I've used my debit cards on five previous trips to Italy with no problems whatsoever, but just now when I called my bank to up my limit and notify them I'll be out of the country I was cautioned that they've had complaints from other customers that the non chip cards would not work in the atms. Can someone who's been there very recently confirm or deny that?
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Denied. Your debit and/or ATM card linked to your checking account will work just fine in Italian ATMs. Occasionally it may not work in a machine. I've had that happen at times in many countries. Just move on to another machine, preferably with a different bank. I assume you card has a 4 digit PIN? That is required.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
209 posts
I'm glad to here that. I had the very same question.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32392 posts
maggie, The older magnetic stripe cards should still work fine in ATM's in Italy, but you may have problems with POS transactions or automated Kiosks. The "bottom line" is that the inexorable change to "Chip & PIN" is continuing, so it's possible that problems for non-chip cards will increase in future. It's encouraging to see that some financial institutions in the U.S. are finally starting to "get with the program" and convert to "Chip & PIN". Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
St Louis
411 posts
Thanks guys! We've never had a problem on previous trips but it's been a year since our last visit to Italy and I was worried that somehow I'd missed out on a big change of some sort. These are traditional magnetic strip cards with 4 digit pin numbers.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
maggie,
Mine worked fine in many machines this month. I also noticed that some machines had spaces for six digit PINs, some you couldn't tell, no spaces.