Also, there are options for the brokerage account, futures trading, options trading, etc; do you know if these features are free?
Hi Riley,
You bet, check your email. When you set up your account you get a free brokerage account. I haven't done any trading with Schwab so don't know if they charge.
Hey! Thanks for posting this! Can I get the code?
Hi Sean,
Thanks, glad you liked the post. I've sent you a code via email.
Hello! Thank you for the informative post !
I was looking to save some money on atm fees and glad I found your blog. Would it be possible to get a referral from you please ?
Thank you !
Hi Steven,
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed the post. I've sent you a code via email. 🙂
Thank you Debra!
Steven
You're welcome 🙂
Please send me a code. Thank you so much
Thanks for the helpful information on the account. A no fee international atm card, I wish I had known about this earlier! I'd love the promotional code if you're still sending them out.
Thanks!
Hi Michelle,
Happy the post helped. I've sent you a code via email.
Please send me the referral code. Thank you.
Hi Heidi,
Sent via email.
Hi,
could I get the code?
Thanks,
Abby
Hi Abby,
You bet, check your email.
please send me a code:) traveling abroad in a few weeks!! thanks!!
Hi Abby,
Already sent. 🙂
Great article. Can I please get a referral code? Thanks!
Hi Chad,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the article. I've sent you a code via email.
I would love a code for the $100, please 🙂
Hi Marquetta,
Sent to your email. 🙂
oh no I just signed up for an account last night! Is there a retroactive option for the code?
I'm going to cancun next month 🙂
Hi Marcus,
I don't know. It can't hurt to try. Check your email for a code.
could i get code please.
Hi Edward,
I sent one via email.
Hi
I'm interested in the code to get the 100$ after opening a schwab checking account to get the debit card for no fees from ATM machines.
Thank you!
Hi Greg,
Check your email for the code.
Thanks for this article. Very informative. Requesting for code please. Thank you!
Hi Stephanie,
Glad you liked the article. I've sent you a code via email.
Great information, requesting code and thank you.
Hi Ismael,
Thank you, I've sent you a code via email.
Thanks for a great article. Can you please send me a code? Thanks!
Hi Nick,
Thanks 🙂 Check your email for your code.
Thanks for the article and great advice! Can you please send me a code? Currently have a checking account with Wells Fargo but going to switch after reading this.
Hi Kyle,
Thanks so much, happy you enjoyed the article and it helped. I've sent you a code via email.
Sounds great, and a code for $100 bonus, even better!
Hi Hugh,
Code sent via email.
Hi! Great article. I'd like to get the referral code from you, too. Thanks!
Hi James,
Glad you enjoyed the article. I've sent you a referral code via email.
Hello
I need the code to get the 100$ after opening a schwab checking account to get the debit card for no fees from ATM machines.
Thanks
Hi Juan,
Check your email.
Hi Debra
Thanks for info would like the code
Thank you
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
You're welcome. Code sent via email. 🙂
I'm glad I came across your article. Great advice and exactly what I've been looking for! I'm requesting the code for the Schwab Checking Account.
Thanks!
Hi Marlene,
So happy you liked the article. I've sent you an email with the code. 🙂