Top Banks Ideal for Globetrotters in 2025
Top Banks for Frequent Travelers: Kiplinger's 2025 Evaluation
For those who frequently travel, finding a bank that offers low foreign transaction fees, wide ATM access, and excellent customer service is essential. According to Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine's 2025 analysis, three banks stand out as the best for travelers: Citibank, Fidelity, and Axos Bank.
Citibank's Citigold Banking Package
Citibank's Citigold banking package is highly attractive for frequent travelers, offering no monthly service fees, unlimited reimbursement of global out-of-network ATM fees, and waived foreign-exchange fees on debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals. Additionally, Citigold customers have access to financial planning services and travel-related perks such as cultural event tickets.
Citigold also provides complimentary online wire transfers, standard checkbook orders, stop payments, and money orders. The program offers approximately 650 branches in the U.S., with many located in major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Moreover, Citigold customers can enjoy the Citigold Culture Pass, providing free tickets to the New York Botanical Garden, Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. If you maintain a combined balance of at least $200,000 in eligible deposit, retirement, and investment accounts, you can qualify for Citigold.
Fidelity Cash Management Account
Fidelity Cash Management Account offers no foreign ATM fees with unlimited reimbursement of out-of-network ATM fees worldwide, no monthly fees, and robust online and mobile banking. This brokerage account functions as a checking account with extra benefits like free checks, making it a solid choice for travelers who want fee-free global ATM access with good customer service.
Axos Bank (online bank)
Axos Bank, an online bank, provides no monthly fees, several free ATM benefits, and checking/savings accounts with competitive yields. Axos offers good ATM and fee structures suitable for travelers who prefer online banking with strong cost efficiency.
In summary, Kiplinger's 2025 evaluation highlights Citibank’s Citigold, Fidelity Cash Management, and Axos Bank as among the best for travelers due to their combination of low foreign transaction fees, wide ATM accessibility with fee reimbursements, and solid customer service and online/mobile banking experience. The evaluation is based on extensive criteria including fees, benefits, and user convenience for travelers.
Bank of America's Preferred Rewards Program
Bank of America's Preferred Rewards program includes four tiers: Gold, Platinum, Platinum Honors, and Diamond Honors. Benefits in the Gold tier include a waiver of monthly maintenance fees on up to four eligible checking and savings accounts, free standard checks, incoming wire transfers, and stop payments, and a 25% bonus on rewards earned with an eligible Bank of America credit card.
If you qualify for Bank of America's Platinum Honors tier, you get additional benefits, including a 20% boost on the interest rate you earn with the bank's Advantage Savings account. If your combined account balances total at least $1 million, you qualify for Citigold Private Client, offering enhanced benefits and up to $400 in annual subscription rebates.
[1] Kiplinger Personal Finance, 2025. [2] Fidelity Investments. [3] Axos Bank. [4] Citibank.
The Citigold banking package offered by Citibank is particularly appealing to frequent travelers due to its no foreign-exchange fees on debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals, coupled with unlimited reimbursement of global out-of-network ATM fees and access to financial planning services; these benefits make it a strong choice in the banking-and-insurance industry for personal-finance management.
In addition to Citigold, Fidelity Cash Management Account offers no foreign ATM fees and robust banking services, attracting travelers who value efficiency and ease in their banking and finance needs. Furthermore, Axos Bank, an online bank, caters to cost-conscious travelers with no monthly fees and attractive ATM structures, positioning it favorably in the finance sector for personal-finance management and banking-and-insurance services.
