ira

Hi betty,

In addition to out-of-network fees, also check to see if your bank adds a "conversion fee" for withdrawls in foreign currency.

bettyo70

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your tips. Question about joining a CREDIT UNION in order to avoid foreign ATM fees:

1) How does one join a credit union?

2) Is it free or is there any sort of annual membership fee?

3) Any particularly recommended credit unions? (I am located in NYC.)

Thank you.

Statia

betty, typically you join a credit union thru your place of employment, but there may be some that allow the public to join. Someone may be able to give you some info on credit unions in your area.

I have never paid a membership fee at my credit union and I have much better benefits than at a typical bank.

bettyo70

Thanks, Statia! Actually, I am an actress and I remember my acting unions having their own credit union office. Will look into that immediately...

Cheers!

Mara

betty
I am in NYC as well. My bank is HSBC, I have a plain vanilla account (and supposedly cannot use out of network ATMs for free although I have never tried it here) and I have never yet been charged for foreign ATM withdrawals.
Mara

bettyo70

Thanks, Mara! I will look into HSBC.

Ann41

Betty-your acting union credit union is probably your best bet, but there are usually a lot of different avenues into membership (and they don't charge fees). I have accounts at two credit unions: the first one has a branch where I went to college so all alumni can join, and the second was in the same building at my old office, and anyone working in the building could join.

I currently live in the UK and have never been charged a fee for using my ATM card in Europe.

loisco

Just called Washington Mutual and they have a 3 dollar fee PLUS the bank fee that the bank where you withdraw the money charges??????...Did anyone hear of this?

bettyo70

Yes, Washington Mutual is annoying. That's why I'm thinking of switching to USBS (which some other posters here have recommended).

Are you based in NYC?

StCirq

I bank with a relatively small bank in NOrthern Virginia, and have never paid a fee or a conversion fee when withdrawing money in Europe. The only time I'm charged a fee is here in the USA when I withdraw from a bank other than my own - and I don't do that unless it's an emergency.

loisco: to reiterate what others have said but I think you're not getting - no bank in Europe has ever charged me a cent to withdraw money. I believe the only concern you have with regard to fees is with YOUR bank in the USA.

loisco

We are in San Diego with Washington Mutual. yes they charge 3 dollars a transaction but for the life of me can't see why they toldmy husband about an additional fee from the bank in France. Who knows?..

Patrick

loisco. Maybe they told you that because they didn't know any better? And to be honest there are some ATMs in supermarkets there and places like that which are not at banks and will charge you a fee -- just like the ones at convenience stores here. Maybe that's what they meant.

loisco

Thanks Patrick..I think you might be right.

TMWeddle

We were in Ireland (both North and South) on October and our bank did not charge any fees and the exchange rate was good. Fifth Third Bank is regional, serving Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan, and Florida.

TOMI

I always find some good suggestions on this site. After reading about ATM debit card, credit cards, cash, etc., decided to call my Credit Union to see what their fee is. It was 89cents (how do they arrive at that?) per transaction with a dollar limit of $1,000 per transaction. But only at banks that are listed on the back of my card: Cirrus, The Exchange, Interlink, Star, Instant Teller, ACCEL and Co-op Network. I'm wondering if anyone can verify if these are available all over France, especially in Paris?

P_M

TOMI, what you have listed are ATM networks, not banks. You will have no trouble finding ATM's with one of these logos.

FainaAgain

TMweddle, good heavens, 5th 3rd bank? Is this for real? How a bank can be 5th, and then 3rd? Is this a joke?

P_M

That does sound funny, Faina. I had never heard of that bank either, so I looked it up and I'll be darned, there is a Fifth Thrid Bank. No joke!!

https://www.53.com/wps/portal/personal