Using ATM card in Italy

What logo does your card have then? There's no STAR network in Europe so if it's a STAR logo you'll have to get a Visa logo or other widely recognized card.

My card has the Star logo, but it also has Plus and Interlink logos, as well as Instant Cash

Lori,
Your card with a Plus logo will work fine in Italy.

I'd be inclined to listen to your bank. However, you might try asking more than one person.

I once had an ATM card that did not work internationally. I had to switch to a VISA debit card in order to use it overseas.

Lori,
See http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp

Laura,
My experience is that bank personnel know almost nothing about overseas transactions.

My debit card, Mastercard logo, can be used for purchases and ATMs. I understand that there is such a thing as a card that is just used for ATM withdrawals. If your card can be used for purchases as well, be careful. I have always been able to use my debit card for purchases in Italy until this year. I called my bank to find out why the card wasn't working for purchases and they told me ATM withdrawals were fine, but not to make any purchases using a debit card because there had been a lot of fraud in Italy, and that my bank would not process debit card purchases in Italy any more because of the fraud problem. In 2005, I used a credit card to pay for an apartment rental before I left for Italy, and the credit card company contacted me to make sure it was not a fraudulent purchase, I okayed the transaction, but the credit card company still did not run the charge. After I got back I got a frantic email from the apartment company about it. I ran it through a second time and they got paid

Lori, my ATM cards have either the VISA or Mastercard logo on the front. I think the VISA logo on the front is for when you want to use your ATM card to make a credit purchase at a store. I believe what really matters is what is on the back of the card; i.e., STAR, PLUS, Interlink. When I approach an ATM, I make sure that the logo they have listed on the machine is on the back of my card. Please be sure to take at least two ATM cards from two different banks for back-up. You never know when one of them might not work in that particular ATM machine.

My ATM card has a MasterCard logo on it and I didn't have a problem. As stated above, what really matters is what is on the back. I would also agree that your bank staff is probably wrong and frankly that's not surprising given that only a small percentage of bank staff tend to deal with international transactions at all.

Lori, I have no idea what symbols are on my ATM card, but traveling throughout western Europe the last many years our card has NEVER not worked. ATMs are the greatest assistance to foreign travel.

The logos you need are on the back of the card. If you have a Cirrus or Plus logo on the back, you are OK. The Cirrus logo is Mastercard's logo. The Plus logo is Visa's logo.

If you have a Star logo only, is not necessarily international. The Star cash network is America's largest debit card network but I believe it's domestic only. Here is "About Us" information directly from the Star Cash Network site.

"STAR Networks, Inc., a First Data company, is one of America’s leading PIN-secured debit networks and an expert in secure, real-time electronic transactions. The STAR® Network serves over 5,700 financial institutions across the U.S. and provides more than 140 million cardholders with account access at 1.9 million ATM and retail locations from coast to coast."

Also make sure that your pin number is no greater than 4 digits (numbers only). Finally, notify your bank about your travel plans.