Monzo

[KeithChegwinFromExtrasPopKnob]

I want to open an account purely for when I travel abroad - starting next February.

Can I open an account now, leave it empty and transfer a chunk from my main bank account to theirs say a couple of weeks before I go? Is there a charge for opening an account and is there a charge every time I use my card to make a purchase abroad? In America?

Not planning on withdrawing cash as I'll take cash separately.

Thanks

Not as far as I know. I opened a Monzo account to use with my phone, but when I found out that Starling worked better with Samsung pay, I opened a Starling account. The Monzo account has been unused since but is still available to me.

As an aside, the reason I do this is for security. I can transfer £100 to the Starling (or Monzo) card and use that exclusively for phone payments (Gpay, or Samsung Pay). Then if my phone is compromised, I am only at risk of losing a max of £100.

Monzo is super easy and yes I use it exactly in the way you described OP.

Is there interest on the account?

Minimal on the main account, I think, but I've just had an email about their instant access savings account which is offering 4.1%.

Chase is another one you can open and have for holidays

Why don't you ask Monzo?

Chase give you 1% cash back fur a year. We use our's when we go abroad as you only get charged the Mastercard exchange rate.