Hello,
My husband and I are leaving for Rome on Monday and will staying until the following Monday. We intend to use our credit cards for most transactions but would like to have some cash on hand also. Which banks do you recommend for this? We will be using our debit cards to get cash.
And we'll probably get a little cash at the airport in case the taxi driver wants cash. Are there banks in the airport?
Thanks!
This is a good primer on withdrawing cash in Europe.:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips
When I was in Rome, I used the ATM at Banco Populare di Milano at the Piazza Barbarini location. It was fine and secure. I don't know if there are banks at the airport, perhaps others will have some info.
You don't need cash for a taxi in Rome, it's the law that they take credit cards. Ask the driver, though, just in case. If he/she says cash only, then go to the next taxi. Flat rate from FCO to the main city area is €50.00.
When I went through FCO in November, the ATMs I saw were from firms like Euronet - not banks - so exchange rates may not be that favorable. Look for a Bancomat from an actual bank. There may be an actual bank in the arrivals area of Terminal 1 - you may be arriving at terminal 3.
Poste Italiane has a bank and ATMs. They don't charge any extra fees.
Any ATM attached to a bank will be fine. Most bank have a small external room for their ATM usage. You swipe your debit card through the door lock to gain access to the ATM room. Any bank is fine. Before you get in the cab make sure the credit card machine is working -- ASK! All the cabs are suppose to take credit card BUT sometimes the machine isn't working -- wink, wink.
Thank you everyone!
The ATM in the airport isn't great; high fees and poor exchange rates. But the airport (Fiumicino) isn't so close to Rome that you'd want a cab (unless you're staying by it). Take the train at the airport into Rome Termini (pay for tix in station or on app w/CC).
We ran into a couple local banks that weren't part of a US network, but did find that BNL was dependable. In gMaps we searched "BNL BNP Paribus" and starred them as we used them. It's a good idea to look at the Google Street View of each to discern if has a glass ATM doorway vs. being inside an office/gov building (limited access, if at all). We've used the BNL ATMs near Termini train station (Largo di Santa Susanna, 16) and near the Pantheon (Via della Rosetta, 1).
Avoid the ubiquitous blue & yellow ATMs at every high-traffic tourism area that have bigger fees and ugly exchange rates. Beyond the occasional odd cab (which should take CCs), you'll hardly ever need cash.
poor exchange rates.
Hate to tell people, but if your ATM has an exchange rate, your doing cash withdrawals wrong. Yes, the network will charge an exchange rate of about 1% in completing the transaction, but no more than that.
If the ATM tells you an exchange rate, your doing DCC, not an ATM transaction.
Unfortunately Bank ATM or not, you will probably be hit a fee of several euros, but on the bright side, you probably only need to do one or two withdrawals a trip now if your credit card is contactless enabled.
Look for any ATM labeled a Bancomat, and you will be fine. I have even used the dreaded EuroNet ATMS on occasion, their fee is usually at the top end of the spectrum, but not terrible, and if you decline DCC, the transaction costs you no more.
Thank you Sea Girl and Paul
As a former resident of Rome, I can tell you that not all Italian bank ATMs charge fees. I avoid the ones that do. In May, BNL and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (which has branches throughout Italy) did not charge a fee. I have noticed that more and more are beginning to charge ATM fees.
A reminder that you can easily get a free Schwab account that refunds all transaction fees, it's like magic. Both at home and abroad.
There is some marginal advice in the up thread. Stick with Paul, he is the most accurate. And be careful of airport ATMs. More recently most airport ATMs are contracted to money exchange companies and not to local banks. I generally avoid airport ATMs but if I need to use one I will take a small amount -- maybe 50 euro and pay the fees. Or while waiting to depart in the US hit the local exchange booth in your airport. Fees will be about the same.
Thanks so much everyone for your kind advice.
We arrived safely and took the train from the airport to Rome Termini. From there we took a taxi (who claimed the internet was down and needed cash). It turned out I had about 100 Euros left from my trip to France, so haven't had to get any cash yet. When I need to get some I will use a bank with an ATM attached. I have seen several around. We are right on the square by the Pantheon.
Thanks again for all the advice!
