I’ve reviewed a ton of things in the last 12 years in tech but a bank account of mine was not one of them. I thought it would be useful to share my experience with the FNB Global Account especially if you travel fairly often.
Last October, I saw a notification on the FNB app about its new Global Account, which comes with a Debit Card but the reason it caught my eye was the free lounge access you get around the world with LoungeKey (FNB has killed off its Priority Pass benefit). I applied for it immediately and a card was delivered soon after. FYI, the account without a debit card or lounge access existed before, but now it’s more useful for travellers.
My account is in Euros, and allows me to receive payment from overseas should I ever need this feature, but the good news is that this account comes for different currencies like US dollar, or UK pound (I don’t have a list of all, you can check with FNB if you want to know). You can have as many accounts as you want, and you would only need the corresponding card for whichever destination you are traveling to. I don’t keep the card in my wallet in SA.
However, it came in handy during my December travels to Europe. I was told initially to activate my card, I should load some currency on it. This is convenient because it can be done from the FNB banking app as it is a transfer of money between accounts. I loaded R1000 to activate it, which cost R29 in commission, and gave me €61. So I tried using it for the first time to pay for coffee at the Paris airport but it didn’t go through; and only worked after I withdrew money from an ATM. Just like any other FNB card, it probably gets activated once you use it in an ATM first (I know there is also an option to activate your cards from the app, but I prefer putting it into an ATM).
I love that the card is contactless (Tap and Pay), and lets me pay for stuff in the Euro zone as if I were a local; meaning the rate is 1:1 once you’ve loaded currency on it. The benefit of having this debit card is that your transactions overseas are charged for immediately and there’s no delay like with a credit card where it’s processed days later with a different exchange rate than when you swiped. I paid for stuff like I would in SA, by tapping my card. It’s very convenient. The only thing I need to be a bit more patient with is for Fitbit Pay to support the card on the wallet (hope someone at FNB is reading this).
I personally don’t buy forex and the one time I tried to, I was told my credit card name that is on my maiden name didn’t match my passport & ticket name and proof of address (UGH, I blame Home Affairs for this and OBVIOUSLY I’m lying about who I am). I usually swipe my cards or use an ATM overseas to withdraw cash if I really need to.
A solution like this is ideal for my travel needs and so far, having only used it once, I quite like the offering and hope this doesn’t change. You get 10 lounge visits a year and you can take a guest which comes off your free visits.
If you already bank with FNB and travel often, it is worth considering opening up a Global Account 👍🏼 (if you have any questions, please contact FNB directly).
Nafisa Akabor
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WELCOME
Welcome to Wired to the Web. My name is Nafisa Akabor and I’m a technology journalist covering business and consumer tech for the last 13 years. I’m passionate about start-ups, smartphones, mobile payments, travel tech and electric cars. ✉️ inbox@nafisa.co.za
Hey Nafisa, i applied for a FNB global account as well and i’m wondering if it’s possible to deposit US dollar directly into that account? I work overseas and i happen to have US dollar with me.
I have the GBP Global card and have been trying to use it here in the UK. I tried to draw cash at 3 different ATM machines. Only one worked and charged me a £1.85 fee. Not one POS transaction went through at multiple shops, coffee shop, sports goods, clothing shop etc. I had to use my normal credit card instead. I am not very impressed with it.
Did you activate the card? It won’t work unless you activate it. I’ve never had issues. I used my US Dollar account in Switzerland recently, tapped everywhere. What a lifesaver. This is one of the best travel products I have comes across because I don’t carry cash.
31/10/2019 I was so impressed with FNB Service. I Applied for my Global Card after reading this Blog on the 29th and I received my card Today well in advance for my 2 Month trip to Europe and Greece.
Awesome, hope you’re still enjoying it!
Hey Nafisa!!
Thanks for this information, the account seems worth it just for the Lounge Key access!
Hi Nafisa. ive just opened a global account as i will be travelling to Australia. ive tested it out and see the money in AUD. I just want to know if it will be ok to deposit money into this account from Australia as i am expecting money to come in from that side as well
Hi Nafisa,
Thanks for this blog, its really great to have someone answering all these questions. I am currently in Abu Dhabi, I hafe and AED Global account and I am trying to receive a payment from the UK, I have asked FNB if this is possible and they advised that it is. Do you by any chance know how long international transfers would take to a FNB Global account?
Thank you in advance
Hi ! Great article. I’m in Europe at the moment with my global card. Do you know the fee for cash withdrawals? 🙂
HI Nafisa,
Thanks for the info. If i have withdrawn money while travelling in that currency, US dollars for instance, and have cash leftover, can I deposit this foreign cash back in to card at overseas bank for ATM to save it for later and earn interest on it? Instead of walking around with US dollars for another few months without it earning interest.
Hi Nafisa
Can you withdraw cash at a SA atm if you still have funds left after you return to SA.
Hi, I haven’t tried that because I travel fairly often so keep whatever is left and keep topping up. Best to ask FNB.
At Dubai Airport you can’t access the Emirates lounges with Loungekey. There are other lounges at Dubai airport accessible with Loungekey (check http://www.loungekey.com/sasignature). For Emirates lounges you need to pay $100 pp
Hi, yes, no airline allows third party access via an app. It only works for lounges that are not attached to an airline.
Would you know how long does it take for the card to be delivered and how would you get a replacement card?
What a cool blog! Getting this card 🙂
Hi Chris
We’re you able to get into the lounge at Dubai Airport just by using the FNB global account?? my hubby and I are traveling for the first time to Europe next month. Emirates says they charge 100USD to access the lounge per person but FNB says you can access with just the global card, is this true? don’t want to get this card if it’s not going to be worth it, we don’t travel often (first time) we thanx!
Hi there, I have the Global card and downloaded the Loungekey App, however, I am unable to locate OR Thambo on the app??
Hi Nafisa
Do you know if I can get multiple access within 24 hours?
I will be traveling through Dubai. Arriving there midnight and would like to rest a bit then go explore the city. I also want to freshen up before my flight around midday
Hi, I think it’s best you contact the lounge directly and ask.
Hi Nafisa,
The Global account from FNB is one of their best-kept secrets. I used it for my trip to Greece in June as well as the stopover in Dubai. We were able to get into the lounges without a problem and there were no additional costs. What an absolute pleasure. Thanks for your blog on it otherwise I would’ve never known about it.
Hi Chris. Thank you for your feedback. I’m so glad you came across my blog in time and made the best use out of it. I agree it’s a best-kept secret.
Hi,
How was getting access to the lounges?
HI Nasifa, did they charge you to deposit funds into the global account?
Hi Nasifa, do you have to pay for attending the Longue if yes how much . I’ve got the card and the Longuekey app .
Hi. You get 10 free visits per year.
Hi Nafisa, been travelling for two months with My Global account. Been so easy and saved me lots of banking and conversion fees, especially since the Rand has been dropping so much.
Thanks.
Hi P-J. That’s really handy. Thank you so much for dropping by and letting me know. I love to hear reader experiences 🙂
Hi Nafisah was searching info about the global card and came across your blog…thank you for this usefull info…Will be traveling in the next week do u perhaps know if u could take a partner with into the lounge or would that be charged for?
Hi there. Have you had a chance to read my post? I answered that question in the second last paragraph 😉
Hi Nafisa, your article is simply enlightening! However, I am curious as to the difference in charges between FNB Forex (which adds his swift + commission fees) and the Global Account forex when you transfer into the GA, which will save me more? Regarding the loungekey list, is it valid for all global loungekey lounges regardless of the one currency it is holding ?
Hi, please contact FNB about fees.
Regarding the lounges, yes, it’s whatever appears on the LoungeKey app.
Hi Nafisa I have a similar problem as you had with different names. My FNB global card still in maiden name and my passport in my married name. Did you have problems gaining access to lounges or should I take copy of marriage certificate to verify?
Hi Des. I don’t carry my certificate but I am in a unique position where I have my cheque card in my married name and credit card in my maiden name, so I show both and they don’t have an issue. But once I was asked for a copy of my marriage certificate. I suggest you keep a digital copy on your phone.
Hi Nafisa, do they charge you to withdraw money at an ATM? And if so, ho much? But swipes are free?
Thanks.
Hi. Yes, that’s correct. The fees depend on which ATM you use. Don’t trust the convenience ones inside supermarkets or near famous landmarks, they charge a lot. Best to use an official bank ATM. You’d have to check with them. Swipes are free yes, so if you have a EURO card and swipe it in a country that accepts EURO, only that amount will go off. Thanks
Hi Nafisa. Would you be able to access the lounges with the info on you phone/app only. Do they accept it that way or must you show your card?
Hi, yes you can show the app for access.
Hi Nafisa I’m travelling to Malaysia and Dubai with Emirates.
I took the global card because I read about the international slow lounge access.
Are these lounges as easy to access as they make it seem?
Hi. Slow Lounge is only in South Africa, they’ve partnered with other lounges internationally.
I’m sorry I can’t answer that because there is no way I could know that?
thanks for the information shared above, I have just applied for the card as I am travelling to Europe, is it possible to use the card for online purchases/transactions
I doubt it can be used for online purchases. For example, Apple is the US don’t accept any credit card that is issued out of the US. This is not something I can answer though because it would depend on the merchant and what they accept.
Hi Nafisa. Thanks for this post. Are there card fees associated with the Global Account? Wouldn’t want to pay fees for a card that I’d use 2 or 3 times a year…
Hi Leribe. It’s $20 a year.
Hi Nafisa , thank you for all the useful info. just checking ,which card details should be used to created the lounge key account ?
Hi Fatima. The Global Account card that you ordered is the card that you will use, so not your Cheque or CC.
Hi Nafisa,
Do you think it would be possible to order more than one global account card? for safety purposes.
thanks 🙂
Hi Sone. You can order more than one if they are different currencies, as far as I know. But please check with FNB directly.
Hi. I read somewhere that there is a charge for cash withdrawals at ATMs, which is totally understandable. However I wanted to know if you pay any additional charges for POS swipes?
Hi. No you don’t pay for POS swipes. As mentioned in my post, “lets me pay for stuff in the Euro zone as if I were a local; meaning the rate is 1:1 once you’ve loaded currency on it.”
Hi, did apply for Global FNB Account.Received it Fryday as traveling to Turkey.Problem I cant’s make direct transfer like you stated R1 000.Card in euros more for use of slow lounge at Istanbul airport for 10 hour plus wait for flight. Gay at Grove FNB cant assist my and said I must pay euros in to Global account.
Feel stuck because fly this coming Tuesday 30 April.
Kind regards.
Susan
It is under transfers between accounts. If you have an account it’s linked to your profile and you should move money easily between the two. Try calling the call centre or using the secure chat on the app for assistance.
Hi Jow. I haven’t done it myself but I would think it is possible but then you probably have to factor exchange rates also above what you paid to load money onto the card initially. BUT call FNB to ask.
Can you use the global account USD in Dubai and Thailand ?
Hi Dedre. Just download the LoungeKey app and register with your details. It has a digital card inside the app and if you’re on iPhone you can add it to Wallet. The app also lets you search by airport/city to see what you have access to! It’s a comprehensive app with all info you need.
Thank you Nafisa. I am in USA at moment and have the USD Global Account Card. WRT lounge visits is there anything else I need to do to activate the benefit. Seem to be getting conflicting info from FNB. Where can I get a list of international lounges? Can I just go in and swipe?Thanks
You’re welcome.
No, it won’t be possible. Apple in the US online only accepts US issued credit cards and the like. Even though the currency is USD, the account is still South African.
thank you Nafisa, for the informative blog post on fnb global account.
But I was wondering, can this card work like a foreign card for web based purchases. For instance, if you US dollars loaded on the card, and you have an American Apple iTunes account. Could you use that card to pay for US iTunes , and app purchases? Currently US iTunes , doesn’t accept South African cards.