Heading to CR in May and trying to decide which card will work best in order to get cash...My usual debit card with chip (have used there before and worked fine), but has more fees than the bank ATM card. I just have this card to withdraw cash, but it's not a debit card and doesn't have a chip. Would this work in the Czech Republic? If not I will have to use the one with more fees.
THanks,
Probably not It has to be part of Visa PLUS or Mastercard CIRRUS interbank network
Ask your bank, only they will know if the card works in Europe. You will most likely have to tell them your travel plans anyway so they don't freeze the account for suspected fraud when transactions from Europe start appearing.
According to Visa and MasterCard rules, all debit cards with or without a chip are supposed to work in bank owned and operated ATMs thru 2020. If your card does not have a Visa or MasterCard logo on it, it is iffy.
what's more important it that it have a true 4 digit pin.
Edit: As I was unaware of 6 digit pins, then to include nonNorth American cards.....'a Pin'
what's more important it that it have a true 4 digit pin.
That is repeated many times, but it is a myth.
My (Swiss) bank card has a 6-digit PIN.
A card related to a bank which does not have a chip?? That's funny because before Christmas I showed my kids one of these.......it was an exhibit at the National Technical Museum. One of those "don't you feel old" moments like the phone with the stylus pen. I can't think of any bank ATM here that is not PIN secured and I've not seen a "swiper" unit in a shop for at least 5 years.
I was in Prague in 2017, and had no problem using my Chip ATM Debit card with 4 digit PIN at an ATM at the Palladium shopping center adjacent to Republic square
Jason,
Yes, in the US there are still ATM cards, and pre paid credit cards, that do not have a chip. What can I say, US based banks are cheep.
While it might make sense that a $25 pre paid card not have a chip since the card will probably be used once and cannot be reloaded with more money, I still don't understand why banks are refusing to issue ATM or debit cards (usually the ones without a Visa or MasterCard logo) with chips. The ATM debit cards all do have a PIN (always have).
Thanks for all the info. Long story short...
I checked out this particular bank (first national of Omaha)where I just have a money market account because it appeared they would not charge a fee for foreign transactions. They gave me an atm card to use for withdrawals on this account, but coujdnt tell me if it would work in the cr. I could have opened yet another account there which would be a checking account with a debit card with chip. However this would have required me to unlock my 3 credit reports at 10 bucks a crack. I will just use my regular bank card with chip and 4 number pin which I’ve used there before at the bank around the corner from my pension.,And take another one from the credit union which also has chip and 4 digit pin as a back up. It will be interesting to see what the actual fees end up being.I’m just trying to learn the ropes of traveling a bit smarter for these trips. Thanks all.
You may find a particular ATM won't work - this can possibly be because the mag stripe reader in it is defective but with the small amount of use this gets these days it hasn't been picked up or replaced yet.
