ATM frustration--need suggestion
 

I don't know if this is just a northeast problem, but the banks in my area have a $200-$300 limit on ATM withdrawals a day. This causes problems when visiting a country where many of the lodging options only take cash. I don't want to have to hunt down an ATM every day, especially in the smaller towns. I also don't want to pay the fees on so many withdrawals. Does anyone know of a bank option that has a higher daily ATM withdrawal limit?

Most banks will allow you to set a higher daily withdrawal limit.

But that's not a slam-dunk solution, because many ATMs impose limits of their own.

But even the smallest towns will have a bank where you can use a debit card to get cash. I have never paid more than $1 for a withdrawal (Schwab Visa), so it is possible if you shop around.

Phone your bank and ask them to increase your daily limit. It's a good idea to let them know you'll be traveling outside the US in any case.

Have you asked your bank if they can increase the limit for you?

I usually don't have a problem with the limit but did have to pay in cash in Prague and it was a pain to have to make repeat visits to the ATM.

When ever I've called my bank to let them know I'll be traveling, they always ask how much per day I think I'll be needing. I haven't had to increse my daily limit yet, but the option shoould be there, so just call and talk to them.

I would agree to get your bank to up your daily limit.

I bank with Commerce in NJ, and they do not charge me any fees to get MY money from MY checking account. They have a daily limit of $500. My ATM card & my wife's ATM card have different account numbers on them, so we each can withdraw $500 a day -- from the same checking account.

Robespierre is right -- some ATM machines have a "per transaction" limit, so if your bank charges you a "fee per transaction," this could be very costly for you.

I would recommend shopping around for a different bank if yours does not meet your needs. ((b))

For what it's worth, despite having very high daily allowances on our ATM cards, we often run into banks particularly in Italy that set their own limit of 250 euro per transaction. Once when we were getting apartment cash, and we had that problem, instead of using another card, we just reentered the same card and got another 250, then a third time for a total of 750 euro from the same machine.
In that particular case the machine's limit seemed to be "per transaction" and not per day.

But yes, call your bank and increase your daily limit. While you're at it, you might check to see if they have "partner" banks that will not end up costing you a fee for using their ATMs.

Another thing to remember is that after 3 p.m. on a friday you cannot get money from your atm until monday. Keep that in mind and make sure you have enough cash for the weekend. When we travel we have two different atm cards from different accts. so that in case one of the cards is lost or "sucked" into one of the machines we have a spare. If you plan you should not have any trouble.

<Another thing to remember is that after 3 p.m. on a friday you cannot get money from your atm until monday.>

This is a new one on me. I've never had a problem getting ATM access/money on a weekend while in Europe, or anywhere else. ((b))

"Another thing to remember is that after 3 p.m. on a friday you cannot get money from your atm until monday".

Really??? I don't think I ever encountered that problem even on Christmas and New Year's Days, but then again, I was in Germany and Austria. Perhaps they have different rules?

Hmmmm... I've gotten money on the weekends. What's that about?

Let me correct myself.If you have taken out your banks daily limit be it $300 or $500 on a friday, you cannot take out on a monday as most US banks consider 3 p.m. the end of their day and are closed for posting transactions on saturday and sunday.

I think kadurk49 means that if you take your maximum ATM withdrawal late Friday, the bank won't let you take more until Monday. I've found that to be true, but maybe it varies from bank to bank.

When we expressed concern over the low limit to our banks (we have two), neither told us we had the option to have the limit raised. However, I just called one of them and you Fodorites were absolutely right! They said I need to talk to the branch manager on Monday. So thank you!

Not with my bank. It's open 7 days a week and posts every day. Yes, after 3pm the posting will be for the following day. ((b))

I'm going to ask my bank to raise my limit to $500 because they've recently raised foreign transaction fees to $5.00, instead of the $3.00 that they've charged in the past. It's only a couple bucks difference, but I draw the line at paying $5.00 for a withdrawal of $200 or $300.

I don;t know what fees you're talking about. My bank charges nothing for talking money from any ATM - and the ATMS in europe are generally free. (If your bank is charging you to take your own money from ATMS tell them to stop - or pull your account.)

Also - we have never found a hotel that didn't happily accept credit cards - but then we don/t do B&Bs.

MareW,

If your bank charges a withdrawal fee for foreign transactions, check and see if you have a local credit union that does not and establish a checking account for traveling.

i also use Commerce and MY funds are available whenever I want MY funds. No ATM fees anywhere in the world (except if a foreign bank charges... and I've been lucky so far). They're open 7-days a week; even check deposits made on Saturday or Sunday are available to me on Monday. They have branches in NY, NJ and I believe, soon in FL.

You are VERY lucky, indeed. Every bank I've ever heard of puts a 3- to 5-day HOLD on incoming deposits. Your bank isn't getting rich off the float the others are.

May I ask its name?

I had the same problem!! When traveling to Paris, one of my bankcards worked, and the other did not...though I specifically asked my bank if it would work. It had the required logos, and I tried two different ATMS...both did not work.

So, for a few days, I was stuck with only the money I previously had! Yikes!