International Banking & Travel¶

Whether you are travelling abroad for business or leisure, or sending money to family overseas, Apex Bank offers a range of international banking services to keep your finances running smoothly across borders. This guide covers everything you need to know about using your accounts and cards internationally.

Using Your Cards Overseas¶

Your Apex Bank Visa debit and credit cards are accepted at millions of merchants and ATMs worldwide wherever Visa is accepted. Before you travel, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

• Enable international transactions: By default, international card transactions are disabled for security. You must enable them before departure via the Apex Bank app under Cards > Manage Card > International Transactions, or by calling 1300 APEX 00.
• Contactless payments: Tap-and-go payments work internationally at contactless-enabled terminals, subject to local merchant limits.
• ATM withdrawals: You can withdraw local currency from any Visa-affiliated ATM overseas. Note that the ATM operator may charge their own fee in addition to Apex Bank fees.

Travel Notifications¶

To prevent your card from being blocked while overseas, we strongly recommend setting a travel notification before you depart:

1. Open the Apex Bank app and navigate to Cards > Travel Notice.
2. Enter your destination country or countries and your travel dates.
3. Confirm the notification.

Travel notifications can be set up to 12 months in advance and cover multiple destinations. If you forget to set a notification and your card is blocked overseas, call our international support line immediately to have it reinstated.

Fees and Exchange Rates¶

The following fees apply to international transactions:

All international card transactions are converted to Australian dollars using the Visa wholesale exchange rate at the time of processing, plus the applicable conversion fee. The Visa exchange rate is typically close to the mid-market rate and is updated daily. You can check indicative rates on the Visa currency converter tool before transacting.

Please note that the exchange rate applied at the point of sale may differ from the rate at the time the transaction is settled, particularly over weekends and public holidays.

International Wire Transfers¶

To send money overseas from your Apex Bank account, you can initiate an international wire transfer (also known as a telegraphic transfer) through internet banking or the mobile app:

1. Go to Payments > International Transfer.
2. Enter the recipient's full name, bank name, and account number.
3. Provide the recipient bank's SWIFT/BIC code (an 8 or 11 character code identifying the bank internationally).
4. Enter the amount and select the destination currency.
5. Review the exchange rate and fees, then confirm the transfer.

Processing times for international wire transfers are typically 2 to 5 business days, depending on the destination country, intermediary banks, and the recipient's bank. Transfers to major banking centres (US, UK, EU, Singapore, Hong Kong) are generally faster.

Apex Bank SWIFT Details¶

If you need to receive an international transfer into your Apex Bank account, provide the sender with the following details:

• SWIFT/BIC Code: APXBAU2S
• Bank Name: Apex Bank Australia
• Bank Address: 200 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
• BSB: 082-001
• Account Number: Your Apex Bank account number
• Account Name: Your full name as it appears on your account

Intermediary bank fees may be deducted from the amount received. If the sender selects "OUR" (sender pays all fees), the full amount should arrive in your account.

Emergency Card Replacement¶

If your card is lost or stolen while overseas, Apex Bank can arrange an emergency replacement card through Visa's global assistance programme:

• Temporary emergency card: Delivered to your hotel or accommodation within 1 to 3 business days in most countries.
• Emergency cash advance: If a replacement card cannot be delivered in time, we can arrange an emergency cash disbursement through a local Visa member bank.

To request emergency assistance, call our 24/7 international support hotline: +61 2 9000 1234 (reverse charges accepted from most countries).

International Support¶

Our international support team is available around the clock for customers travelling or transacting overseas:

• International hotline: +61 2 9000 1234
• In-app support: Use the secure messaging feature in the Apex Bank app (data charges may apply when roaming).
• Email: international@apexfinancial.company

We recommend saving the international hotline number in your phone before departure. If you are unable to reach us by phone, the in-app messaging service is the fastest alternative. Response times for international enquiries are typically within 2 hours during Australian business hours and within 6 hours outside business hours.

For a smooth travel experience, remember to enable international transactions, set your travel notification, and carry a backup payment method in case of card issues. Safe travels from the team at Apex Bank.