esm

I searched but could not find current information on this. I've been told by my bank that due to increased hacking and scams, they totally block their ATM cards in Brazil. Their suggestion was to use credit cards and get cash advances. I don't mind using a credit card for hotel/restaurants but I don't like to get cash advances (never have) and am not sure what kind of fees/interest will be added.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this apart from taking a couple of hundred dollars to exchange for cab and similar expenses? Thanks.

christabir

What bank is this? I never take cash anywhere and I don't even have a pin number to get cash advances on my cc (it's such a rip-off). That would really be a problem for me. You might have to open an account at credit union or local bank that will let you use a debit card.

Marija

We used several ATM cards in Brazil in August and had no problems. Credit cards will start charging you ridiculous interest from the day you make the withdrawal, even if you pay off your card in full at the end of the billing cycle.

esm

I've never had problems with the bank or their ATM so this was a big surprise. I'll call the credit union to see what they offer; thanks.

esm

I agree Marija, no point using a credit card for cash withdrawal. I've been searching this topic and it seems there are problems with ATM cards and unauthorized access.

Susan7

Where are you from, I'm assuming the US? I have never heard of this, why does your bank totally block out a whole country, other than the obvious reason that your bank fees rise astronomically?

I would change banks and get a debit/credit card.

esm

I thought I posted a reply but it seems to have disappeared!

Susan, I'm in the US. I stopped by my local branch and found out that due to fraud, the company which issues the ATM cards blocks their use. To help customers, my bank issues a debit card which can be used in ATM machines without transaction fees.

I was told the debit card does not have the embossed card number, therefore the number can't be copied in the machines which is the cause of fraudulent activities.

Susan7

Good to hear your bank will issue you with a debit card, having to pay for a cash advance sounded very expensive. I hope the card without an embossed number can be used widely.

K_brklyn

Just some caution, not all ATM machines will accept your card in Brazil. You may have to try several times to withdraw money from the same ATM, even it worked the day before.

There's usually only one ATM in the branch that accepts foreign ATM cards.

So I'd suggest that when you find one that works, take out a little more than you think you'll need and try to keep some cash on hand for emergencies.

Good luck.

JAX9000

Be sure to have a card with the Cirrus (for Visa) or Maestro (for MasterCard) logos on its back. They are the only ones that will really work. Also, the information your bank gave you is phony. The ATMs in Brazil won't copy the embossing, you still need a PIN and all transactions are authorized real time. ATMs for Bank Itau (orange and blue) and Bradesco (red) are ubiquitous and work very well. The only issue is that might not have an option for Englis, I'm not sure.
My only advicenly use ATM in places with a lot of people (inside shopping malls or bank branches, never accept help from strangers and NEVER use one after 9:00PM. The ATMs in Brazil are also programmed to limit the amount you can withdrawal from 10PM to 6AM in order to deter criminals.

esm

Follow up to this: my husband (the traveler) was not able to use ATMs. He used his MC for hotel and restaurants and exchanged around $100 for incidentals. We found out (after his return) that our bank was at fault. They don't allow ATM use in Brazil and mislead us with all this story about issuing a new card. I'm seriously looking into switching banks.

JAX9000

Just a correction in my previous post: For a Visa card look for the "Plus" logo on the back. Both Cirrus and Maestro are MasterCard brands.

Susan7

Esm, that's awful news. I hope it didn't ruin the trip.

esm

Susan, he took dollars to exchange (just in case) and used his credit card without problems. I guess it is good to have a back up ATM for future travels.

Guenmai

This doesn't sound unusual to me at all as my credit union blocks out all of its cards from use in Thailand. A few years ago, I went up to my credit union, in person, to inform them that I'd be in Bangkok where I go almost annually and that I wanted to use my no fee credit union debit/Visa card instead of my bank's debit/Visa card with the $5.00 per overseas transaction fee. I was told that it was fine and that it had been noted in the computer that I'd be away and all was in order. Wrong. I got to Bangkok and ready to pay my apartment rent when the card wouldn't go through. I had no idea why it wouldn't. So, I had to use another credit card.

When I got home, I called the credit union and was quite livid. I asked why my debit/Visa card had been blocked and was told that their cards were blocked from being used in Thailand and some other countries on their list. I then asked why I was told that all was in order upon which the answer was, "Well, I didn't realize that Bangkok was in Thailand". So, I could have been stranded due to the bank clerk's lack of geography.

Good I had lots of traveler's checks, cash, and a couple of other credit cards on me, as I always do. Cash and traveler's checks are easy to cash in Bangkok and with a very decent exchange rate. I was fine for the three weeks that I was there. I'd never only depend on ATMs anywhere. Just last summer, while in Copenhagen, the ATM outside of my Danish bank, ate my card and I had to go in the next morning and wait until someone could open the machine and not only take my card out, but the other eaten ones. When the card was eaten, it was made so that it couldn't be used. So, I was without my Danish ATM card, but had cash/traveler's checks which sure beats having no money at all. I wasn't about to try another ATM card in the machine after one had been eaten.

After the Bangkok mishap, I just opened a Thai bank account and now just exchange my cash/traveler's checks into Thai baht and deposit the money into that account and use my Thai ATM/debit card. That way if there's a problem, I'm in the city/country where the card was issued and can straighten things out.

When I was in Brazil, some years ago, I only took cash,traveler's checks, two credit cards, and an emergency debit/ATM card. It was the same in Buenos Aires in Dec 2008, where cash is king. I never used an ATM machine there either. Plus, I paid for things more in U.S. dollars than in Pesos as they had no problem accepting them. I never needed to use the ATM and and got by just fine for two weeks on both the Brazil trip and the more recent Buenos Aires trip.

For over 30 years of international travel, I've been fine without having to be ATM dependent, as there was a time when ATM machines didn't even exist anyway. And I've never had any money stolen on a trip. I have been taking 1-3 overseas vacations a year since the early 70s.

So, take a variety of money types and don't be only dependent on one or two. And if the plastic doesn't work, then be able to move on to Plan B. Happy Travels!