Has anyone else had problems using their ATM US bank ATM card in Canada? I was recently in Toronto and couldn't find a machine that would take my card.

Most North American ATM cards work on the Plus and/or Cirrus networks, and there are vast numbers of bank machines all across Canada connected to these networks.

Canda has two principal types of bank machines; many are part of the networks of genuine banks, and the others, called "white label" generically, are private enterprise and generally cost more to use.

Themachines inside, or stickong out of the walls of, real banks, and the best bet, for network access and reasonable fees.

Fees, incidentally, are a mix of Canadian bank and US bank policies, and it is wise to check fees before using the machines too often.

BAK

We have never had a problem in Montreal or Quebec with ours. Ours is a Plus card.

Best bet is to check all the logos on the back of your card.

Note that thoughout Canada there are many local banks not on any of the international networks, but there are also an abundance of ATM's with the Plus, Cirrus, MasterCard, Visa, etc. logos. Just look at the signs about the ATM's.

Note that "free standing" machines you find in malls, hotel lobbies, etc., often have hefty fees, where as those attached to banks do not.

Also, before leaving home, you can check with the issuer of your card, either at your local branch, or online, for ATM's at your destination where your card will be accepted.

I didn't have any problem in Montreal with ATMs. Like someone else mentioned, just like in the United States you can check the symbols on the ATM to make sure one matches a symbol on your card.

Jenny

Hi:

I find it very strange that you had a problem with you US ATM card in Canada - do you use it frequently in the US with ATM machines other than your bank ?

The reason I ask is that I travel frequently internationally from Canada & have used my ATM card in the US, UK, Austria, Hungry, Kenya & New Zealand in the past year with no problems at any ATM I've tried. But my bank is one of the larger ones here in Canada. However, for a while in '99-'00 I worked for our US division so had an account with small US bank just across the border from where I live (it has 50 or so branches in upstate NY) - while it provided ATM access, I did have occasional problems when I tried to use the ATM card with other bank's ATM machines (but I never did try the card in Canada).

Z

I travel pretty widely and usually don't bring a whole lot of cash because I am used to using my ATM pretty much anywhere in the world, but I have to say that when we visited Banff and Lake Louise I had a lot of difficulties finding an ATM that would work (and we also have a "Plus" network card). At one point I had to resort to a cash advance on my credit card from a machine (I did later find an ATM machine that worked for my card).