BNP Paribas in Germany

Posted by nretzlaff on 08/22/17 07:55 PM

I will be traveling to Germany in a couple weeks and have a checking account through Bank of the West, which I believe is part of the BNP Paribas Group. After reading several topics on here it seems like the best route for acquiring Euros is to just visit a ATM upon arrival. I was told by Bank of the West that if I went to a BNP Paribas ATM there would only be a 1% transaction fee, otherwise a 2% fee on any Mastercard atms. Does anybody know if there are BNP Paribas ATM's in Germany? We will be arriving in Frankfurt, so I assume there are plenty of atm's just wondering about the availability of a BNP Paribas one?

Ordering Euro's through Bank of the West doesn't seem like the best way, as they have a $17 per order charge, plus the rate of the third party company that they go through, which I expect is higher than the going interbank rate.

Thanks for any help or recommendations!

Posted by acraven

Washington DC

08/22/17 08:03 PM

27062 posts

You're right thst using a German ATM--even if you can't find a BNP Paribas ATM--will be much less expensive than ordering euros for delivery in the US. Just pay attention to the ATM screens and be sure you haven't stumbled on an ATM with a fee of its own.

Posted by Tim

Wyckoff, NJ, USA

08/22/17 08:10 PM

7263 posts

It's a French bank, isn't it? Start with this.

http://www.bnpparibas.de/de/kontakt/corporate-institutional-business-1/

Of course, you have filed a Travel Notification, and on your credit cards, too. See our host's general travel advice, top left.

Posted by Edgar

Medford, OR, USA

08/22/17 09:22 PM

5835 posts

http://www.bnpparibas.de/en/individuals/

BNP Paribas in Germany does not have its own branch network for
private clients but provides a variety of products and services for
them:

Certificates and leveraged products (BNP Paribas Germany)

Fund products and ETFs (BNP Paribas Investment Partners)

Direct banking services and private investments (Consorsbank)

Capital investments (BNP Paribas Wealth Management)

Consumer credit (Commerz Finanz)

Posted by Frank

Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

08/22/17 09:59 PM

23240 posts

I would not worry about the 1% difference. The important thing is using a debit card at a bank owned ATM regardless of the fees charged or not charge. That will always be cheaper. I never look for an ATM. They are so frequent that you will stump across ATMs nearly everywhere.

Posted by Continental

New York, NY

08/23/17 08:09 PM

3992 posts

BNP Parisbas cash machines are not in Germany. Find out if Bank of the West has any special reciprocal relationship with Deutsche Bank or any other German banks.

Whatever you do, don't take out cash using a credit card like Mastercard. You will be incredibly overcharged. If there is no reciprocity between Bank of the West and any German bank, use your Bank of the West ATM card at German cash machines. Don't use a credit card. Also make sure you have a 4-digit pin number for your ATM card before you go. If you already have one, you're good to go.

Ordering Euro's through Bank of the West doesn't seem like the best
way, as they have a $17 per order charge, plus the rate of the third
party company that they go through, which I expect is higher than the
going interbank rate.

Agreed! When you arrive in Germany, go to any cash machine affiliated with a bank for €s.