PIN #'s in Italy

I think that advice is sorely outdated, if it ever was really an issue. Same with making sure your PIN is only 4 numbers.

Maybe someone else has personal experience, but I would say either do not worry about it, or, anymore it is easy to change a PIN usually, I can go online and choose my own and change at any time, with one bank, the other I would just need to call.

Ideally though, I would urge you to have two different cards for ATM withdrawals, and as an emergency backup, have a PIN for a credit card to be able to make a cash advance from an ATM.

My old Italian ATM card had a 5 digit PIN starting with zero.

The zero concern and more than 4 digits was a concern when debit cards entered wide usage some 50 years ago. No longer a concern. However, from time to time we have issues with cards not being accepted so it is wise to have a couple of cards tied to different accounts and the code for a credit card --- just in case.

Was it really 50 years ago?!?!. Thanks for making some of us feel old Frank.

My PIN starts with a zero and have had no problems withdrawing cash in Italy and many other countries over the past twenty years.

I change my pin every year or so and my bank finally allows six digits so it’s nothing to worry about. Just make sure that your cards have the tap to pay instead of inserting or swiping to pay. Safer that way.

Thanks to everyone for your help!!

Ha!, Allan, it it worse! 59 years -- Bank of Delaware, 1966. Dialing zero gave programmers access to the system. That is why the original card numbers did not start with zero. It didn't take too long to realize that was a big security flaw and the zero disappear within a year or so. Feeling old ?? I came off active duty in Nov 67. Now, that seems like the dark ages.