jill_h

On arrival at Calgary airport, we attempted to get cash at one of the ATM machines in the car rental area. The transaction was denied and/or unable to complete. We didn't think too much about it and went on our merry way.

When we arrived in Lake Louise, we headed for the nearest ATM and again were denied. This was getting frustrating. Found another ATM, again denied. Called our bank - they didn't see where any transactions had been attempted or denied. Come to find out, NONE of the ATMs in Lake Louise take VISA debit cards but they do take MasterCard. I found that quite strange. Thankfully, we did have our credit card and just charged dinner, but we felt SO helpless without cash.

So be aware that if you're heading to Lake Louise with a VISA debit card, be sure to have CDN in pocket before you arrive because you won't be able to access cash through the ATMs.

Once we arrived in Jasper, we had no problem locating an ATM that accepted VISA debit.

LindainOhio

We didn't have this problem. I can't remember if we even used an ATM. I think we only used our charge card.

We'd love to hear about your trip. Aren't Lake Louise and Jasper beautiful places to visit?

jill_h

We stayed in Alpine Village in Jasper and Paradise Bungalows in Lake Louise. I liked the town of Jasper much better than the lack of town of Lake Louise. Our favorite restaurant in LL was Outpost Pub.

Enjoyed Maligne Canyon hike from 5th Bridge, and the lake tour to Spirit Island. The weather was great, but the sky was never really clear. Always a little overcast.

Enjoyed Moraine Lake -- it was my favorite spot!

Lake Peyto was my absolute favorite - awesome color -- seemed unreal.

Rode horse to Lake Agnes. I was a bit unimpressed with this view/lake. Did not make the hike to Plain of Six Glacier, but my husband did.

Would go back in a minute -- as long as it's not winter.

jill_h

OOH, I forgot - saw a caribou and a black bear!!

ShelliDawn

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. The thing about Lake Louise, it's not a town, it's a village. Often visitors are surprised at how little there is amenity wise.

jill_h

Shelli - for as well-known and popular as LL is, I was very surprised at the lack of amenities because of the caliber of the two high-end hotels - The Post Hotel and The Fairmont.

Jasper on the other hand was quite charming.

Borealis

It's better to do your banking in Banff or Canmore (on your way to Lake Louise from Calgary) - Canmore (15 minutes east of Banff townsite) has all the major Canadian banks.

Borealis

Forgot to mention - and those banks have ATMs.

jill_h

Borealis - wish we would've known that. But for all the traveling we've done, we've never had a problem. And because VISA/Mastercard is somewhat one-in-the-same in the US, I never thought someplace would take one without the other.

nfldbeothuk

I was hoping someone would post here explaining the OP's problem to me. In Canada, aren't debit cards issued by banks/credit unions? I'm Canadian, & I thought Visa (& Mastercard) issued credit cards.
Are American debit cards issued by credit card companies? How do they work? My debit card automatically "debits" (hence the name) my bank account. Therefore it's my bank which issues it. Canadian banks--and US banks too, from my memory of US trips--belong to a small number of networks: Cirrus, Maestro, etc.--and my debit card works in any machine whose logos match the networks listed on my debit card. This rule also worked for me in several European countries.
So what is a Visa debit card, and doesn't it belong to a network?

laverendrye

Visa debit cards are being introduced to Canada by CIBC, but it is becoming quite controversial. All debit cards in Canada up to now have been bank cards linked to Interac. The supposed advantage of the Visa debit card is that it can be used outside of Canada. However, merchants are fearful that Visa and eventually Mastercard will raise the merchant fees substantially for the use of their debit cards as opposed to the present Interac cards. This article sheds a bit of light on the controversy:

http://www.thestar.com/article/88617...new-debit-card

jill_h

My ATM (debit) card is issued by my bank, but it has a VISA logo in the lower right hand corner. I have the option of using my debit card as a credit card, therefore delaying the withdrawal of money from my account to a day or two.

We eventually found a CIBC bank (I think that's it) in Jasper. Interac and some other ATM machine would not take our VISA logo'd debit card.

ShelliDawn

To determine if your card will be accepted at a given ATM, look at the back of the card and check out what logos are on it. In Canada you'll often see Cirrus, Interac, Plus and maybe others (in Alberta, credit union cards often have ARN for the Alberta Regional Network).

These logos tell you what financial networking systems your bank/card issuing institution is a member of. ATMs will also display the logos of the networking systems they are members of. If the card and ATM have at least one logo in common, then they can "talk" and you can use the card in the machine.

Cirrus is a part of (or at least affiliated with) MasterCard (hence the very similar logos). I can only use my MasterCard in Cirrus network enabled ATMs. My Visa card has Interac and Plus. My bank debit cards have both Cirrus and Interac.

All that said, I don't know what networking systems the US has and how they are the same/differ from Canada's, but I've used my debit card in the US, Europe and S. America to withdraw cash from my bank account, so there's some cooperation going on.

Canada has issued debit cards for some time now that are partnered with credit card companies. Maybe most of the banks haven't issued them until recently (if at all), but First Calgary (a credit union) issued me one about a decade ago. I believe it was MasterCard they partnered with. The idea was that the card was transacted like a credit card (card swiped in a machine and then you signed a receipt), but the money came straight out of my account. They called it a "cheque card" IIRC.

I suspect if the OP had a regular bank issued debit card, it would have worked in the ATMs in Lake Louise.

jill_h

on the back of the card it shows Interlink and Plus. Lake Louise is the first place our card has ever been denied and we've been to Europe, Asia, Canada (Vancouver and Victoria), Rwanda, Tanzania and have never had an issue.

We called our bank when we were having trouble and they showed that no transaction had even been attempted.

rivet

I also have the Advantage Debit Card with the VISA logo. The card allows you to make purchases directly from your bank account using the worldwide visa network, thereby avoiding services charges on ATM's outside you country and potential charges due to changing currencies. In theory any business where VISA is accepted should be able to debit your bank account.

We were unable to use our card in a few places in Borneo and Bali, even to pay for hotels etc. For out of country purchases you are instructed to use the card AS A VISA and the purchase shows up as a debit, from your account. Of course at home, the transaction is a simple debit.

The VISA logo causes confusion as the card is a Debit card. CIBC comments on this inconvenience on their site.

https://www.cibc.com/ca/how-to-bank/...ntagecard.html

Ty_Slone

VISA TRAVEL MONEY (Debut Visa). I have money on my visa...but have none in pocket. I am in THailand and have been living here the past 2 years. Visa (american cards) has now blacklisted THailand. SO I am stuck here with no money...while Visa holds onto my cash ...denying me access because I am in Thailand. Oh and just so you know they change who they blacklist on a whim...so if you use Visa....you could find yourself Screwed!