I heard recently that European ATM machines are now taking US bancards less frequently, because they're switching over to a more secure kind of card. Is that true? And if so, what options are there for US travelers to get the same kind of convenient, lower cost access to cash?
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
There are no problems using US ATM or debit cards in European ATMs. You have to have an ATM card linked to a checking account, have a four digit PIN, and inform your bank that you will be traveling so that they won't freeze your card. The only problem that has been reported with the magnetic strip cards that we have (as opposed to the chip and pin cards in Europe) is that they won't work in automated rail ticket machines or at automated (unmanned) gas pumps. Any ATM that is branded with the Visa or Mastercard logo will work in any ATM anywhere.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Occasionally your card won't work. Why this is I have no idea. When it happens, I just find another one and make mental note of the bank to avoid it in the future.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
And you should ask your bank to up your daily limit so that you can get enough cash when using the ATM (cash machine/bancomat).
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
712 posts
My card worked in ATM's this summer. When we went to purchase something with a credit card at one place, I did notice that the salesperson had to pull out a different machine - she said she had to do that for most American cards.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19237 posts
I had no trouble using a non-chip card in the DB ticket machine in Freilassing last August (2009). I also used them three times in ATM machines to get cash.
Posted by
Myrtle Beach, USA
12313 posts
No problems using debit cards at ATM's anywhere.
Occasionally we had problems using credit cards without the pin but I think it had more to do with the cashier not knowing how to handle it. When that happened, we went to an ATM, got cash there and paid cash instead.
Many cashiers simply said, "No problem," and completed the transaction with a signature.