In February 2022, my wife and I set out on our biggest adventure yet: an open-ended world trip. When we first decided to do this, a few hurdles stood in our way, including financial management. We needed a strong banking partner –– one that was online, reliable, flexible, and easy to use. And since we planned to be far from home, we needed a bank that could provide better and more affordable services than our local bank.
If you plan to leave everything behind and start a journey into the unknown you’ll need a dependable and straightforward digital bank. Traditional banks just aren’t designed for the digital nomad lifestyle — after all, we live in the digital age and banking should be easier than ever. Regardless of how long you’re on the road, you need a bank that provides flexible services without high fees.
We’d love to share our story and eight ways digital banking has simplified our travels.
When we started our world trip two years ago, we never imagined it would turn us into full-time digital nomads. Our journey began in the untouched corners of Indonesia, where we traveled from Sumatra through Sulawesi, to Raja Ampat in West Papua, diving into a life of adventure on tropical islands we’d never heard of before. Each place, encounter, and new culture shaped us.
As passionate backpackers exploring the world with a daily budget of €30, we learned that financial management is every bit as important as a good travel itinerary.
Our online work in photography, videography, and content creation has supported our travels throughout Southeast Asia. When it became clear we were becoming digital nomads, we had to face our financial management challenges head-on and organize our business banking and personal accounts.
At first, we were worried that keeping our accounts organized would be too big of a challenge, but thanks to bunq, we had no problems at all. Their innovative banking tools took care of everything we needed and more.
1. Budgeting with Multiple Sub-Accounts
We often travel from one place to the next, so the ability to manage all our accounts on one platform without interruption is a huge plus. Now we can automate recurring payments and generate real-time overviews of our account balances and transactions.
2. Currency Exchange
Making currency exchanges online with bunq gets us better exchange rates than traditional banks and currency exchange services. Plus, we have the convenience of real-time currency conversions while paying much less in fees.
3. Savings on International Transactions
As digital nomads, we need to transfer and receive money internationally and flexibility in the currencies we can access. Digital banking allows us to make international transactions online from anywhere in the world. With bunq, transfers are faster and cheaper than traditional banks.
Exchange fees can add up when you’re a full-time traveler, especially if you’re traveling through many different countries in a short time. bunq has no exchange fees, so the money we save goes directly back into our account for future adventures.
4. Receiving Paychecks
When we were on our Working Holiday Visa in Australia, we opened a new bunq account in Australian dollars (AUD). With bunq’s simple, cost-effective currency exchange, we converted AUD into the currency of the countries we traveled to next.
After a few months of hard work we hit the road again, finding new adventures in the diverse landscapes and cities across Australia, secure in the knowledge that our finances were taken care of.
5. Clear, User-Friendly Design
For travelers like us, it’s crucial that digital banking is intuitive and easy. Using bunq is simple, with a streamlined design that cuts through banking complexity, allowing us to manage our finances even when the Internet is unreliable.
The more we traveled, the more we trusted bunq for all our banking needs.
6. Security
Security is a top priority in digital banking and bunq keeps you protected with two-factor authentication and encryption technology for data transfers.
Another security highlight is the ability to activate localized card protection. When activated, the card must be within 100 kilometers of the store where you’re making a purchase for the payment to be authorized, significantly reducing the chance of fraud. bunq also continuously monitors accounts for fraudulent transactions, so if there’s any suspicious activity, we receive a notification and can take action right away.
7. Simplicity
Let’s summarize how bunq keeps digital banking simple:
User-Friendly Interface: The clear, intuitive app allows for easy navigation.
24/7 Accessibility: Bank anywhere, anytime, using a smartphone or computer.
Fast Transactions: Make transfers and payments with just a few clicks.
Task Automation: Easily set up recurring subscriptions and bill payments, and secure recurring direct debits with additional notifications to confirm or deny each transfer.
Up-to-Date Information: View real-time account balances and transaction histories.8. Mastercard credit or debit card
8. Free Credit Card
bunq also offers virtual Mastercard credit cards that we can use online without a physical card. These virtual cards are included free of charge, and they have a high acceptance rate internationally, no matter how remote the destination. With our plan, we also get up to three physical cards, which we can use as needed. Plus, a free virtual prepaid credit card is included even if you choose bunq’s free savings plan. We also love that our cards can link to Apple or Google Pay, making it even easier for us to make payments on any adventure.
Through our travels, we learned that immersing ourselves in new cultures and local customs is all the more enriching when you can be fully present without worrying about your finances. Having the right financial tools allows us to focus on the beauty of the world around us — the unexpected encounters, the spontaneous choices, and the precious moments that make every trip unique.
Our experiences prove that it’s possible to travel the world while maintaining solid financial management. Every new destination, culture, and challenge we overcome enriches our lives, personalities, and relationship in unexpected and wonderful ways.
bunq has become a trusted and convenient travel companion. If you’re ready to take your banking to the next level, check out bunq. Discover how the app can simplify your travels — no matter where you’re headed next.
