ATM's in Europe - Currency

foreign amount.

You enter the amount in foreign currency (Euro, etc), but they apply your dollar limit. It pays to know about what the exchange rate is.

So, Lee, are you saying that if my daily limit is $500, and I enter a Euro amount that is equal to more than $500, the transaction will be denied? If so, can I immediately try again with a lower amount? Is there a convenient way to find the currency exchange rate in case internet is not readily available? Guess that's another reason to try to use ATMs at banks...could ask at the bank!

"Is there a convenient way to find the currency exchange rate in case internet is not readily available?" A few ways. Grab a copy of the "International Herald Tribune", which is available throughout Europe. The business section will quote the previous day's closing exchange rate. Actually, even if you don't understand the language, it shouldn't be too hard to interpret the currency tables in any local newspaper. (Newspapers, remember those things?).

Another option- most hotels should carry Bloomberg International, CNN World, or BBC World. Each of these will frequently post the current exchange rate.

Jennifer, you should have a general idea of the exchange rate before you go. When you go to the ATM, just estimate a bit lower than you think the limit is, and you should be fine. You don't have to get every last euro of your limit each time.

Any ATMs I have used in Europe, if I am remembering correctly, do not allow you to enter a desired euro withdrawal amount. The screen shows 4 or 5 different amounts in euros, i.e. 100 or 200 or 300, etc., and you OK the amount you want.

In the UK there is an enter "other amount" button on ATMs.

Norma, that is not our experience. It could be if you were using one brand of ATMs exclusively. Normally what we see are the "Quick draws" that will give a 100 or maybe 200 Euro and the "Other" button that lets you specify the exact amount you want to withdraw. I don't think I have ever been limited to a specific amount other than the machine limit.

Jennifer, just to give you a general framework for approaching things. When you are in a country you think in that country. Just like in this country, someone from Europe would ask for dollars and not Euro. You do not need to know the daily exchange rate but make a note of the exchange rate the day you left. Short of a economic crisis the exchange rate will only change by a a penney or two each day. And most of the time it is up a little, down little.

As has been posted many times. Let your bank know you are going to be traveling out side the US. Also because to the exchange rate it is a good idea to have your daily ATM withdrawl limit increased.

We found ATMs in France had their own limit. Although the limit I had at my bank was higher, the ATM would only allow me to take out a lower amount which I assume was either that ATM or that bank's limit.

I had no problem in re-entering a new, lower amount and getting the cash (and my card) back.

Jennifer, in answer to you question, in my experience they deny the transaction, but don't tell you why. Your card will be returned, so you could start over again.

A few years ago, I arrived in Frankfurt and immediately went to the ATM. I was anxious to try my card from a new account. I had just received my card and had tried it in the ATM at my bank the day before to make a $50 withdrawal, just to have some U.S. currency with me. I entered what should have been less than $500 at the exchange rate. My card came back and the screen said, "Call your bank" (it was 3 AM in Denver).

So I tried a different card from another bank. Same thing, "Call your bank".

Now I am beginning to sweat a little. Fortunately I had a third card and it worked. The new card did not work because they consider a banking day to be from 4 AM to 4 AM, so although it was 11 AM the next day in Frankfurt, it was 3 AM in Denver, still part of the same "banking day" in which I had made the $50 withdrawal. But that wasn't explained; it just said, "Call your bank". The other bank had, without telling me, lowered my maximum from $500 to $300.

It's always a good idea to have an extra ATM card or two, as you never know what problems might come up with the ATM network.

I was in Barcelona last September and one evening tried to withdraw some Euros with my Citibank card. I tried several ATMs -- including a Citibank ATM - and they all said "can't connect to the bank."

The next morning I inquired at a local Citibank. They said there was nothing wrong with my card -- the problem was they had turned off access to the bank after banking hours because of some kind of local "police advisory." Apparently, it had something to do with theft or fraud concerns at ATMs.

So, you never know.

Have not yet had any problems with ATM's in Europe and have used them many times.
Only once did I run into problems when I tried to withdraw my limit two consecutive days in Italy to pay cash for a week stay at an Agriturismo (B&B). It was within the same business day (banking day) in the US even though it was different days in Italy. Tried later that second day and it all worked fine.
And, you usually enter the pre-determined Euro amount.