I have checked previous fodors threads but justed wanted an update on Pin numbers for ATMs in France, Switz and Italy for our trip in September. Our cards shows the Maestro logo (We also have a Visa credit card) and have 6 number PINs for here in Australia which our bank said woould be necessary. How will we go in the countries above using ATMs, do we need 4 number PINs, Thanks in advance

The 4-number pin is common in Spain and France, the same as it is in the States.

Yes, you need 4-digit PINs.

There was something too about not starting your 4 digit pin with a zero or some other number. Anyone remember this?

No big deal. Just open a special "trip" checking account at your bank and get a 4-digit pin # for it. Check that it works, before you go.

Maybe even open TWO accounts at 2 different banks... and each of you have a card for either account... just in case an ATM is finicky for some reason about a card from bank A, you try the card from bank B.

Incidentally, talk to your banker about this X-digit thing. These travel boards hve Aussies discussing their trips all the time, and nobody ever said anything about needing a 6-digit card "back home" before. ???

I'd assume St Cirq knows what's what -- but while PINs did need to be 4 digits in the past, I was under the impression that for the last 3 or 4 years, that was no longer an issue.

In my travel classes I still advise about 4-digit PINs - but I haven't actually heard about anyone having a problem w/ 5 or 6 # PINs in quite a while.

Any European posters know for sure?

I've had credit and debit card accounts in Australia for more than twenty years and have always had a 4 digit PIN, which works perfectly anywhere in Europe. I didn't know that 6 digit PINs even existed!

When we open new accounts we are automatically given 4 digit PIN numbers but with our Bank (Commonwealth) you can opt to choose your own which we since have on one card and have had for many years and worked fine in NZ. Our local Bank branch also told us we would be better off having 6 digit PINs for overseas travel,so now I'm confused. I can opt to change my PIN at any time via Internet.

No StCirq, you do NOT need a 4 digit PIN.
Swiss banks issue their cards with a 6 digit PIN. Italian ones prefer 5 digits. German and French banks issue 4 digits for their cards. Either cards work perfectly well in any other European country without changing PINs or any other thing. I would assume that whatever works for 6 dgit Swiss PIN will be valid for an Autralian PIN.

> I can opt to change my PIN at any time via Internet.

Your bank tells you about longer PIN as safety measure (correct) and then makes it possible to change your PIN via INTERNET???
You can as well have your PIN broadcast at the next radio station.

Thanks for the advice altamiro, I mean that I can advise that I wish to change it via the Internet, not the actual PIN!!

Hi Marie

I have Commonwealth Bank accounts with a 4 digit pin number. They are Cirrus/Maestro coded. I have used them in Europe and Thailand without problems. I pick ATMs that display the Cirrus/ Maestro symbols. Notify your bank prior to departure that you will be using your cards overseas. There was a thread in this forum about problems with pins staring with a "0". Just do a search of this forum.

Our bank cards PIN starts with a 0 and we nevr had any problem using them in Europe.

altamiro: thanks for clearing that up. I thought that was the case - it is like other issues where the situation changes but the conventional wisdom doesn't catch up.

It is true that several years ago PINs starting w/ 0 and/or more than 4 digits would not work in most European cash points. Apparently no longer the case . . . . .

I also have a bankcard with a pin that starts with 0 and have never had a problem.

Thanks everyone, the only other query I had was as some people have commented on here, that European ATMs only let you withdraw money form your checking account or is that just a US thing. worldinabag do you know how Australian cards work??

In Europe each bank account has it's own card so there is no need for the ATM to give you a choice of account.

In the US it is common to have multiple accounts linked to one card; so when you put it in the ATM it gives a choice of checking (current) or savings accounts for example.

As we don't do this in Europe the machines don't let you choose the account and just default to the primary account for the card (which 99.9% of the time is the checking.)

I'm pretty sure Australia doesn't do the multiple account thing but if you do be aware that you can only use the primary account.

As a matter of fact Australia does do the multiple account thing too , we are not so far behind!!! thats why I asked as I have my savings account and cheque account and another savings account all linked. Our machines ask whether to choose which account when withdrawing. Now I'm not sure what a European machine will draw from?

Ask your bank what the primary account is.

Trouble is one is a primary savings account and the other is a primary cheque account, maybe I will unlink the other accounts to make it clearer.