FYI regarding ATM use

This is curious, since we had no trouble getting cash with our credit union debit card in Russia this past year. One more reason to always call your financial institution before traveling.

When I was in Russia, our guide informed us that some ATMs were for Russian Banks only, but some were international. None of us in the RS group had problems with ATMs that were pointed out as international.

I don't know if you elevated your request at the credit union to a manager or supervisor? If you have the time I would actually go in and talk to them in person. Mine has list as long as your arm of countries on their list but they will open the card for certain dates for certain countries. I do NOT know if this will work for Russia since I haven't asked about it.

Our local credit union never blinked an eye when I said I was going to Russia. Been there twice with ZERO problems withdrawing money from ATMS in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Each card issuer gets to make their own decision for whatever reason - rational or not. Last year there was a report of their credit union having Italy on its list. My guess is that the credit union was burned in the past so the country goes on the list. But the list common so check carefully.

If this is indeed the case then QUICK -if you have the 3 weeks advance needed -open a CapOne account, that no-fee card works fine in Russia, personally verified.

These "black out lists" vary in time and by bank, so what may be true now may not be true later (or in the past). Each bank sets it's own rules and they change over time with respect to certain countries. Credit Unions in general tend to be more conservative and less risk-seeking than banks (they are not-for-profit, so they don't have a pile of profits they can use to offset losses).

I once worked for a bank. The reason for the blackouts, as you would expect, is fraud. Electronic banking rules require the consumer to notify the bank in a timely manner when a fraudulent transaction affects their account. The bank can attempt to recover the funds but, whether they do or not, they must refund their customer's money right away. In most cases, the bank ends up eating the loss.

When a particular area produces a large amount of fraudulent transactions, it creates big losses for the bank (or credit union), so a black out is the only way they can protect themselves.

Most ATMs in Europe now show a screen shot of using one hand to cover your other hand when you put in your pin. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce fraud because thieves often put a tiny camera on the ATM to record you entering your pin (the lower tech version is having someone stand nearby to watch). Another good fraud prevention technique is to only use indoor ATMs - at banks, grocery stores, malls, etc. Since they usually have people in the area and are locked at night, it's a lot harder for thieves to mess with them.

My credit union has a blackout list that includes the city of Chicago. They also block certain merchants that have a history of fraud users. I found this out when I needed to wire some money to my sister.

They can unblock your card temporarily or permanently, so call them back.

Interesting input, it sounds like I have the lone credit union that blocks Russia,lol. I just found out my daughter, who is going with me, can use her ATM card from another bank, so will just borrow from her. Thanks all for your insight.

I will just add that my credit union has UK on it's list of blocked countries. (???). Yep. So they get all nervous when I ask to have it unblocked for a certain amount of time and do not want them to call me for every transaction. (The statement "My phone doesn't work there" always throws them off.) Oddly, this is a credit union in a university town so people travel all the time. I have found that I have to cue the teller that UK is on the list so they can do the extra stuff to make sure I can access it. Last Fall they did not follow thru and my card was blocked in London. Fortunately I had listed my brother as a contact person and he was able to call and get it straightened out.

I'm glad your daughter has a card that will work and you will not be ruble-less!!

Last year my brother was going to Amsterdam and Brussels, so he had his credit union authorize his debit card for the Netherlands and Belgium. But his attempt to purchase online advance tickets for the Anne Frank House was blocked. It turns out that this website processes the transactions through France - so he had to make another call to get that country added, just for this one purchase!

Moral of all these stories - just when you think you've got it all figured out, you find out something new.