ATM Funds from Savings

The issue is what is the primary account for the debit card? Bank ATMs in Europe do not give a choice. The debit card in Europe will automatically draw from the primary account. Unlike most US ATMs I have only had a choice one time of choosing between savings and checking. My credit union draws from savings and my main bank draws from checking. Take at least two debit cards tied to two different accounts. And, make sure, the card is branded either VISA or MasterCard - critical.

Yes, you can't do "banking" from an ATM that is not owned by your bank, here or there.

It is a US peculiarity to have debit cards for savings accounts. Cards issued by European banks are only linked to one account. I have never come across a card with multiple accounts on it. The machines do not have the capability of selecting accounts, just the default one on the card.
If you want to use your savings, you need to transfer the funds to your main account before leaving home.

Chris F - the account is only savings which is my vacation account, so I should be okay.

Most ATMs do a transaction that is titled "Withdrawal from Funding Account". Your bank determines what "Funding" is. It can be a savings account if that is the only account you have. If you do have a checking account that is associated with that Debit card, then that is the account it will always default to. Some ATMs do specify "DDA" in their request, which means checking, and these really won't work with a savings only setup.

If you have both type of accounts tied to your debit card, it would be best to get your bank's app that will allow you to transfer funds from savings to checking if you don't want to just load your checking account with money.

Chris.. correction.. Canadian cards are also linked to multiple accounts.. I have a checking and a saving.. from Europeon banks it automatically withdraws from chequeing.. but at home i can choose .

Ask you bank. If you’re using the card as an ATM card I wouldn’t think it would matter what type account it is tied to.

I have a credit union "travel account" with only a savings account, and my ATM card has worked fine all over Europe the last several years.

The issue is that if you have MULTIPLE accounts at the same financial institution, you won't be able to choose which account (checking or savings) to withdraw from at an ATM in Europe (like you can in the US). If your savings account is the only account associated with the ATM card, as with my account you should be fine.

Thank you all for your insight. I'll be prepared and take 2 separate ATM cards to be safe and yes, I do have my credit union's app to transfer if needed.