Piccolina

What is the maximum amount of cash allowed per withdrawal in ATM machines when using a foreign ATM card in France and Spain and the UK? My gut feeling is that it first depends how much is allowed with your own bank at home. But my bank actually allows approximately 2000 euros of withdrawal per day but I have a feeling this is not the case for the ATM machine in France and Spain and the UK (eg: I don't think the machine will give me 2000 euros even though my card/home bank allows it). When I lived in Austria about 10 years ago, I remember only being able to withdraw 400 euros each time but I don't remember if it is because of my home bank limit or the local bank limit. The last thing I want to happen is if I punch in 1000 euros, then the bank spits out 400 euros (because 400 euros is the machine's limit) but then I get charged 1000 euros on my account because I punched in 1000 euros for withdrawal.

Appreciate if you can share your experience.

cathies

Most of the time we could only withdraw approx 300 euros. Like you, we had a much bigger withdrawal capacity at home, but not in Italy, the UK or France. We haven't been to Spain so can't help with that.

adrienne

Your bank sets the limit on daily withdrawals. Of course, withdrawing from a particular ATM machine depends on how much cash is left in the machine. I would assume the ATM machine would know how much cash is left and you would get an error stating that you cannot withdraw E1,000 if there is not that much cash left in the machine.

How much money are you going to carry around with you? I would not be comfortable walking around with E1,000 either abroad or at home.

Piccolina

The 1000 euros is just an example. Preferrably I would only withdraw about 400 euros or so. anything less would not be worthwhile because of the bank charges.

Alec

If your own bank's daily withdrawal limit is higher than a particular ATM's limit, you should be able to make more than one withdrawals to get to your limit. Sometimes the foreign bank puts a stop to it, in which case try another ATM belonging to another bank/finanicial institution.
In UK, most ATMs have a limit of around £300 per withdrawal, and may allow you to make multiple withdrawals where possible. There is no hard-and-fast rule about it, and you may have to experiment.

avalon

As has been stated ,your own bank sets your limit. Yu can have it upped by calling. I know mine is $1000./24 hours.

Some banks in France set a limit on the amount withdrawn. So if you need more justmake multiple withdrawals.You can even do it at the same ATM

J62

In my experience ATMs in Germany and Italy have a limit of 250 to 300 euros per withdrawal.

It sounds like you have a fee charge by your bank every time you use a foreign ATM, so $5 on 300 euro withdrawal is more expensive than $5 on 1000 euro withdrawal - that sounds like the root of your question.

My bank does not charge any per-transaction fee when I use a partner bank. My credit union does not charge any per-transaction fee period. The 1% forex fee I get charge is the same 1% whether I take out 20 euros or 200.

alanRow

ATMs have a limit, your bank has a limit, if your bank limit is higher than the ATM limit then you just use another ATM & repeat until your limit is reached.

If you punch in €1000 and the limit (ATM or bank) is lower then it won't allow you to complete the request

kerouac

My own (French) bank has a specific list on its website of how much I can withdraw in France (at both my own and other banks), in the eurozone, out of the eurozone, per day or per week.

Don't other banks list it somewhere on their sites?

ParisAmsterdam

I have done as many as 3 withdrawals at one go from ATMs in France and Greece. Just withdraw your card and do another transaction if you need more than the machine allows.

In the event you have a problem with the above... another ATM is usually within sight in Europe. There is no shortage of them!

Rob

Lifeman

Great advice above. The limit is set by your own bank per day and if you want more, then ask them to up your limit. They may or may not be able to do so.

I've had a company debit card with a £1500 daily limit when we were paying a number of people in cash and I was able to take it all out of one machine in one withdrawal.

The important thing is that you tell your bank where you'll be in the world, to stop them blocking your card.

travelerjan

Anyone whose home bank will not up the withdrawal limit per day for your travels -- should go in search of another bank. There are plenty out there, and you can make withdrawals with no charge or minimal charge. You pay the "forex" 1% on almost any account -- but aside from that, SHOP AROUND.

Examples: TD bank has no percentage fee, and no per-transaction fee for up to 10 withdrawals per month abroad ... and you can withdraw a LOT per transaction. Most credit unions are wonderful in this regard -- no % fee, no transaction fee, they may have a lower limit per transaction, but you can do multiples. AND many credit unions now are open to the public; one no longer needs to work for a certain company or be in a certain union or profession to open an account there. Shop around. Here's a useful link showing current charges by most of the major banks, and some lower-cost alternatives:
http://tinyurl.com/yco2od2

basingstoke2

It is important to keep in mind that when your bank sets a limit on ATM withdrawals, it is in the currency of the country where the bank is located, e.g., a US bank will set its limits in dollars. Therfore you have to keep the current excahnge rate in mind when attempting to max your withdrawal. We learned that the hard way in Scotland where we tried to withdraw our limit and were rejected by several ATMs. I had checked the exchange rate that morning and it should have been ok but the rate had changed during the day. I called my bank in the US toll free number and after checking they explained what had happened - I was all of twenty cents over, but even a small amount like that is enough to block the transaction. The customer service rep (USAA) suggested that they raise the withdrawal limit on the spot, I agreed, they did, and the change was immediate.

scottwyo

In France the ATMs of BNP Parisbas give me the high limit Wells Fargo allows me at home in only one withdrawal. (Their logo is a green square and they are everywhere). Only one cavaet, don't try to witdraw 1900 euros from a village ATM on a Sunday, instead go n to the next city of 100,000 or more inhabitants and you are all set. Now can anyone provide me a similar situation for Spain?
Thanks!

Robert2533

Some ATMs in Spain will allow up to €600 at a time, other are much lower. But again, it will depend on where you are. If in a major metropolitan area, then you will have more options. If it's Friday night, during fiesta or a long weekend, then the ATMs empty out fast and not refilled until Monday morning.

I always carry two ATM cards, one personal and one business if I need more cash they I can obtain from one machine. The problem arrises when you try to do too many transactions too close together. The bank will block you ATM card.

Robert2533

If in Portugal, the limit is €200. They don't want you to spend too much of your hard earned money.