Credit cards are very difficult to use in China. Tourist usually use Alipay+( merchant only) n hard cash. Also difficult ( i would say almost impossible) to find moneychanger so better change enough cash.

Weixin pay can tie to credit card but cannot transfer peer to peer only merchant. Same with alipay+ n tngo.

It happens to me also but on Maybank. It's a fact that we should not fully trust these scheduled transfers and need to recheck before the credit card pay by date.

Gxbank may not have charges but in all banks there are local Atm charges. For Japan using Seven Atm charges are 110 yen for 10000 yen withdrawal.

Japan can use credit/debit card for almost everything without extra charges. If use debit card make sure its unlock for overseas transactions. No need bring so much cash. I change RM17k worth of yen and need force myself to use cash and still has balance of RM7k worth last month. Change around 1.5k per pax will be more than enough for 10 days trip.


This post has been edited by magika: Oct 3 2024, 01:39 PM

Not sure about Makro Atm but usually is 220 baht for atm withdrawal in Thailand.

Double post

This post has been edited by magika: Oct 4 2024, 04:56 PM

Not feasible financially just by looking at the rate but neglecting Atm withdrawal fees. Spend using Wise or Gxbank is worth it for sure.

I m travelling overseas at least 4 times a year and also trying to beat the system. But unfortunately its not feasible due to withdrawal fees.

Gxbank for overseas use with 1% cashback is quite good. Plus cashback the rates are better than Wise. ATM cash withdrawal should be for emergency use only as most local banks overseas charge atm withdrawal fees with some exception of course. During holidays trying to search for a specific atm is a hassle. Due to using Gxbank for cashback, I am left with RM6000 worth of yen after my family holiday trip recently.

Train can.

Don't think can direct tap. Shinkasen can buy at counter using Gxbank. Use Suica card for direct tap on subway can topup using card.

This post has been edited by magika: Apr 27 2025, 10:59 PM

China need change cash. Alipay can use n exhange rate quite ok. No peer to peer though. Better use weixin pay also. No money changer in China at leasr to my knowledge. Credit card not friendly there.

U need Alipay and/oe Weixin pay also for small small things and transportation. Just remember to do full verification before leaving for China.

I went a number of places in China using Alipay+ and also cash. Yet to meet a merchant without change. Using taxis it's better to use Didi rather than cash as my last experience using cash for taxis got overcharged even using meter. My fault actually for not being observant enough.

Nope. I link Wise to Alipay+ app and use Didi from Alipay app(i do have standalone Didi app though). In Japan though i use Gxbank debit card to buy shinkasen but must remember to activate it for overseas use. Infact most debit card must activate fir overseas use.

At present I am in Thailand now, purchases using Gxbank card today with a conversion rate of 7.63 and including 1% cashback makes it worth using. Must remember to select payment in baht though on the reader, if not will need pay merchant conversion of 7.30 and still not including fees.


This post has been edited by magika: May 27 2025, 06:17 PM

First of all I did not use Gxbank in China. Infact it's nearly impossible to use debit or credit card in China except for linkage with Alipay+ Weixin Pay. There is no benefit of using Gxbank linkage to Alipay+ as I believe to be entitled for 1% cashback it needs to be use in store with physical card.

I use standalone Didi while in Beijing and Alipay+ mini app for others.
Not sure that I notice any difference.

Slightly better taking intk account cashback.

No idea abt Alliiance. But Gxbank with 1% cashback taking into considerations forex rates is slightly better than using Wise card.

It says 3 months

Happen to me today also. So proceed to cancel the card and reapply new one. Funny thing is that it is mentioned that will be charged RM12 fees and no mention of waiver as claimed. However I read also that if we have minimum fund of RM1k for 30 days after applying new card then it will be waived.