Hello. We are going to Turkey in about three weeks (Rick Steve's tour..I'm so excited.) I was wondering about ATM's. Will we be able to use our USA magnetic strip card or has Turkey starting using the CHIP ATM cards already? Thanks.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23267 posts
A year ago the magnetic strips worked fine. The problems with the chip cards have been with purchasing and credit cards. Not aware of any ATMs that were chip only in Europe.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32202 posts
Siranna, your magnetic strip cards should work fine in ATM's in Turkey (or elsewhere). However, if you use the same cards for debit transactions, that function probably won't work in Turkey. Have a great time on the tour!
Posted by
OP
Portland, OR, USA
26 posts
Thanks for the response. :) I can travel now with my magentic strip ATM card with confidence. Again, thanks. :)
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32202 posts
Siranna, one more point to mention. My primary ATM card ONLY has the magnetic strip, and it works fine at ATM's in Europe. I will supposedly be receiving a "chip & PIN" debit / ATM card sometime this year, but not sure when that's actually going to happen. Your travel funds must normally be in a chequing account with a four-number PIN, as many European ATM's won't give you a choice between savings or chequing. Cheers!
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2788 posts
I took the RS Turkey Tour in May and June of this year and used my US ATM card with its magnetic strip everywhere we went with no problems. I did not use a credit card while in Turkey so I do not know if the one I took would have worked.
Posted by
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
272 posts
just returned from turkey about a week ago. my debit card (magnetic strip only) worked fine at both atm machines and as a debit card in stores (unfortunately, had to buy a new camera mid-trip since I broke mine!).