I'm visting Malaysia in the next week, and wondered about using my ATM card to get cash instead of exchanging traveller's checks. Do you know how many digits Malaysian banks require for PIN numbers? My ATM card has a 4 digit PIN. Do I need to change it to a 6-digit PIN? Thanks.

I have a 4 digit pin and it worked fine in Malaysia.

Have you asked your bank? Surely they know the answer!

Regarding ATMs- be sure you know what charges you will incur from your bank as well as the banks in KL.
Travelers checks are not accepted in many places.
I myself have been to Asia many times and just carry cash and my credit card.
I exchange the cash for local currency at the money exchangers there and keep it secure in a security wallet that I wear under my shirt- this approach has worked every time.

Bill is right to warn you about bank charges. Some banks charge you $5.00 per foreign withdrawal. Credit Unions often have no charges. My bank charges $2 per transaction, so I use ATMs almost exclusively when I travel. I do always take some US$100 bills "just in case." And of course, there are places in the world with no ATMs, like Laos and Cambodia.

If you take cash make sure the bills are not old, damaged, or have marks on them. $US 100's are best for exchanging- go to your bank and ask for new $100 bills- examine them carefully. Some places will not take bills that are old looking, with tears, marked or otherwise damaged.

My ATM (Credit Union, Los Angeles)card has a four digit pin and worked without any problems.