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Debit Cards - Do Fees Vary By Location

Would it matter if we used our debit card to get Euros at an ATM at the Frankfurt Airport? Or should we wait and go to an ATM elsewhere?

Posted by
112 posts

There's definitely a difference at the European end, regardless of what your bank will or won't charge. My first attempt at withdrawing Euros from an ATM in Barcelona was going to get me a 3 Euro service charge.....based on another thread I'd read here, I declined and tried a different ATM at a different bank, and that time there was no service charge. So, it does pay to "shop around" for a bank's ATM that won't charge a service fee, provided you've got the time (and you're in a location where options are available). The second ATM I tried (and another one a week later) were both smaller banks in less touristy areas, but I don't know if that made a difference or not.

Posted by
19052 posts

I've used my debit (ATM) cards at an ATM (same one) four times at FRA and always got just my bank's fees, no other "service charge". With those particular cards, I can't get a better rate anywhere else. There are some airports, Heathrow is one, I believe, where private owners (Travelex) have taken over the ATMs and charge a service fee, in the form of a worse exchange rate.

Posted by
1167 posts

If you use your card at a bank-connected ATM the charges and exchange rate should be pretty much the same anywhere. If you use non-bank ATM you will problably pay more.

Posted by
23178 posts

All bank owned ATMs anywhere will give the same exchange at the moment your withdraw is processes. Historically bank owned ATMs in Europe did not charge any user fee for using the ATM. Recent reports from a couple of places in Germany suggest that this MIGHT be changing as a couple of posters have reported paying a user fee. There are private, non bank, owned ATMs that do charge fees. TravelEx is the best example. They try to look like regular ATMs and are frequent in airports. One of the reasons I do not subscribe to the "great you money in the airport" practice. ALL fees beyond a user or terminal fee is solely determined by your issuer. So ask questions.

Posted by
10120 posts

I was under the impression that it was illegal in Europe for the banks to charge fees for using their atms. That's why the only fees charged are from the US institutions.

Posted by
23178 posts

That is the assumption that has been promoted by a lot of posters. However, I think one of the European posters posted that no such banking regulation existed. Our experience is that we have never been charged a user fee BUT things change. It is possible that some ATMs may be charging. There are few absolutes in the world

Posted by
32519 posts

I've had recent experience in Germany and Luxembourg with some bank ATMs charging atm cards not from their bank.

Posted by
6898 posts

We just got back from Spain and France where we used our new Schwab Bank debit card for both ATM and VISA transactions (including the hotels). It worked perfectly each time and thus far on our statements, there is not one fee or charge on either the ATM or VISA transactions. Just the straight conversion rate of about 1.35 dollars per Euro. For curiosity, we used our regular Chase VISA card one time and we paid a 3% charge on the transaction. We also used my BofA debit card a couple of times at BNP Paribas, the BofA Global Alliance partner bank in France. We paid no fees on the ATM withdrawls.

Posted by
19052 posts

That's an advantage to arriving in Europe with local currency. If the ATMs at the airport charge any extra fees, there's no rush. You have enough money to just wait until you get somewhere else and try again.

Posted by
7181 posts

It's hinted at in one reply, but not stated explicitly that some big American banks have arrangements with certain banks in certain countries. You can read about this on Bank Of America's website by searching for "global alliance." Of course, other banks might use other names for such arrangements. Since I can afford to keep a hundred or so Euros in a bag between trips, arriving at most European airports is less stressful than it was before the Euro Zone. If you can afford to tie up the cash, remember Rick's maxim, "Assume you'll return."