ATM machine

We only use ATM's attached to a bank when it is open.

I second Jazz. An ATM on the outside of a bank will give you the option to go in for help if you card is swallowed by the machine. You should also check with your card issuer to see if they have agreements with banks in Italy to void the ATM fee. Have fun!

That (the above advice) is good, but it doesn't really answer the question - it's more of a "best practices" suggestion.

Short answer: Most ATM machines will probably work (you may or may not want to use a particular ATM, but that's a separate question).

Details: What you really need is an ATM that works with your card's "network". Flip over your debit card and note the logos (if any). You may see things like PLUS, STAR, Co-Op, etc. Some ATMs may display these logos (and possibly other logos you may never have seen). If the networks match up, your card should work. Even if you don't see the familiar network logo(s) your card may still work, so it's worth a try (some debit cards don't clearly display their network logs, some ATM machines don't display them either - don't just give up if you don't see a match).

The key is to understand that there are networks; if your card network is compatible with the ATM's network, it will work, if not, it won't. There's no 100% reliable way to know if the networks align or not, so just give it a try, there's no risk. If you try to use a card at an ATM that doesn't use the same network, it will just give you an error message (something like "This card can not be used at the machine", which may or may not be in English). If this happens, no biggie, just take your card back and move on to another ATM.

In my experience, most debit cards from American credit unions and banks work with most European ATMs, so "network compatibility" is generally not a major issue. That said, my spouse and I each bring a different debit card (associated with a different bank/credit union - with cash in the account!) - just to be on the safe side. I like to have all my bases covered (and my eggs not all in the same basket).

Thanks for your advices.

Yes, you can use any machine. The aforementioned network compatibility applies but in practice you won’t notice. If your card is a visa or MasterCard one on the standard networks (the basic kind of card that come with accounts) then it is unlikely you will run across a machine where it won’t work. I have never had a problem and have never looked at the logo on a machine. It just works.

Just look for logos on your card. Mine has a visa logo on front, and a moneypass and a plus logo on the back. ATMs are on many networks not just one.

Best practices are different but in terms of it working...if it’s visa or MasterCard atm card it will.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Austrian ATMs routinely dispense €100 notes, so select your amount accordingly.

Marco - I rarely get 100 Euro notes.

May have changed in recent years then as I always used to get them for anything over €100 in the days when I was a regular visitor (not that big denomination notes are that much of a problem actually). Oddly €50 were rare.

In the last 3-1/2 years I've used at least 200 European ATMs, maybe 300. (I make small withdrawals.) Only once did an ATM reject my card. That was in Quedlinburg, Germany, where the bank personnel told me it was a known issue, and I just needed to go to a different bank's ATM. My card is currently working in all manner of obscure Ukrainian ATMs.

The odds that your card won't work are pretty small. In my experience, other issues are at least as likely:

• A machine in Lyon, France, swallowed my card and did nothing (no change in the screen display). This is when you really, really need to be using an ATM attached to a bank branch that is open! I was lucky, and I've paid more attention to my timing ever since. I especially try to avoid making withdrawals if the banks have already closed and will not re-open before I'm due to leave town.

• Two different ATMs in Salamanca, Spain, performed the requested transaction but didn't eject my ATM card. In one case the "Cancel" button solved the problem. The other time, I had to request an additional withdrawal to get my card back.

You're probably a lot more likely to run into ATMs that will charge you a fee and ATMs that encourage you to have the withdrawal recorded in dollars (decline that costly offer).

sally, keep in mind that your U.S. bank could, possibly, have an arrangement with a big bank in some countries you are going to. For example, Bank of America waives the fixed fee (but not the vastly larger 3% rip-off fee to get your own cash ... ) at Deutsche Bank ATMs in Germany (but not in Austria.) More hints on Rick's blue menu top left, Travel Tips.

Standard ATMs - those with the blue-green logo - in Austria do not differ in accepting cards. There are some privately owned ATMs, but I never had a bad experience. It could be that you will be asked for your four-digit PIN. Some ATMs offer you the selection of bills, so you can avoid getting a €100 bill. Nevertheless, paying with a €100 bill should not make any big troubles.

Debit cards charge less fees than credit cards when collecting cash from an ATM.

Credit cards are widely accepted in Austria, so paying even smaller amounts - like in a supermarket - is better than using cash.

The worst thing you can do is changing US cash to Euros in an exchange office. That is a real rip-off.

All banks in Austria have ATMs inside, too. So if the bank happens to be open, go inside and withdraw your cash there, even if there is an ATM outside. So you are better off, for the very rare case that your card has been swallowed by the machine.

I got €100 notes in Ghent earlier this year since I forgot to choose the denomination I wanted. If the bank that issued your card has a partner bank in Vienna, it could lower any fees, if there are any. My bank recommended a 4-digit PIN rather than a 6-digit one since some people said they had problems with a 6-digit PIN at some European ATMs.

Hi,

To answer your question specifically, the answer is "no." Whether you go to a bank, or to the post office, there are different types of ATMs designed for different purposes. Not all ATMs are alike. There is a particular one you use. They may look the same, say, three of them in row next to each other, or two next to other, all in the same color, etc.

How do you tell? You look at the wording next to it or above it. The ATM you want is that with "Auszahlung" next to or above it. The other one will have "Kontoauszug" (That has to do with bank account statements, etc....ie, not for you and it won't work either.)

With "Auszahlung" you'll get the cash amount you want. I don't know if all ATMs appear in English since I don't use that. No need to be concerned with getting a 100 Euro bill, restaurants will accept them. My experience...getting a 100 Euro note is extremely rare, as correctly pointed out above, I did on this trip once, every other time only 50s, 20s and tens Euro notes are dispersed. Yes, the 5 Euro note comes out too.

To complete the transaction you have to punch in your PIN. Without that the transaction will not be processed. If you see the words, "Ihr Vorgang wird bearbeitet." you are in business, expect the cash bills soon.

Keep in mind if credit cards are widely accepted in Austria and Germany, that does not necessarily mean your credit card will be accepted. I have run encountered vendors where only the German Euro Card is accepted. When you are told that, you're out of luck, ie pay in cash.

I have often seen locals pay for groceries with "plastic"...sometimes others tried that and were told only the EuroCard was accepted. So, those paying with plastic must have had that card or some plastic unique to the market, be it Rewe, Edeka, Penny Markt, Lidl, or whatever.

Thanks a lot Fred for your detailed explanation and the German words on the correct ATM machine.

@ Sally...You're welcome.

In Vienna the ATM machines used to be yellow, say a few years ago, not any more, I checked, I get my cash from the ATM in a post office since two are at Westbahnhof where I stay. The location of a post office is pretty consistent in Austria.

You can bet on seeing one either inside the train station premises or just outside, as in Wien Westbahnhof, Linz, and Salzburg. I don't know the area around Wien Hbf and that huge station itself well enough to say about Wien Hbf.

As I recall, sometimes there are either 2 or 3 ATMs next to each other, only that with AUSZAHLUNG (the word is shown in big caps) will work for you. just as "KONTOAUSZUG" is shown in caps. When you see the sentence, "Ihr Vorgang wird bearbeitet" (Your transaction is being processed), you did it correctly. The last sentence to appear on the screen is, "Ihr Geld wird bereitgestellt." (Your money is being prepared to be dispersed.) That's when the bills pop out.

One last thing...this "AUSZAHLUNG" ATM , partitioned off, is located inside the post office, accessible when it is open and closed, say on Sunday or after hours.