wliwl

Out 16 year old will be traveling to Germany and Czech Republic in April with his orchestra. I want to send a debit card with him (rather than sending cash), but I don't especially want to send MINE with him!

Is there one (is it American Express??) that you put a certain amount of money on, and then withdraw from ATMs over there?

Thanks.

LoveItaly

Hello wliwl, the AMEX charges you to get the card and charges everytime money is withdrawn so it is not cheap to use.

What do you think about opening up a second checking account at your bank (earmarked for your son's trip) and get an ATM card for this new checking account that he could take with him

I think that would solve your concerns (which I sure understand). And if the new checking account ran low on money it would so easy to have money transferred to it from your original checking account.

Robert2533

Check with your bank. They should be able to issue an ATM/check card with a set amount that can be recharged as needed. Only Amex issues the debit card you’re talking about and they charge a fee for their services, while there should be no fee associated with a VISA/MC ATM card issued by your bank.

StCirq

My bank issued my daughter an ATM card when she was 16, tied to her savings account. I just put money into it and she used it exactly the same way I use mine.

BarbaraF

I think the prepaid cards are not worth the trouble. At 16, we opened a regular checking account for our daughter, in her name only, and it came with an ATM/debit card. She was able to spend a certain amount of money each month with that. I never had to give her cash, and she knew how much she could spend each week/month.

When I realized the bank assessed fees for using the debit card, I got her a regular VISA for gas and other purchases.

She's been abroad several times, and has had no trouble in any country using the ATM card for cash, and the VISA for purchases. And we didn't have to worry that she was going to run short or have some kind of emergency for which she wouldn't have money.

aggiemom

We have three kids who have their own accounts with ATM cards from Wells Fargo. There is no minimum balance requirement and no other charges (except, of course, if you use them overseas, exchange rate, etc.)

We have everything set up online so that all we have to do is transfer money from our account to their accounts, if it is needed (or, I should say, WHEN it is needed!!)

mom

janis

If there is some reason your son can't have a bank account - the AMEX card would be n option. But it is very expensive to use -- costs money to set up, to add money, to take out money, to close it out at the end. All the fees will eat into the amount he has to spend on the trip.

So I'd definitely set him up w/ his own bank account. But be sure it is a CHECKING account - European ATMs usually don't give the option of withdrawing from checking or savings.

wliwl

Thanks everybody! I hadn't thought of opening a checking acct for him since he, ahem, has no income. But maybe I'll do that. Seems the easiest thing.

StCirq

It doesn't have to be a checking account - my bank set up my daughter's savings account so that it was her PRIMARY account for withdrawals. That's all that's needed. My daughter had no problem taking money out of French ATM machines this past summer.

LoveItaly

Hello wliwl, the reason I mentioned a checking a/c is that in Italy to access funds it has to be from a checking a/c. I have no knowledge what the ATM's in Germany and the Czech Republic ATM's require. Good wishes to you working out this situation.

MaureenB

My daughter's ATM card wouldn't work in England a few years ago, because it was tied to her savings account. Better to tie it to checking, just to be safe.