The Only Two Cards You Need to Bank Globally: How WISE and Revolut Became My Financial Lifelines Abroad
After 11 Months Living in Thailand, These Are the Only Tools I Trust to Move Money, Pay Bills, and Live Free Anywhere on Earth
When I left California and landed in Chiang Mai, I had no idea how much I would come to despise my old bank. The first time I used my US debit card at a Thai ATM, I got hit with a fee so steep it felt like a penalty for leaving the country. Then came the slow transfers, the currency conversion traps, and the blocked payments that made me feel like I was committing fraud by buying a $2 coffee abroad.
That’s when I found WISE and Revolut. And after 11 months of using both — side by side, daily — I can tell you this: you don’t need a traditional bank account to live, earn, spend, or travel globally.
You just need these two tools.
Heads up: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you sign up at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I use and trust, and these cards (WISE and Revolut) are in my wallet every day.
Part One: WISE — My Financial Backbone Abroad:
WISE Isn’t Just for Sending Money. It’s My International Banking Hub.
I first used WISE to send a few hundred bucks from the US to Thailand. The transfer was fast, the rate was almost exactly what Google showed, and the fee was posted upfront. No smoke, no mirrors.
Since then, I’ve used WISE for everything from client payments to transferring rent money, converting currencies, and holding USD until the baht reaches a more favorable exchange rate.
Why WISE Works So Well
1. Receive Money Like a Local
Get US, UK, EU, and AUD account numbers. Clients in the US can pay me as if I were still in the country.
2. Currency Conversion, Done Right
Hold 40+ currencies. Convert when the rate is in your favor. No hidden spreads.
3. Transfers to Thai Banks Are Fast and Reliable
Usually within 30 minutes. Linked to my Bangkok Bank account. Zero surprises.
4. The WISE Card Is Wildly Useful
Works at 7-Eleven, Grab, Shopee, airports, and more. Use the physical or virtual version. Works in Thai baht, converts instantly if needed.
5. Transparent Fees That Don’t Nickel and Dime You
Every fee is shown upfront. You know what you’ll pay before you hit send.
6. Built for Freelancers, Expats, and Remote Workers
Perfect for Upwork, Stripe, pensions, or just living a multi-currency lifestyle.
11-Month WISE Review
Never once have I had a transfer lost, delayed, or misquoted. I’ve saved hundreds in fees. I’ve even used it to pay a bill directly from my USD balance when my Thai bank app was down — no stress, no delay.
One trick I use? I keep money in USD and wait for the baht to dip — then convert when the rate’s in my favor. With the WISE app, I can do it all from my phone while sipping coffee at a cafe in Thailand.
Earning While I Sleep: WISE Interest on USD
Not long after settling in, I noticed WISE offered interest on USD balances — so I signed up. No hoops, no minimums, just a few taps in the app. Now I earn a monthly dividend directly into my account. Honestly, it’s no joke: the passive income from that interest covers a big chunk of my cost of living here in Thailand — rent, even the occasional road trip, is partially paid for by simply letting my money sit smart.
Part Two: Revolut — My Daily Driver:
WISE Moves the Money. Revolut Lets Me Live Day to Day.
WISE handles the heavy lifting — moving money, exchanging currencies, and linking with banks — but when it comes to the day-to-day stuff like grabbing coffee, shopping, pulling cash from an ATM, or tracking your spending, Revolut is just a bit more dialed in. It’s not about replacing WISE — it’s about complementing it. Having both gives me peace of mind: if one card ever fails (which hasn’t happened yet), I always have a backup in my pocket.
Think of WISE as the vault and Revolut as the wallet. But they are also interchangeable in that sense.
Why Revolut Works for Me
1. ATM Withdrawals Without the Gouge
Revolut gives me generous monthly fee-free ATM withdrawals, which I’ve used everywhere from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to remote border towns. WISE offers fee-free withdrawals too — just with lower limits — so between the two, I’ve always got access to cash without getting gouged.
2. Real-Time Spending Alerts
I get a notification before I can even slide the receipt back into my pocket. It makes budgeting easier and scams harder.
3. Virtual and Disposable Cards
Use for Airbnb, apps, and online shopping. Disposable cards reset after each use — perfect for sketchy sites.
4. Subscription Control
Spotify and Netflix — all visible and controllable in one tap.
5. Currency Exchange Without Headaches
Exchange at the real rate and hold money in different currencies. Set rate alerts and convert at your price.
6. Splitting Bills and Sending Money to Friends
Tap, send, done. Works instantly with other Revolut users. No clunky apps or weird wait times.
7. Premium Upgrades (Optional)
I started with the free plan but upgraded to Premium later for better ATM limits and travel perks.
11-Month Revolut Review
I use Revolut almost every week: grabbing a smoothie, tipping a massage therapist, and paying for dinner. It’s smooth, intuitive, and made for people who live in more than one currency.
Side-by-Side Comparison
What Each One Does Best
How I Use WISE and Revolut Together
This is my real-world money flow:
- A US bank pays into my WISE USD account.
- I convert to THB when the exchange rate is favorable.
- I send some USD to my Thai bank for rent when necessary.
- I top up Revolut with my WISE card for daily spending.
- I withdraw cash with Revolut or WISE as needed.
- I track my spending in Revolut but keep my savings in WISE.
That’s it — simple, flexible, and optimized.
Getting Started
It doesn’t take much to get up and running. I had both accounts set up before I finished my coffee.
Start with WISE.
They’ll ask for a photo ID and a quick selfie. Link a bank account, and you’re ready to move money in minutes — no hoops, no hassle.
Then set up Revolut.
Download the app, choose your card style, and fund it using your WISE account or another card. Mine arrived fast , and worked the moment I activated it.
No bank branches. No long forms. No awkward video calls. Just simple steps that work. Set up both accounts in under an hour:
- Step 1: Open a WISE account. Add ID, connect a bank, and start transferring.
- Step 2: Open Revolut. Order a card, fund it with WISE, and go.
No paperwork, no appointments, no phone calls.
Final Words
I don’t use these tools because they’re trendy. I use them because they’re reliable. Because they work in places where traditional banks fail. Because they fit the way I live now.
You don’t need a US bank branch in Chiang Mai. You need a card that understands how to live freely in a connected world.
WISE and Revolut do exactly that.
Your money should travel as easily as you do.
And now, mine does.
As a reminder, some links above are affiliate links. I only promote products I use myself.
Erik Blair walked away from the American Dream and into something far less predictable. Former soldier, ex-cop, occasional philosopher — he now writes from the back alleys and quiet cafes of Chiang Mai, Thailand.
His stories aren’t about luxury escapes or filtered fantasies. They’re about reinvention, solitude, karaoke bars that don’t close, and the strange beauty of starting over at 59 with nothing but curiosity and a one-way ticket. He’s not an influencer. He’s a man who traded certainty for freedom — and lived to write about it.
