I was planning on using my ATM card (white card with just bank name and the letters "ATM".) Is this the card I should use to withdraw cash, as oppossed to a debit or credit card?

? not sure, it depends on your card and what networks it uses, the card should tell you on the back. I thought an ATM card WAS a debit card, I've never heard of a bank that had two separate cards for that, so don't know about that. You should not use a credit card unless desperate as it will cost a lot, more than any other form of getting cash (due to interest charges). If your ATM card is supposed to work on CIRRUS or PLUS networks, use it(CIRRUS works better than PLUS, it seems to me). If your ATM card does not work on those two networks, I think it may not be of much use.

In Madrid will i need to have a special travel visa or a passport and what is the current exchange rate for the money in Madrid

You will get the best exchange rate by using an ATM card to withdraw cash from a bank at your final destination. Be aware also that some countries do not have the standard four digit PIN #'s we have here in the States. If they do, you're fine. Also if you remember your PIN by its alphabetic spelling, find out what its corresponding numeric equivelants are on the keypad because some ATMs in other countries do not display letters on the keypad.. Good luck

Hi Joyce. I know that locally, there is a bank that issues only a card to withdraw money from the automatic teller machines. The ones here say MAC on them. But these cards can be used anywhere to withdraw money where it connects with a compatable system. LIke Christina said, for example, Cirrus. And your bank will tell you where it can be used. Usually, a bank issued card that can be used to withdraw money from an ATM and make purchases has a Visa or Mastercard logo on the front. These cards are referred to as debit cards. The price of the purchases are not actually "charged" but withdrawn from your checking account at the time of use.