Karen

Has anyone seen HSBC banks in Paris? My accounts are with them here in NY, and they say they are in France, but no one has a location guide to confirm this. They keep reassuring me that I can use my ATM card, without any fees, at the CDG airport and thruout France, as long as I go to the HSBC ones. I would appreciate hearing from recent travelers. Thank you!

elaine

Karen <BR>What atm network does HSBC belong to? <BR>Plus? Cirrus? I believe that is the key issue. As long as any atm in any country displays the logo for the same network that you home bank belongs to, your atm card should be accepted. It is true that individual atms or banks may charge fees for withdrawals. Your own bank should be able to get you a list of locations in France if they have branches there, to avoid fees.

elaine

Hi <BR>I should have added, check your bank's website <BR>www.hsbc.com <BR>they do indeed have a presence in France, perhaps the website can give you atm info.

Karen

Elaine, thanks for the quick reply.... I have checked the web site and asked the local bank branch for specific info & it isn't available. That's why I'm hoping someone on this board may have seen HSBC while in the airport/Paris/other areas of France. Yes, it is a NYCE & Cirrus card, but HSBC reccomends going to their own machines to avoid any fees. I'm a frugal traveler & hope to save in any way I can!

elvira

I don't remember ever seeing HSBC in Paris; they only have three offices, which doesn't bode well for ATMs. <BR> <BR>If you wait until mid-July, when they merge/takeover CCF, you'll have a plethora of ATMs from which to choose. <BR> <BR>

Karen

Elvira- We arrive on July 14...

Lid

I looked up the ATMs through the Mastercard website and didn't see any listed. When you look at the HSBC website they do give some contact info for Paris. They list telephone numbers and fax numbers, is it possible for you to fax them asking for ATM locations? Just a thought maybe you already know this and its not possible.

Lid

Hi <BR> <BR>me again sorry it just occured to me hey why don't i call the HSBC here in Vancouver, Canada where i live see if they have any info. <BR> <BR>The receptionist had a book that listed all branches in the world and this is what she had for Paris. <BR> <BR>20 Bis Ave. <BR>Rapp 75332 <BR>Paris <BR>Cedex 07 <BR> <BR>telephone 331 442 7000 <BR>fax 331 4442 7381 <BR> <BR>hope this helps

elaine

Hi Karen <BR>I don't know if you have your Paris map yet, so I'll tell you that ave.Rapp <BR>runs near the Eiffel Tower, between the Pont l'Alma (a bridge, and a metro station of the same name), and Parc Champ de Mars. Depending on where you are staying, this may or may not be convenient.

Christina

Your network (Cirrus, Plus, etc) doesn't determine fees, just if you can use your card. You might consider the fact that unless your bank has some outrageous ATM fee unlike any I've heard, you would spend more in transportation costs and the value of your time (not to mention lost vacation time which is irreplaceable) traveling all over Paris trying to find a HCBC ATm to avoid a fee of a dollar or two. Don't you value your time in any way?

Richard

I agree with Christina. My bank here in Texas is online with Pulse, Cirrus and Maestro. The bank (Bank United) charges 1.25USD for each transaction, not a lot when a Metro ticket from the carnet is .80USD.

Bob

As long as you make large withdraws, $250 - $300 at a time the savings you get due to a good exchange rate will pay for the $1.25 fee.