How to beat the Natwest exchange rate
If you bank with NatWest and you're planning to spend money abroad, you might assume you're getting a fair deal on exchange rates. But the reality is, like most banks, NatWest applies a hidden markup to the interbank exchange rate. Fortunately, there's a clever way to beat this system and get a better rate—without switching banks. Here's how.
How Exchange Rates Work
At the core of currency conversion is the interbank exchange rate — this is the real exchange rate that banks and large financial institutions use to trade currencies with one another. It's the most accurate reflection of a currency's value at any given moment.
However, when you exchange money through your bank, you're rarely given this rate. Instead, banks like NatWest add a markup to the interbank rate. This hidden fee isn't shown as a separate charge, which makes it hard to see how much you're actually losing. Even small markups can cost you significantly, especially on large transfers or travel spending.
Mastercard Exchange Rate: A Better Benchmark
Unlike retail bank rates, the Mastercard exchange rate is very close to the interbank rate and updated daily. They don't include a hidden markup, which generally makes them far more competitive.
NatWest not only adds a markup to the real exchange rate – they charge an additional foreign transaction fee too. 2.75% is added to every purchase you make abroad. That's £27.50 on every £1000 spent outside GBP.
Beat the NatWest Exchange Rate Without Changing Banks
Curve is a smart digital wallet that lets you link all your existing debit and credit cards in one place. When you spend abroad with Curve, you get the Mastercard exchange rate, without the foreign transaction fees your bank would normally charge.
That means you can:
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Keep using your NatWest account
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Avoid the bank's hidden markup on exchange rates
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Skip the 2.75% foreign transaction fee
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Enjoy near-perfect interbank rates with zero hassle
There's no need to top up a separate travel card or open a new account. Just link your NatWest card to Curve and you're good to go.
How to Avoid NatWest Foreign Exchange Fees
NatWest charges up to 2.75% in foreign transaction fees when you use your card abroad. Here's how it typically breaks down:
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Exchange rate markup (hidden)
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Foreign usage fee (visible)
With Curve, you avoid both. Curve uses the Mastercard rate, and depending on your plan, you can spend abroad with 0% FX fees up to £1000/month on the free plan and even more on premium plans.
More Travel Perks with Curve
Curve isn't just about better exchange rates. It also comes with a suite of travel-friendly benefits:
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Cashback on international spending: Earn cashback on all spending outside Europe with any premium plan.
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Free ATM withdrawals abroad: Up to £1000/month depending on your subscription plan.
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Discounted airport lounge access: Enjoy cheaper entry to lounges worldwide with Curve Pay Pro+
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Travel light: Carry just one Curve card instead of a wallet full of debit and credit cards.
It also comes with smart features like spending insights, anti-embarrassment mode (in case your selected card gets declined), and even the ability to switch payments between cards after you’ve spent.
Ditch the NatWest Exchange Rate without Switching your bank
You don’t need to change banks to save money on bad exchange rates and FX fees. NatWest might not offer the best rate by default, but with Curve, you can unlock Mastercard's superior exchange rates and avoid FX fees entirely. Add in the travel perks and the ability to keep using your existing cards, and Curve becomes a no-brainer for any frequent traveller.
Save money, travel smarter, and keep all your cards in one. That’s the power of Curve.
