How can I identify the real merchant behind a FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE charge?

Look at the foreign merchant charge listed immediately adjacent to or on the same date as the fee on your statement. Verify whether you recently purchased goods from an international retailer, booked foreign travel, or renewed an overseas software subscription. To avoid future fees, consider using a credit or debit card that explicitly waives foreign transaction fees.

FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE (Foreign Transaction Assessment / International Service Fee)

Q: What does FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE stand for on a bank statement?

FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE stands for Foreign Transaction Assessment / International Service Fee. A 1% to 3% fee assessed by card issuers on purchases routed through foreign banks or processed in non-U.S. dollar currencies.

Resumen del cargo

FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE (Foreign Transaction Assessment / International Service Fee). A 1% to 3% fee assessed by card issuers on purchases routed through foreign banks or processed in non-U.S. dollar currencies.

Importante: O que este código NÃO é

A foreign transaction fee is not charged by the store where you bought goods. It is a surcharge levied directly by your credit card issuer or debit card bank for cross-border currency conversion and network routing.

Significado de FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE

A foreign transaction fee (often labeled INTL TXN FEE, FOREIGN TRANS FEE, or CROSS BORDER ASSESSMENT) is charged when you use your debit or credit card to make a purchase that passes through a foreign bank, even if the transaction was made online from your home in the U.S.

The fee typically consists of two parts: a 1% cross-border assessment charged by the card network (Visa or Mastercard) and an additional 1%–2% administrative fee added by your specific card-issuing bank.

It applies both when traveling abroad and when buying online from international merchants whose merchant processing banks are located overseas (e.g., European airlines, overseas retailers, or international software services).

Como localizar o comerciante real

Passo 1 Look at the foreign merchant charge listed immediately adjacent to or on the same date as the fee on your statement.
Passo 2 Verify whether you recently purchased goods from an international retailer, booked foreign travel, or renewed an overseas software subscription.
Passo 3 To avoid future fees, consider using a credit or debit card that explicitly waives foreign transaction fees.

Formatos comuns no extrato

FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE $2.84
INTL TXN ASSESSMENT VISA 1%
CROSS BORDER TRANSACTION FEE
FX CURRENCY CONVERSION FEE

Fuentes verificadas

CFPB: What is a foreign transaction fee? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-foreign-transaction-fee-en-68/
FTC: Credit and Debit Card Travel Protections and Fees https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/using-credit-cards-and-disputing-charges