Portable financial transaction card capable of authorizing a transaction in foreign currencies

A transaction card capable of authorizing a transaction in foreign currencies comprising:

• data entry means;
• storage means for holding a transaction limit represented in a base currency and at least one rate for converting the base currency to a different, foreign currency, said storage means also holding an expiration date associated with each said conversion rate;
• and
• processor means, which includes a calender function and is connected to the data entry means and the storage means, said processor means functioning such that when a transaction is to be carried out in a foreign currency said processor means will initially determine whether the current date is before the expiration date associated with the conversion rate of said foreign currency, and if so, the processor means will convert the transaction limit initially represented in said base currency into said foreign currency using the associated conversion rate and thereafter compare the transaction amount expressed in the foreign currency supplied through said data entry means to said converted transaction limit to determine if the transaction should be approved.