Personal Finance Tips

Can I Use My RCBC Credit Card Abroad?

Michelle Alyssa

25.05.26

Read time 5 minutes

Spending overseas with a credit card is secure and convenient, and means you can skip the trip to the money changer before you travel. So - can I use my RCBC credit card abroad¹, and what will it cost me if I do? This guide has all you need to know.

We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

Table of Contents
Using your RCBC card abroad Card activation RCBC overseas fees and charges RCBC exchange rates Overseas installments Travel perks Spend abroad with Wise FAQ Do I need to call RCBC? Can I withdraw cash abroad?

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Can I use my RCBC credit card abroad?

Yes. RCBC cards are issued on major networks and are more or less globally accepted, and can be used to spend and make cash withdrawals easily in most cases. RCBC cards can also be used for international online transactions, where accepted.

Ultimately, card acceptance - in the Philippines and globally - depends on the card network, merchant, card status and available credit limit. When spending abroad with an RCBC card, you may benefit from RCBC credit card travel perks², but some additional foreign currency fees and conversion charges may apply³, which we'll also explore in this guide.

RCBC credit card overseas activation

Your RCBC credit card must be activated before first use, which you can do⁴:

Via SMS
Using the RCBC Pulz app
With the Chat with Erica AI assistant feature
By calling IVR (Interactive Voice Response)

Once you’ve completed the activation steps following your preferred method, you’ll receive a confirmation at your registered mobile number within ten minutes. If you don’t get this message, you need to call the RCBC Credit Cards Customer Service hotline on (+632) 8888-1888 to check what to do next.

Once you’ve activated your credit card on receipt, there’s no specific RCBC credit card overseas activation step to follow. Just make sure your contact details are all up to date with the bank in case they need to check transactions are legitimate as you travel.

Fees and charges when using your RCBC credit card abroad

Using a credit card at home or abroad can mean paying a few fees. We’ve rounded up some key costs which might apply when you use your RCBC credit card abroad here, but bear in mind that other fees may also apply depending on the specific card you have and how you transact:

Service/fee type	RCBC credit card charges
Foreign transaction fee - peso cards	3.5% for purchases in a foreign currency Foreign currency transactions processed in PHP over 1,000 PHP have a 2.25% fee
Foreign transaction fee - dollar cards	3.5% for purchases in a foreign currency Foreign currency transactions processed in USD over 20 USD have a 2.25% fee
Cash advance fee	200 PHP or 3 USD
Quasi cash transaction fee	5% of the amount transacted

*Details correct at time of research - 11th May 2026

What exchange rate does RCBC use for overseas transactions?

The exchange rate you get from RCBC when spending with a credit card depends on the specific card you hold and the currency you’re transacting in.

For peso cards, RCBC sets its own rates for transactions in Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong, Singapore and US dollars, Euro, Japanese yen, Korean won, Thai baht, and UK pounds. For all other currencies, the exchange rate is set by the network such as Mastercard or Visa.

For USD cards, the rate is set by the network, Mastercard.

It’s helpful to know that there may be a fee included in the rate used for currency conversion which is decided by either RCBC or the card network. On top of this you may pay a foreign transaction fee of up to 3.5%. This can push up your costs overall, and may mean that using a multi-currency debt card from a provider like Wise is a cheaper way to spend overseas. More on that later.

RCBC credit card overseas installments

If you buy something overseas using your RCBC credit card, you may be able to choose to use the Unli 0% to repay in 0% installments over 3 months, or opt for the Unli Installment product to repay over anything up to 36 months. These services can be arranged using the RCBC Pulz App.

Both Unli 0% and Unli Installment can be attractive options if you want to spread the costs of your purchases over a few months or longer, but there are some fees to pay:

Service	Key fees
Unli 0%⁵	100 PHP for purchases under 10,000 PHP 200 PHP for purchases from 10,000 PHP to 30,000 PHP 1% for purchases above 30,000 PHP Arrangements made via hotline or email incur a fee of 500 PHP or 1%, whichever is greater
Unli Installment⁶	Annualised rates vary depending on terms From 17.92% for a 3 month agreement Up to 21.20% for a 36 month arrangement at the time of writing

*Details correct at time of research - 11th May 2026

These services can’t be used for things like cash advances and casino/gambling transactions, and you won’t earn rewards points on purchases converted to installment plan payments. Before you choose to use these services, make sure you’ve read the terms and conditions carefully so there are no surprises later down the line.

RCBC credit card travel perks

Here are a few other RCBC credit card travel perks you may benefit from, depending on the specific card you choose to apply for:

RCBC credit card travel perks	Key details
RCBC travel insurance and purchase protection⁷	Available when you charge your flights and overseas purchases to an eligible RCBC credit card Registration required Claim forms must be completed within 48 hours of any incident and submitted within 7 days
RCBC lounge access⁸	PAGSS International Lounge at NAIA Terminal 1 Worldwide Priority Pass airport lounges JCB lounges in Japan, Hawaii, China and the UK
RCBC bonus credit overseas⁹	Eligible cardholders may get up to a temporary 100% increase in their spending limit for travel expenses To check eligibility, call 8888-1888 or email email@service.rcbcbankard.com
RCBC Visa concierge¹⁰	24/7 concierge services Travel recommendations Dining bookings Healthcare and medical information Business event planning and bookings Shopping and gift delivery

*Details correct at time of research - 11th May 2026

Travelling soon? Bring the Wise card along to spend at the mid-market rate

Staying connected with an eSIM is only part of the travel experience. You’ll also need a simple way to pay for things while you’re abroad, without high foreign transaction fees.

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.

A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.

In supported countries, Wise also lets you pay with QR codes, giving you another easy way to pay when cards or cash aren't your first choice. That means you can use Wise for card payments, cash withdrawals, and QR payments, all from the same account.

While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.

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FAQ

Do I need to call RCBC to use my credit card abroad?

It’s not mandatory to call RCBC if you want to use your credit card overseas - but new cards must be activated before you can spend. It’s also important to make sure your contact information is up to date, in case the bank needs to contact you to check transactions while you’re overseas.

Can I withdraw money abroad with my RCBC credit card?

Yes. You’ll need your cash advance PIN, which is issued when you first get your card. You can then look out for an ATM which shows your card network logo - Cirrus, Plus, JCB or UnionPay. Insert your card into the ATM and follow the onscreen steps to get cash out worldwide, using your cash advance PIN¹¹.

Sources:

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.