I realize this topic is covered elsewhere, but I would like to know about US Bank debit cards being used in Italy. I live in a small town and our US Bank there is not up much on anything, so I thought I would ask the forum.
Is US Bank on an ATM system or are there tips on where best to get currency?
My wife used her US Bank debit card in several places in Sicily, recently. No issues, just as anywhere else in Europe she's used it. Some of the banks charged fees, as well as US Bank. But if you want to ask questions of them, you should call the customer service number, not ask the people in the branch office. We just used ATMs that were convenient, not looking for specific banks.
Basic advice: call them to let the Fraud department know you will be traveling overseas, so they wont block foreign charges (same with credit cards). Look for bank-affiliated ATMs (Bancomats is what they are called there) inside a secured space.
If your US bank card is visa or MasterCard (logo on front) it will work fine. There are fees - charged by US Bank - but it works. I have a us bank visa atm/debit card and have had no trouble in Sicily or elsewhere.
Call the phone number on the card before you go to tell them you are traveling- or else they may freeze the card on fraud suspicion.
I have on rare occasion run into an ATM where it won’t work. Could be a broken ATM or a network issue I don’t understand. Not a problem - just move to the next machine. This has been maybe 2-3 times over years of travel so not likely.
Use it for cash at ATMs. For purchases, it will work but you will pay less fees if you use cash or a no-fee credit card. I use a capital one master card for credit card purchases and the USBank card as an ATM card for cash.
Not everywhere accepts credit cards at all - be prepared to use cash at some places.
It does not make any difference who the bank is. The important issue is the network used by the debit card. The two primary networks are Cirrus and Plus so IF you debit card is branded as either VISA or Mastercard, it will work fine anywhere. US Bank (also my bank) charges average fees for money withdraw. My US Bank debit card is a VISA card. For us we use a credit union that charges a 1% fee and the US Bank is our back up card. It is smart to carry two debit cards tied to two different accounts. Over many, many years of usage we have never had a problem with our primary card BUT --- who knows the next time. Carry two.
if you can open a separate account and get a debit card for that account do it. Use it for travel. This way if your card is copied it is only your travel account and not your everyday checking account with all your money. I have 2 travel accounts at two different banks. I have debit cards for each of the accounts. I use these two accounts for travel only. Before i leave i transfer money into both the accounts. When I return home I transfer out the remaining money I did not use on vacation. I leave 50 in each account to keep the accounts active. One year we returned from Italy the end of September. Two months later I notice the balance of my travel account was 10.00. Someone copied my debit card from an atm I used somewhere in Italy. Granted it took them 2 months, however, all they could get was 40.00.
Also get a credit card with no international fees. Capital one for example.
