WAMU Gold Debit Mastercard - will it work?

Does it have the Maestro logo on it, too? It looks like MasterCard but says Maestro on it.

No, it just says MasterCard. No Maestro.

Darlene, I'm glad you posted this question. I used a WAMU visa debit card in 2005 in Italy with no problems. However, this was before they changed to MC. I am going to France in August and just assumed my WAMU MC would work. Now, I'm a little worried. I'll do some research also and post any info I get.

Darlene, I called Mastercard directly and they could not tell me if the DEBIT card would work for certain - they could only confirm it would work if it was a credit card.

MC suggested I call WAMU, which I did. WAMU said to call Mastercard. Always helpful. :) However, WAMU also said many other customers have been using this card in europe with no problems (at least not reported problems).

From what I've read, the problem only appears to be in Italy and Spain. The rest of Europe seems to be ok. Weird, huh?

I read those posts at the Fodor's forum, and I don't think you should freak out over this. I would estimate that 90% of the ATM machines in Europe work with any kind of card you "throw" at them. BUT there are other machines (the other 10%) that are only affiliated with one network: Mastercard affiliated networks or Visa affiliated networks. If you encounter one of these machines, and you card is rejected just find another ATM down the street and you should be back in business.

We just got back from Italy and Switzerland and I have a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome from raising my WAMU ATM card to the ATM. It worked just fine. However, in addition to the Star logo, I also have the Cirrus logo which is MasterCard's logo. The Plus logo is Visa's logo. This is on my BofA ATM card. 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.

It doesn't say international. Their website is www.star.com. I think you may need either the Cirrus or Plus logo to go international.

My card ONLY has the STAR logo on the back. Stupid WAMU!

Darlene, it should have the STAR logo AND the MC logo. The MC logo on the back above the STAR logo should mean it would work overseas in any ATM that takes MC. But if you are so worried, open a Bank of America account - we have millions of them all over LA. Don't use traveler's checks, you pay many more fees.

I had tried to use my WaMu ATM card with STAR and Cirrus Logos in the back in France, Finland, HongKong and India. It never worked. I can assure you the logos at the ATM machines had Cirrus on them.
So far it has only worked in my trips within US, UK and Mexico. In Spain it depends on the bank that owns the ATM.

I called Wamu from Finland and they never even managed to see my transaction. They even asked me to run experiments for them. And of course they claimed nobody else ever had a problem with a WuMu ATM. ANd that it must have been a defective card. which of course back in the US never fails.

WaMu has serious problems with international coverage of their ATM cards.

I am about to go on another trip and I am carrying a different card this time.

Darlene

I just got back from 2 weeks in London and France and had no problems with my WAMU card. It only has the star logo on it. I even used it in smaller cities like Chinon and Bayeux. The one important thing you need to do is to call them and let them know when and where you will be. They only charged a 1% transaction fee which was also nice. Last year I used it in Scotland and Wales with no problems.

Have fun

Darlene.. Our WAMU Star ATM/MC worked everywhere we went including Venice, Padua, Sacile, Polcenigo, Aviano and other small out of the way places..There are banks and ATM that speak English everywhere and retail shops accept them as well. It's convenient and the surcharge is minimal ( 1%)Save your Euros for gelatto and vino.. Ciao

Darlene,

We just got back from two weeks in Italy and Germany and our WAMU debit card (with Master card and Star on the back) worked everywhere.

I think Leslie "hit the nail on the head". Make sure that you contact them before you go. Our local bank told us we had to call and clear our card for the overseas travel before we could use it.

We never did this with our old WAMU card.

We just returned from 30 days in Italy and never had an ATM problem, including with our WAMU card. That being said, however, after years of travel, I would warn you that ATMs can be quirky. One year our WF card, which had worked in Portugal, stopped doing so when we crossed the border into Spain. Three calls to the bank yielded no money and not a clue as to what was wrong. We ended depending on our friends to give us cash, while we picked up the restaurant and hotel charges on our credit cards. Another time our WAMU card didn't work in an ATM in Sweden; but inside, the teller was able to use the machine there for us. She just said that it was all the same system and that there was no explanation for it.
Here is the strategy we've developed: Take cards for at least 2 different banks. Carry 2 different credit cards. Have an emergency stash of about $100. If you can get TC for free, you could have them as your back-up. I wouldn't pay for them. Very hard to exchange!

Just returned from 3 weeks in Italy. WAMU card worked fine but you will be limited to no more than about 200 euro a day due to their limited withdrawls.

If it doesnt work, try a lower number. We kept doing that until it gave us money.

Virginia

Hi, its now a year later. I am going to London & Paris next week. I just called WAMU credit card and debit card teams. They said that the debit card should work fine with NO FEES at ATM's with the Star logo. I have not had any luck online finding a list of machines in Europe yet, but I will keep trying. Using the debit card for purchases will incur a THREE PERCENT FEE. This is a bit bizarre to me because using my WAMU CREDIT card only has a ONE PERCENT FEE. Oh well... glad that I called and asked ahead of time. I purchased a London Pass online with my Chase Visa and was hit with an $11 fee! That card is staying at home!

My son and new wife are on a five month honeymoon from Japan to Germany. He is depending solely on a WaMu debit card -- have no idea of the markings. I log into his account every three or four days just to monitor activity since he cannot do that from a public computer. It appears to be working fine and only a 1% currency conversion fees.

Great Question! Thanks. I too plan on using my WAMU gold debit card with MC and Star logo on the back. Hope it works!! I will be sure to have a back up plan. I was told to call the bank before leaving the country.

It's funny that everyone's replying to this almost a year after my trip! For anyone wondering, the card worked perfectly. And YES, call your bank before you to alert them you will be out of the country. Otherwise, your card could be suspended due to suspected fraudulent activity.

Did you have any fees for using the ATM card?

Yes, there were fees but I don't recall them being that bad. I don't remember what they were exactly ... sorry!

you really don't have to worry if you are going to Rome. There's plenty of banks which will use the MC logo at the ATM.

Oops... Sorry Darlene, I didn't realize that this pos is over a year ago!!

Check with you bank before you travel and don't assume your ATM will work!

I live in Northern New Jersey and bank with a smaller local bank "The Lakeland Bank". The Lakeland Bank supplies us with ATM cards that use the Mastercard system, and are part of the Plus, NYCE and Star systems. Yesterday, my wife called me because she was in Valencia, Spain and her card did not work. The account had a healthy balance. Lakeland customer service first told me that Spain is one of the countries that Mastercard no longer serves with ATM...the said te PIN service does not work, but she could still sign and charge...just no cash. Having read so many books, including Rick Steve's, that recommend, no travellers, check, just use your ATM, I was livid. Another branch manager siad, that Lakeland Bank of NJ selected to turn off the ATM service in Spain. I'm not sure where the truth lies, but the bottom line is that the ATM service does not work with my Lakeland Bank ATM card in Spain, even though it is a Mastercard, with PLUS, NYCE and STAR network service.

We were in Italy this past Spring and had no problems. Now that WaMu was bought out by Chase all of our new Chase Debit cards only have MC logo on back, Credit has nothing on back and only says Visa on front. Anyone tried to use these in Italy yet?