Going to Paris 11/6/05. From reading here, I've gathered the easiest/ best way to exchange dollars into Euros is to take money out of my Bank of America account at a BNP Paribas location. I'm taking a shuttle from Air France to Gare Montparnasse. From there I'll need a taxi or the metro. So, I'll need Euros at some point prior to that. Does anyone know if there is a branch of this bank at the airport or at Gare Montparnasse (or close by). Thank you.

There might be, but I don't remember seeing one. I think Gare Montparnasse would be a better bet, at least I don't think BNP is the ATM where I usually arrive at CDG. There are definitely ATMs at both, and it is easy to get money at any ATM, it doesn't have to be BNP.

If you can't find one immediately, I imagine your ATM fee is only a couple dollars, isn't it? That's not going to bankrupt you.

Rachpilaw, I look for BNP Paribas ATMs when I'm in France as I can withdraw funds from my bank in Canada without paying the $5 foreign ATM fee. You'll quickly learn to spot the green flying birds, or whatever they are on the logo.

I don't recollect ever seeing one at CDG airport, but I wasn't looking. There will certainly be a branch at or near Gare Montparnasse. You might try playing with this site: http://www.bnpparibas.com Choose France as the country and click on "Les agences en France" (top left quandrant of the screen). That will take you to a search feature. Try Paris and Gare de Montparnasse. Unfortunately, my browser packs it in at that point, so I can't be sure what it reveals. Your results may vary!

Anselm

Hmmm ... that should be "quadrant" ... I have too many fingers.

Anselm

I used BNP just two weeks ago while in Paris for withdrawls from my BA checking account. There are many BNP branches in Paris as it is a very large bank. As stated look for the green signs with the flying birds or whatever they are.

BNP has an arrangement with Bank of America whereby, if you use BNP to withdraw from your ATM, you are not charged a fee. Bank of America has a similar agreement with Barclays in Britain. Go here to find the nearest branch. You will need to know your arrondisement. Sorry, it's all in french.
https://www.secure.bnpparibas.net/ba...20030120143004 If the Gare Montparnasse is in the 15th arrondisement (I believe it is), then plug in this web address:https://www.secure.bnpparibas.net/ba...mp;ville=75015 and it will give you the nearest locations (lots).

The Montparnasse metro station rivals Chatelet for its potential walking distance. If you decide to take the metro, it might be better to take the RER to Denfert-Rochereau and then the metro, at which point you can pay for your ticket with a credit card and look for a BNP near your hotel.

These posts confirm, once again, that you on the Fodor's forum know everything! I called dear old B of A before we left for Paris and asked what banks would charge us the smallest fees for ATM use. Maybe I should have asked for "no fee"--that never occurred to me. I was told to "just look for the logos on the back of the B of A ATM card". We saw the BNP Paribas banks all around us but we thought that with the more local name it would charge a high fee. We paid $5.00 for each transaction! Another reason why I love Bank of America so much!

Hi:

I use ScotiaBank here in Canada so for the same reason as you, I targeted BNP Paribas locations when I was in Paris, they appeared to be the most predominate bank around. From my 'quicken' records it looks like I had 5 withdrawls over the 8 days we were in Paris & I think they were all from different branches all over the city. We arived on a Saturday & the first BNP Paribas branch we went to had the ATM inside with a locked door, but that was the only one all the rest we used were ootside the branch.

BTW: in addition to ATMs for cash, there are a number of Kiosks to buy items such as train tickets with a credit card, but ours did not work (we had to go to a staffed lineup), and from other Fodor's postings it appears the European credit cards have an extra security chip that North American cards lack.

Hope this helps.

Z