I just checked with my bank (I have a Visa Check Card) and was told that when I go to withdraw money from an ATM machine in Italy, it only withdraws from the checking account and that I don't have a choice to have the money withdrawn from my savings account. "That's just how ATM machines are in Italy."

Can anyone who's used their ATM card in Italy confirm that this statement is true. If so, it looks like I'll need to be transferring my money to my checking account!
Thanks!

It's true for any country I've been in thus far... so go ahead, transfer...

Yes, I believe it's true in all European countries. How refreshing that your bank knew that!

I didn't think the country you were in mattered, but rather how your account/card is set up with your bank.

Mine only allows for checking withdrawal, so I have to transfer.

"How refreshing that your bank knew that!" How true!! There have been more than one horror story posted about the bank saying "sure, you can access your savings acct" and then have the traveler find out the hard way.

Nope, I can access 2 checking and 1 savings at home, but only the primary checking at a European ATM...

Yes--main checking account only. Thankfully, I can transfer funds between accounts online, so if I find I didn't transfer enough before leaving, I just go to an internet cafe and transfer some more over. Ain't technology grand?

It's a good thing, really. If your ATM card gets stolen in Europe, your savings account will be safe.

My US bank has my accounts set up so that if my checking account should run out of funds, my debit card automatically reroutes to my savings account. Since I've never been in a situation where funds in the checking account rana out, I can't honestly say whether this works or not, but it does lead me to believe that your bank might be able to tie your debit card to your savings account, if that's what you want.

Thanks to you all for your wonderful input. Guess my bank does know what it's talking about! Time to transfer funds......
rjs

Hi rjs, it is true in Italy. You can only access your checking account at the Italian ATM's. And you must have only a 4 diget pin, numbers, because I have personally never seen letters on the ATM's

St.Cirq, good info about USBank, thank you. I have been meaning to open up an account with them..so am interested in your comment.

LoveItaly: I hope I didn't mislead you. The name of my bank isn't US Bank; rather what I meant was my bank here in the USA.

StCirq, OH! LOL! I got real excited there for a moment. Oh well, I will still talk to the US Bank. But thanks for clarifying. Take good care.