All > Business > Finance > Personal Finance > Consumer Credit > Credit Card
A foreign currency transaction is a purchase and/or cash advance that you make in a foreign currency, i.e. not U.S. dollars.
The card network that processes these transactions will calculate a U.S. dollar amount for each such transaction. The type of card you have determines which network (Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express) does this calculation. Each network uses either a government-mandated or wholesale rate in effect on the date that the network processes the transaction. The rate in effect on the processing date may be different from the rate on the date that you made the transaction or on the date that the transaction posts to your account.
- Browse Related Terms: Address on file, Assign, Credit bureau, Credit History, Credit limit, Credit Report, Credit reporting agency, Credit score, Debt cancellation coverage, Debt suspension coverage, Default, Foreign currency transaction, Retail credit card, Treasury bill rate, Workout agreement