What kind of card would i need to be able to use it in the USA via a bank/store/cash machine?

How would i go about putting dollars into it? Could i do that over here?

I used my bank card from the UK in the cash machines in the US, it draws direct from my account here (but gives me dollars obviously).

at the correct conversion rate?

Originally posted by Lickable
at the correct conversion rate?

Your card will be billed in £££ for the $$$ you drew out.
Your card company uses their own exchange rates which change daily and you are usually charged at the rate for the day when you made the withdrawal.
Most major cards use acceptable exchange rates.

BUT .... don't forget that interest is usually charged on cash withdrawals from the day of withdrawal (not after the bill payment date as with purchases).

Give your card company a call to check how they do things.

and visa is accepted all over the states, just use your credit card like you would in the uk. (I actually got a better rate on cc purchases, than the cash i'd bought in the uk).

Originally posted by cgksheff
....Give your card company a call to check how they do things.

Call your CC company anyway if you're gonna use it abroad.

They like to be advised so they don't view overseas transactions suspiciously.

You will be able to use any U.K credit or debit cards with the Visa or Mastercard logo on.

One bit of very important advice is do not withdrawl cash useing a credit card. Your credit card company will charge you a higher intrest rate on that transaction and you will keep on paying that higher intrest rate untill you pay your balance off. The cash withdrawl will go to the back of the list on your CC account for things to be payed off. So if you never fully pay your balance off in full on your CC you could end up paying for that cash withdrawl for a very long time.

To withdrawl cash use a Debit Card not a Credit Card.

Make sure you have photo ID with you for using your card when you're shopping; quite often they ask for ID in the States, particularly for big purchases, but they never check the signature on the card slip against the signature on the card, which seems strange.