Canadian Card Fees in the Philippines (2026): RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC Compared
Canada's big five charge CA$5 per ATM withdrawal outside North America and 2.5% to 3.5% on the conversion, and BDO adds ₱250. CIBC's debit fee rises to 3.5% in January. Here is the card-by-card picture.
Quick answer: As of 3 November 2026, RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC each charge CA$5 per ATM withdrawal outside Canada and the US, and RBC, Scotiabank and CIBC add 2.5% on the conversion while TD adds 3.5%; BDO then charges ₱250 per withdrawal on any card issued overseas. For purchases, a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card such as the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite skips the usual 2.5%, and Wise is free on ATMs only up to CA$100 a month.
Key takeaways
- Big five debit cards: CA$5 per ATM withdrawal outside Canada and the US at all five, plus a conversion fee of 2.5% (RBC, Scotiabank, CIBC) or 3.5% (TD).
- CIBC is raising its debit fee: the foreign currency administration fee on CIBC Advantage Debit goes from 2.5% to 3.5% on 16 January 2027.
- No Philippine alliance ATMs: Scotiabank's Global ATM Alliance list has no Philippine partner, so the CA$5 fee applies.
- The Philippine side: BDO charges ₱250 per withdrawal on a card issued overseas, so one ₱20,000 withdrawal costs about CA$21 to CA$26 in fees on a big-five debit card.
- Visitors can skip the card: Fizen QR Pay pays QR Ph codes from USDT, and the merchant receives pesos.
The mall restaurant takes your card, the jeepney and the sari-sari store want coins, and the BDO machine in the mall shows ₱250 before it pays out. Your Canadian bank charges on each of those moments, and the numbers differ more than you would expect.
We read the fee pages of RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC and Wise, plus BDO's ATM page, on 3 November 2026.
What do RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC charge in the Philippines?
| Card | Conversion fee | ATM outside Canada and the US, bank's fee |
|---|---|---|
| RBC debit card | 2.5% over the interbank rate | CA$5.00 |
| TD Access Card | 3.5% | CA$5.00 (none on All-Inclusive or Private Banking) |
| Scotiabank Day-to-Day (ScotiaCard) | 2.5% on foreign withdrawals | CA$5.00 |
| BMO debit card | Not stated on the page we read | CA$5 on Performance and Plus plans; no BMO fee on Premium |
| CIBC Advantage Debit | 2.5%, rising to 3.5% on 16 January 2027 | CA$5.00 |
| Wise card | Shown before you pay | Free to CA$100 a month, then CA$2.69 plus 2.69% of the amount over |
Read on each bank's own page on 3 November 2026; TD's List of Services and Fees is dated 5 March 2026. TD applies its 3.5% to the cash and to the ATM operator's fee after conversion. The machine's own fee comes on top of every row.
What is the best Canadian card for the Philippines?
For shopping, hotels and Grab, a credit card with no foreign transaction fee does the most work. Scotiabank's Passport Visa Infinite page says you shop abroad "without the typical 2.5% foreign transaction fee"; the card costs CA$150 a year, waived with an eligible Scotiabank account. Skip the credit card at the ATM: that is a cash advance, and Scotiabank lists a CA$7.50 fee for an international one.
For cash, no big-five debit card is cheap in the Philippines, because none has a Philippine alliance partner. Withdraw less often and in larger amounts. Wise suits small amounts only, since its free ATM allowance is CA$100 a month. Bring two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
How much does a Philippine ATM add on top?
BDO's ATM page lists ₱250 per withdrawal on cards issued overseas, "subject to additional fees the card issuer will charge", with a maximum of ₱25,000 per transaction and ₱50,000 a day.
One ₱20,000 withdrawal, about CA$439 on 2 November 2026 central bank rates, costs roughly CA$25.84 in fees on a TD Access Card and CA$21.45 on RBC, Scotiabank or CIBC: CA$5, the percentage, and BDO's ₱250 (about CA$5.48). On Wise it is about CA$17.28 before the conversion fee. These are estimates; the card network's exchange rate applies on top.
Should you pay in pesos or Canadian dollars?
Pesos. When a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in Canadian dollars, that is dynamic currency conversion: the merchant's provider sets the exchange rate instead of your card network, and your bank can still add its own fee because the merchant is abroad. Press PHP and decline the conversion on the ATM screen.
Can visitors pay QR Ph without card fees?
Yes, if you already hold USDT. Fizen QR Pay lets visitors pay any QR Ph code, GCash, Maya or a bank QR, from USDT, and the merchant receives pesos: the carinderia, the tricycle, the island-hopping desk with no card machine. Filipinos cannot use it inside the Philippines.
- Create or import your self-custody Fizen wallet.
- Move USDT on Solana or BNB Chain into it (BNB Chain deposits need no gas; Solana needs a little SOL). USDT on another network, or another token, cannot be deposited.
- Deposit from the wallet into QR Pay and pass KYC, per wallet and per device.
- Scan, check the peso amount, pay: up to US$800 a payment and US$1,000 a week, any fee shown before you confirm.
USDT moved into QR Pay is governed by the Fizen QR Pay Terms, so only move in what you plan to spend. Steps: QR Pay getting started, and QR Ph for visitors. Your money. Your freedom. No borders.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my Canadian debit card in the Philippines?
Yes. BDO's ATMs accept cards issued overseas for a ₱250 fee. Your bank adds CA$5 per withdrawal at RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC, plus a 2.5% to 3.5% conversion fee.
How much does TD charge to withdraw cash in the Philippines?
TD charges CA$5.00 per withdrawal at non-TD ATMs outside Canada, the US and Mexico, plus 3.5% of the converted amount, per its List of Services and Fees effective 5 March 2026.
Is CIBC changing its foreign currency fee?
Yes. CIBC's page says the administration fee on foreign currency transactions with a CIBC Advantage Debit Card rises from 2.5% to 3.5% on 16 January 2027.
Does Scotiabank have fee-free ATMs in the Philippines?
No. Scotiabank's Global ATM Alliance list has no Philippine partner, so the CA$5.00 international withdrawal fee and the 2.5% conversion fee apply.
Should I pay in pesos or Canadian dollars in the Philippines?
Pesos. Choosing Canadian dollars lets the merchant's provider set the exchange rate, and your bank may still add its foreign transaction fee.
Can tourists pay GCash QR codes without a Philippine bank account?
Visitors can pay QR Ph codes, including GCash and Maya ones, with Fizen QR Pay, funded with USDT on Solana or BNB Chain. It is not available to Philippine residents in the Philippines.
Skip the ATM fee: pay QR Ph from USDT
Fizen QR Pay lets visitors to the Philippines pay QR Ph codes from USDT, and the shop receives pesos. Deposit USDT on Solana or BNB Chain from your self-custody Fizen wallet into QR Pay, pass KYC, then scan and pay, up to US$800 a payment and US$1,000 a week. Fizen is building the stablecoin neobank for people on the move: a wallet you own, local QR payments and travel data in one app.
Terms and conditions
- Information only. This article compares published bank and card fees. It is not an offer, solicitation or sale of any product or service, and it is not financial, legal or tax advice. Check your own bank's current fee schedule before you travel.
- For readers in the United States. This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
- QR Pay availability. QR Pay is for cross-border use by travellers and foreigners in Vietnam and the Philippines only, and is not available to residents of those countries in their own country. It is funded only with USDT on Solana or BNB Chain; USDT on another network, or another token, cannot be deposited. Limits are US$800 per payment and US$1,000 per week. KYC, KYT, AML and sanctions checks apply. Use of QR Pay is governed by the Fizen QR Pay Terms.
- Not affiliated. RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, Wise, BDO, GCash and Maya are trademarks of their owners. Fizen is not affiliated with them. Fees were read from each provider's public page on the date shown and can change.
Sources
- RBC Royal Bank: cross-border debit, ATM fees and conversion
- TD Canada Trust: List of Services and Fees (effective 5 March 2026)
- Scotiabank: everyday ABM transactions
- Scotiabank: Global ATM Alliance
- Scotiabank: Passport Visa Infinite card
- BMO: Performance and Plus chequing plans
- CIBC: additional service fees
- Wise Canada: card fees
- BDO Unibank: ATM withdrawal limits and fees
- Bank of Canada: daily exchange rates
- Fizen Help Center: QR Pay getting started
Bank, card and BDO fees were read on each provider's public page on 3 November 2026. The peso to Canadian dollar estimate crosses the Bank of Canada USD rate (1.3978) with the Reserve Bank of Australia USD and PHP rates, all for 2 November 2026. Fee examples are estimates before the card network's exchange rate. Fizen QR Pay facts as of 3 November 2026.
Related reading
- Cash or card in the Philippines?
- How Canadians pay in Vietnam
- Send money from Canada to the Philippines
- Where to change money in the Philippines
- Philippines eSIM From Canada
- Can You Pay a QR Ph Code with a Credit Card? What Works for Tourists
- Where Can You Pay by QR Ph in the Philippines? 7-Eleven, SM, Puregold and More