best alternate ATM card?

I opened a USAA account after looking at the charge for using a foreign ATM. USAA charges one percent total. My bank, Wachovia, wanted a $5 fee per use plus three percent....... There are some credit unions/brokerage firms that offer free transactions but none of those turned out to be the best option for me.

Whatever is most convenient for you. Our primary card is a credit union which charges no fees. Our backup is a USBank ($5 and 3%). Within a day of two of arrival I will use the USBank once just to make sure it is working. The fees is my insurance premium for the back up. After that totally rely on the credit union card for everything. "Knock on wood" but never had a problem with an ATM. A few times over the years an ATM would not accept my card. The first time it happened I did panic but next machine workrd. My pattern now is to use an ATM attach to a bank during banking hours AND to use it just after someone else has used it. If it worked for him it should work for me. I avoid the stand-alone ATMs everywhere but the airport.

Schwab bank has no fee. I have used it all around the world. It is all virtual (no physical bank locations). They also pay any ATM fees automatically.

Both of my cards are from different credit unions. One charges 1%, one charges nothing.

We use ATM cards from a credit union and one from a bank with 2 different credit cards as backup. At a few ATMs we tried that didn't work, when we asked for a lesser amount they worked. We were told that some ATMs have a lower limit so that you must use them more often....don't know if this is actually true or not?

Gwen, See http://flyerguide.com/wiki/index.php/Credit/Debit/ATM_Cards_and_Foreign_Exchange

Gwen, I primarily use Credit Union ATM cards and except for a "minor issue" with my primary card in France last year, the cards have worked well every year. I'm not thoroughly familiar with the financial products in the U.S., so not sure which ones have the best rates? Keep in mind that WHICHEVER card you choose, your travel funds must normally be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN. Happy travels!

I should also say the best alternate ATM card isn't an ATM card, it's a debit card. An ATM card will work at some machines depending on the syndicates your financial institution subscribes to (icons on cards and ATMs show those sydicates). If you have a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo on it, it will work at virtually any ATM in Europe..... Make sure you are correctly asking about debit cards when you inquire at different financial institutions. Some small credit unions don't offer debit cards or may have different charges for them (I've had two credit union accounts in the last few years that only gave me an ATM card).

I just opened an account at a credit union for the sole purpose of travel in Europe. From what I have read Capital One doesn't charge foreign transaction fees but that could change over time. BofA is notorious for charging fees and adding new ones all the time.