Top 5 best GXBank debit card alternatives for international debit card in Malaysia
**If you love to travel or shop internationally, you may be wondering how the GXBank card measures up for overseas use. While the GX debit card has had most fees waived as part of its launch, including the foreign transaction fee of 1.2%, this fee waiver may not last forever, so comparing some options can help you pick the right international debit card for your long term use.
To help you decide, we’ll touch on some great GXBank alternatives from non-bank services like Wise and BigPay, as well as a couple of other international cards available from Malaysian banks.
Here’s what we thought about some of the best GXBank alternatives on the market today:
Wise card - Multi-currency account which supports 40+ currencies, with mid-market rates and low fees
RHB multi-currency debit card - Hold and exchange 33 currencies, and spend around the world conveniently
BigPay card - Popular local e-wallet with low foreign transaction fees and good exchange rates
HLB multi-currency debit card - 12 supported foreign currencies for easy spending and cash withdrawals
HSBC Everyday Global debit card - 11 supported currencies and competitive exchange rates
Why you should consider a GXBank alternative
GXBank is a Malaysian digital bank which has great options for customers to spend, save and get insured, as well as a smart international debit card which lets you spend more or less anywhere in the world. As a relatively new bank, GX Bank has waived a lot of its fees, including many card fees, as part of its opening offer to new customers. However, as these fee waivers are likely to end at some point - 6th May 2025, according to the live information at time of research - you may decide you want a GXBank alternative to fall back on once fees begin, particularly for overseas use. This guide gives some ideas.
Pros of GXBank
0.1% cash back on local spending and 1% on international spending
No card order fee or foreign transaction fee during fee waiver period
Licensed and safe digital provider
GX Bank has great accounts to save, and options to borrow money as well
Cons of GXBank
Fee waivers are set to end in May 2025, and will mean increased costs for card use
No physical branch network for face to face service
Alternatives to GXBank comparison
Here are a few great international card options for customers in Malaysia, to give you some inspiration if you’re looking for an alternative to GXBank. There are different card and account types which may suit different customer needs, from holding accounts with major banks like RHB to flexible international accounts from non-bank providers like Wise.
| Provider/card | Annual cost | Supported currencies | Exchange rate | Overseas fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise card | No annual fee | 40+ | Mid-market exchange rate | No fee to spend a currency you hold Conversion from 0.71% |
| RHB multi-currency debit card | 20 MYR | 33 | Network rate | No fee to spend a currency you hold 1% foreign transaction fee |
| BigPay card | No annual fee | MYR | Network rate | 1% currency conversion fee |
| HLB multi-currency debit card | 8 MYR | 13 | HLB rate which may include a markup | No fee to spend a currency you hold 2% foreign transaction fee |
| HSBC Everyday Global debit card | No annual fee | 11 | HSBC rate which may include a markup | No fee to spend a currency you hold 1% foreign transaction fee |
Looking to learn more about different alternatives to GXBank? Check out this review of GXBank vs BigPay vs Wise in Malaysia for even more information.
Wise Debit card
The Wise card can be a good pick as a GXBank debit card alternative if you spend frequently in foreign currencies, either when you travel or when you shop online. You can hold 40+ currencies in a Wise account and there’s no fee to spend a currency you hold, with low conversion fees from [NumberWiseFee]% if you don’t have enough of a particular currency to cover the costs of a transaction. That’s a very cheap and simple way to spend in 150+ countries - plus easy ATM withdrawals with low or no fees.
Best Wise features
No ongoing fees, no foreign transaction fees
Get some free ATM withdrawals monthly before the Wise fee begins*
Get a virtual card for increased safety when sending with merchants you don’t know
Use your Wise account to pay and get paid in a broad selection of foreign currencies
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
✅ Hold and exchange 40+ currencies ✅ Use your card in 150+ countries ✅ No ongoing card or account fees ✅ Mid-market exchange rates | ❌ 13.7 MYR one time card order fee ❌ Some ATM fees once free allowance is exhausted |
RHB multi-currency debit card
If you’d prefer a GXBank debit card alternative from a local bank, check out the RHB multi-currency debit card which supports an impressive 33 currencies for holding and exchange. If you have the currency you need in your account there’s no fee to spend with your card - but a fee of 1% does apply if you don’t have the right currency, or if you don’t have enough of the currency to cover a transaction.
Best RHB features
Low foreign transaction fee at 1%
ATM withdrawals at a local RHB terminal are free - fees of up to 12 MYR apply on overseas withdrawals
Some currency balances attract variable interest so you can earn from your account
| RHB pros | RHB cons |
|---|---|
✅ Large local and regional bank, making this an easy to use card in Malaysia ✅ 33 supported currencies ✅ No fee to spend a currency you hold in your account ✅ Some free local ATM usage | ❌ Annual fees of 20 MYR ❌ Foreign transaction fees apply if you don’t have the balance you need in your account |
BigPay card
The BigPay card is not from a bank - but it is from a licensed provider which is safe to use, and a very popular option for local and overseas spending. BigPay offers helpful ways to manage your budget and to take care of local transactions like bill pay and splitting bills with friends. You can spend overseas, too - although here a 1% fee does apply. There’s also a 10 MYR fee for international ATM use.
Best BigPay features
Low foreign transaction fee of 1%
ATM withdrawals at home and abroad - fees from 6 MYR - 10 MYR
Budgeting and spending options to make managing your money in MYR easier
| BigPay pros | BigPay cons |
|---|---|
✅ Popular local provider with an intuitive app ✅ Split bills and manage your budget easily ✅ Low foreign transaction fee ✅ Competitive exchange rates | ❌ 20 MYR card order fee ❌ Fairly high international ATM fee |
HLB multi-currency debit card
Another good option if you’d prefer to get an alternative to the GXBank debit card from a bank - the HLB multi currency debit card supports 12 foreign currencies and lets you spend easily wherever the card network is accepted. There’s no fee to spend a currency you have in your account, but a fairly high 2% foreign transaction fee applies if you don’t have the currency you need. There’s also the option to convert currencies in your account with just a few taps - this uses the HLB prevailing exchange rate.
Best HLB features
Low annual fee at 8 MYR
ATM withdrawals have a fixed fee by currency if you’re overseas
Top up or convert to foreign currencies in your account with just the app
| HLB pros | HLB cons |
|---|---|
✅ Major bank with a good branch network ✅ Low annual fee ✅ No fee to spend a currency you hold ✅ Easy currency conversion in the app | ❌ 2% foreign transaction fee ❌ HLB exchange rate may include a fee |
HSBC Everyday Global debit card
HSBC is a huge global bank which offers services - and an ATM network - in many countries. They’ve also got the HSBC Everyday Global account and debit card which lets you hold select foreign currencies and spend conveniently around the world. There’s no extra fee for this account but you will also usually need another eligible HSBC account which may have its own fees to pay. Low 5 MYR ATM fees apply if you use an HSBC ATM overseas.
Best HSBC features
No ongoing fees for this account, although you also need an eligible MYR account
ATM withdrawals are cheap if you stick with HSBC terminals - there are many globally
Quick and easy currency conversion and international payments
| HSBC pros | HSBC cons |
|---|---|
✅ Global bank with excellent ATM coverage ✅ No ongoing fees for account or card ✅ 11 supported currencies ✅ Other options including ways to send payments abroad available | ❌ 10 MYR out of network ATM fee ❌ You also need an eligible MYR HSBC account |
Why you should use Wise over GXBank
Wise accounts can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, while GXBank offers MYR only for holding. Plus, Wise uses the mid-market rate for currency conversion with low, transparent fees and no foreign transaction charge to worry about.
Read more: Wise vs GXBank Comparison
Why you should use RHB over GXBank
You may want to consider RHB as a GX Bank alternative if you want a multi-currency account and card from a bank with a physical branch network. RHB lets you hold 33 currencies, and there’s always the opportunity to call into a branch if you ever have a question and want to talk to a team member.
Why you should use BigPay over GXBank
BigPay supports holding of MYR only, like GXBank, but can be a smart alternative particularly if you want to keep your travel money separate from your day to day finances. Just use BigPay when you travel, adding only the money you intend to spend on your trip, to make budgeting easier.
Why you should use HLB over GXBank
HLB is another major bank with a great branch and ATM network which can be a good GX Bank alternative if you would like the option to get face to face service, as well as a way to hold foreign currencies.
Why you should use HSBC over GXBank
HSBC is a huge banking organisation with ATMs and branches globally, making this a smart option if you already bank with HSBC and want a multi-currency add-on to your MYR account. HSBC ATM fees are reasonable, and many countries have easy access terminals for day to day use.
Are the alternatives safe?
Yes. The cards we have selected as alternatives to the GXBank debit card are all safe. Some are issued by major banks, and some come from popular local and global non-bank alternatives. In all cases, they use secure login methods, 2 factor authentication, full verification processes, and have easy ways to freeze and manage your card with nothing more than your phone.
GXBank alternatives conclusion While GXBank’s debit card is a handy option for local and international spending, with cashback offers and no foreign transaction fee during this promotional period, it isn’t right for everyone. The fee waivers are set to end in May 2025, and at this point some additional costs may creep in when you use your card overseas. Plus, GX Bank doesn’t offer foreign currency holding accounts which can be a limitation for people who travel often.
Compare your options for international debit cards including GX Bank and some non-bank alternatives like Wise and BigPay, as well as other bank multi--currency account options which can be flexible for overseas use.
Alternatives to GXBank FAQs
There are plenty of alternatives to GX Bank on the market - which is best depends on exactly what you want. For example, you might look at non-bank alternatives like Wise and BigPay for low costs and helpful overseas services. Or a bank multi-currency account from HSBC, RHB or HLB may work if you prefer to have a branch network to rely on.
GX Bank has very few fees during its promotional period. However, with this set to run out in May 2025, there may be some additional costs on their way. Some providers like Wise offer a card with no ongoing fees, and mid-market rates with no foreign transaction fees. Compare a few options including bank and non-bank cards, to see which is cheapest based on how you transact.
The providers we’ve mentioned above all have various measures to ensure the safety of customer funds. Here are a few highlights:
Wise card - Use virtual cards for additional security, with ways to freeze your card with your phone, and 24/7 anti-fraud protocols running
RHB multi-currency debit card - Major local bank using industry level security, with easy ways to view and manage transactions in your app
BigPay card - transact with a secure app, with secure log in functions and built in security
HLB multi-currency debit card - Backed by a major bank which has invested heavily in security to keep cards and accounts as secure as possible
HSBC Everyday Global debit card - Use your card safely alongside your other HSBC accounts, with secure logins and easy ways to manage your card from the HSBC app