Breaking large bills in Rome

One of the jokes making the rounds when we lived there was about what to do with a 50 Euro note: give it to a beggar and make it their problem.

The advent of self-pay check outs in markets helped, You can buy something small (water, bottle of wine, snacks) and the machine spits out change without attitude. When you use an ATM, request an amount not divisible by 50. Then you will get some smaller bills.

Banks are terrible at service and many do not have cash available at the windows.

Nearly all of my ATM withdrawals are for amounts that cannot yield large bills. I am very fond of €40 withdrawals, or even €30 withdrawals. That works for me because I do not pay for ATM usage. On the negative side, it exposes me to a large number of ATMs, which means extra opportunities for something to go wrong.

At least Italy doesn't suffer from the severe shortage of coins that travelers had to deal with decades ago. Shopkeepers sometimes used sticks of gum in lieu of small coins back in the 1970s.

The clear cylinder for security is an experience. From personal experience - I learned the Dutch/Deutsch bank will not break a large bill. I was "saved" by the old Siena bank which had a branch in Rome just South of Largo Argentina on Arenula Street. It has a name like "monte dei Paschi de Siena." I would have to look up the correct spelling for you. I used a RS phrase book and learned the phrase for smaller bills. The lovely clerk knew English though, but appreciated that I could communicate a bit in Italian.

I just looked-up the bank. Bad News ... The bank is having financial trouble and is reducing its staff. It's still worth a shot. The bank's current woes may not affect service to tourists. This bank has been around for hundreds of years. Chances are good that it is not going to collapse over-night.

You can usually break a 50 euro note by using it to pay for dinner at a restaurant.

In 2015, I went to a restaurant in the Monti neighborhood of Rome and ended up with a 30 euro bill for food and wine. I gave the server a 50 euro note and she returned with a 20 euro note - proof that in Italy, no tip is expected in restaurants other than tourist traps. (If she had wanted a tip, she would have brought me a ten and two fives, which is what servers in the US do.)

The only place I have had issues with large bills is in taxis. They seem to have no change of any kind and completely loose their English when a €100 is presented to them. Smaller bills are no issue. Other than that, paying for things with large bills has not been an issue. But then I don't buy a €1 bottle water and pay with a €100!

I am so glad that I read this post. My bank does not charge for ATM fees so I will plan on doing the 45 E withdrawals. I too remember 1973 getting chewing gum for change on the Italian Autobahn.

I usually take an ATM w/d of 140 or 190. Paying for dinner with a €50 is never a problem. If I think I'll need small bills during the day, I'll ask my hotel for change. You can also pay for entrance fees with a €50. I do make a point of paying with large bills whenever I can and storing up the small ones.

I have never had problems with 50€ bills. I don’t know why so many people here are. I just pay with 50€ whenever I think it’s reasonable to do so (for example to pay for anything over 20€ or even 10€), and that way I always receive smaller bills as change. I even used 500€ bills sometimes (usually for purchases of about 100€ or more. When I asked if that was a problem, the merchant told me that the only problem he had was that he wished he had more of those.

The cylinder is a metal detector for security. Since they installed them in all banks about 30 years ago, bank robberies are extremely rare in Italy (now robbers are forced to go after shops and postal offices). Since the Bank of America at the ground floor of my former office in Oakland was robbed twice in the two years I worked there, I would think American banks would take the clue from their European counterparts, but I guess they’d rather experience the thrill of bank robberies (that’s so 1970’s). I wonder if it’s because of the obesity epidemic in the US which would prevent lots of people from using banks (or be stuck inside the cylinder till the fire department arrives).

Roberto,
I found the bank security tube to be an interesting tourist experience. That is, when in Rome ... Do as the Romans.
It made me feel as if i was in a Syfy science experiment or starring in some sort of spy movie like 007.
I can't imagine any bank getting robbed in Italy unless via computer or an " inside job."
I think in the USA, the security tubes would create a public relations issue. The comedians on late night shows, etc..
Banks want their clients to sense a pleasant place rather than feel like potential criminals. People squawk enough about TSA. Americans like to move - not be contained.
I bet American Banks have considered this measure.

Americans like to move

It seems Roberto would disagree :D

Given the number of gated communities I think you love being contained.

I think American banks do not install those airport style security systems because it would be against the constitutional right to bear arms inside a bank.
Every bank customer should have the right to choose whether to withdraw money using a check, a card, or a gun.

Nothing to do with spending large denomination bills, but at one new local bank, all teller interactions are via a screen. The tellers are on a different floor so there is nobody to rob. It uses pnuematic tubes between floors to pass bills, checks, etc. if I get a larger than €50 note, I break it at a restaurant or use it to pay a hotel bill.

I am sorry but it is not a real issue when traveling in Italy. Truthfully I think it is a urban legend that you cannot cash a large bill in Rome. But seems to be discussed all the time. We have never had a problem cashing 50 euro notes and even occasionally a hundred. Now I am not going to use a hundred note to pay for a one euro item but never had a problem with using a big bill to buy a 10, 20 euro item. In fact I prefer 50 euro notes since they take up less space in the money belt.

I've also never had a problem with 50 Euro bills, just use them to buy something reasonable (€10 or more), and you should have no problems.
When for some reason I've had 100 or 200 bills, I've used the automatic cashier at supermarkets. The ATM tip is also very useful.

One good approach is to use a 50 Euro notes at restaurants, I think they are more amenable to making change. When I tried to enter a bank in Rome on my 2016 trip, they acted very alarmed. It might have been during lunchtime, maybe that was why. May ATMs seemed to want to process a cash withdrawal as a credit card cash advance (my ATM card does both). I had a hard time finding ATMs that were working, did not have a line with a dozen people in in, and would just let me take cash out as a debit transaction. On the plus side, I paid for days almost everywhere with my United Visa and Hilton Honors AMEX with insufficient cash in my pocket to cover the check. It was a risk but it always worked. The breaking large bills thing has been an issue since at least 2001, part of the charm of Italy I guess.

We have found that if withdrawing 500 euro, the ATM will dispense 10 x 20 euro bills and 6 x 50 euro bills, makes it pretty easy.

I've seen considerable variation throughout Europe in what size bills are loaded in machines and what happens when you request a largish amount of money. I have definitely received nothing but large bills on occasion, which is why I no longer make large withdrawals. I prefer to charge purchases of $10 or more when I can, so I'd have to change my usual modus operandi to get rid of any large notes I ended up with.

I suspect the reason we're reporting different experiences is that personnel at nicer restaurants and shops are used to getting paid with large bills, whereas at the less-expensive places I frequent they are not as accustomed to it. I've had plenty of museums ask whether I have smaller bills or coins when I tried to use a bill worth about $10.

Acraven, i shop and eat at normal places, nothing fancy, and if paying a reasonable amount, there are no problems with a 50.
Street vendors and buying coffee in a bar are different and probably won't accept large bills.

For museums, if they are state run, there are museums that don't receive change from the direction. Especially those that don't sell tickets, just audioguides etc, so staff have to make with the change they have, and try to obtain more small bills and coins to have change.

I've never had problems with €50 notes anywhere in Italy, although I don't think it would be fair to try to use one for a small purchase with a small shop right after opening.

I've used one many times to buy a couple of cups of coffee and pastries. No problem.

We spent 16 days in Rome, Florence, Siena, Greater Tuscany last month. We had no problems breaking a 50 anywhere we went. I think it just comes down choosing where to break it. Trying to pay for one bottle of water with a 50 might not get you very far. We really had no problems.

The 50€ note is, BY A VERY LARGE MARGIN, the most common banknote in circulation. This is not my own anecdotal observation. Statistics from the ECB are below to prove it.
So the notion they are not well accepted is bogus. They are the banknotes that are most frequently in Italians’ wallets. The merchant may not be pleased if you buy a one euro espresso with 50€ at the start of the day, but for anything over 10€ that is very common.

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/banknotes+coins/circulation/html/index.en.html

The title of this post made me laugh.
(cause it brought back memories)

I did not overall found it a big deal, but have definitely gotten a grown or two from merchants using large bills in Italy.
Seems less so than years back when the Euro was fairly new to Italy but I still find it exists (now it is accepted with a frown)

Must admit it is partially true in the US as well where merchants much prefer 20's and under ; biggest differences is the ATM's in the US unless you are inside a casino will very rarely dispense bills larger than 20 where in Italy they do.
And the other difference is cash is still preferred over credit/debit in much of Italy compared to the US and other countries.

Another tip is to remember which ATMs give you a mix of banknotes. In Rome, I look for Intesa Sanpaolo ATMs as they give me three 50's and five 20's when I withdraw 250 euro, and they don't charge a transaction fee (at least not as of this past May). Unicredit ATMs also give me that same mix, but they usually do charge a transaction fee.

Ironically, 100 CHF notes are like pocket litter in Switzerland. ;-)

After five years living in Rome and much travel around the continent, I'd say the most likely to groan at a 50 Euro note is an Italian shopkeeper. They also love exact change if you can give it to them.

I have several friends with bars and shops. What they appreciate the most is coin money, especially euro cents (10, 20, 50 cents) because they told me that people like to pay in notes (5€ being the smallest denomination) and euro coins, rather than search for cents in their wallets, therefore they go through a lot of coins to give change throughout the day.

The only time I had a problem was with a single 500€ note. This is the one that only the Monte Dei Paschi Di Siena bank would help us with. The Deustch Bank near our hotel refused to "break" the large bill for us.

It was not normal for us to have such a large 500€ note. We had a bad experience with a flat we rented and prepaid before arriving in Rome. (I am not going into all the details here.). We were given a refund in cash of a single 500€ banknote. Because I did not trust the manager (again, long story), I accepted the 500€ and left to find another hotel. (It was a "cut the losses" and move on situation.)
I would think 100€ or less would not be an issue for any business unless in the case of buying a very cheap item and trying to pay with a much higher value bill.
Roberto - your comment on carrying a gun into an American bank got my attention. I am going to ask my bank about this and what the protocol is.

Sunbaked.

My bank I don’t think has any signs stating that firearms are prohibited inside and for sure I’ve never seen in the US banks with the airport style metal detector with the double door entry system. I’m pretty sure you can walk in with a gun legally.

And if you withdraw money from a bank using a gun (as opposed to an ATM card), you can save on possible ATM fees too.

Roberto, that gun comment is one of the funniest things I have read in a very long time!
Keep up the good work ...
SharYn

Barbara describes a nightmare situation. Without question that is her experience but am not sure how far you should spread it. We have spent about year traveling in Europe since 72, long before the Euro and ATMs, and have never encountered on a regular basis any of the above situation. On a few occasions we have been asked for small bills but when I show that I don't them in my billfold change is made. Had a couple of situations, where they have stepped away to obtain more change. Never had anyone who was unfriendly because of the large bill. Roberto says the 50 euro note is the most commonly used note. I accept that. So why would the shopkeeper be unhappy when a tourist presents a 50 note. Our experience over the years is complete different from what was described above. Getting change has never been a problem for us.

I lived in Italy for three years and visit for six weeks every summer. I have problems regularly using larger bills. Sometimes shop owners even object to a $20 bill for something that is a few euros. Invariably, I get asked the question “do you have anything smaller”. I say no and present my big bill and most often there isn’t a problem, although some shopkeepers and clerks huff and puff like they are frustrated. It is a pet peeve of mine. Another pet peeve is not being able to use my credit card if my purchases under a certain amount. I understand the rationale, but in tourist cities I feel like it should be easy for the customer to make purchases rather than difficult. I understand in smaller cities and towns if this happens. I’ve been told many times that a credit card machine isn’t working when I suspect that it really is and the shopkeeper is trying to avoid being charged a fee.

Sometimes shop owners even object to a $20 bill for something that is a few euros.

Well of course, US$20 is not welcome in normal every day transactions where they use Euros.

I do know what you meant, that a 20 Euro bill is not accepted sometimes. When that happens to me and I truly don't have anything smaller, I just walk away. Amazingly most of the time the merchant will "remember" they have change.

I think that the situations lately where the merchant doesn't have change comes down to one of two causes: 1. the previous customers have all paid in 50's leaving them really out of change. That's when the run down the street to other shops to get change. 2. They are getting more credit card transactions so they just don't keep as much change hoping people will pay for enough things in smaller bills so they can make change or just use their credit cards.

A year ago my husband and I were in Assisi and tried to break a large bill without success in two different banks. The first bank we went into, the teller shooed us away instantly with a "No, No"! The second bank we went into was a little more polite and just said, "go spend it". So we went next door to a drug store and picked up some shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion but the clerk did not have change. He was so kind, he personally went into the bank with our large bill and got change for us. It all worked out fine. We had a wonderful time in Assisi by the way. Currently planning our next trip but won't be bringing large bills.

"Barbara describes a nightmare situation."

But don't many of her posts? Venice is gross, France is filled with people drowning, it's hard to find a loo, etc.

Everything is apparently awful.

Wow.
I usually travel with only 50s and 100s to avoid fat wallets and still I have never once had a problem getting change.
Of course I break the large bills by paying for amounts over 20€, not for a 50cent candy at a small shop, but I didn’t know this was such a big issue for you guys.
One hint: any restaurant will have change for a 50 or 100. Break your large bills by paying your meals with 50s and 100s and nobody will raise a brow. If you use large bills in a shop where the average paid amount is 2€ or 3€, then I can see that they may not be elated at the prospect of breaking your 100€ bill.

and of course with a ready supply of €1, €2 and €0.50 coins in your pocket you don't need a note at all to pay for a coffee or bar of chocolate.

I never travel anywhere outside the US without my Schwab ATM / Debit card. No currency fees. No ATM fees. I was long skeptical of Schwab, but this is a huge no brainer when combined with a no foreign currency fee credit card. My default is credit to earn miles, but always have a 100 euro or so in cash just in case.