France bank question
 

Hi all - After reading many threads about euros, exchange rates, fees etc, it looks like taking out money while in France would be the best option for us. So my question is, are there BNP Paribas banks everywhere in France? We're with BofA, and it's sounding like taking out money at one of their ATM's is the best way for us to go....but we'll be in places like Marseille, Cassis, Beaune, Gigondas, Colmar....just wanted to be sure they're very common and relatively easy to find?

Our other two payment options would be AMEX and our BofA Visa Checkcard. Does anyone know off-hand which is better? (I need to call my bank, but am at work and trying to do research covertly, haha, so just thought I'd ask). :)

http://tinyurl.com/eotgu
write the name of the town in Ville and then "recherchez" you will even see their opening times.
Don't worry there are LOTS of BNP in France (one of them in Dijon is quite big since they own the ground floor of the building where I have my apartment rental)$-)

Thank you!! I appreciate that. :)

Just in case anyone else reads this and finds it useful, here are some details I was just told... And of course this pertains to my accounts and yours may be different, but maybe this will be of use...

BofA: To use your Visa Checkcard as a credit card they charge a transaction fee of 3% of the amount, plus a $5.00 fee. (also, FYI, to w/draw from a non-partner ATM, they charge 1% of the transaction amount plus $5)

AmEx: They charge a transaction fee of 2%.

Cocofromdijon - pretty much all those banks have ATM's outside right? Just in case we get to one when it's closed?

You can use a debit card at any ATM in France.

After almost losing my card in an Italian ATM machine, I have the following rules: (1) try to use only ATM's attached to a real bank, not just a window. Sometimes this is not possible (e.g., at La Poste) and (2) try to use the ATM only when the bank is actually open (i.e., not on weekends, after hours). As said, this is not always possible, but all it takes is one malfunctioning ATM machine to ruin your vacation.

<Cocofromdijon - pretty much all those banks have ATM's outside right? Just in case we get to one when it's closed? >
All the banks I know in Dijon have one :-) but zorrosf's suggestions are good.

Even if the ATM is inside you can usually swipe your card through a reader to let you in to the ATM lobby.

Just in Beaune and there was a BNP atm there. We have managed to find one on every trip to France as we also have BofA.

It's a lot easier if you just get a better card/bank acct. Capital One is the "king" - 0% added to credit card transactions, 0% added to debit card/ATM withdrawals + $1.50 out-of-network fee.

BNP Paribas seems to be everywhere in France, and is certainly well-represented in Paris. As a BofA customer, you should not incur any fees for using their ATM. That said, the "best" credit card these days is Captial One, which does not add the 2-3% transaction fee that most other credit cards commonly add. Just realize that it pays to use one card for ATM transactions and another (Capital One) for credit card purchases. EJ ((#))

It is a good idea to carry an extra ATM linked to a free checking account with backup money for daily expenses. You can never tell when a card will be eaten by the machine. If it happens, this will be the backup that prevents a money-free weekend experience.

I agree with Travelnut. No conversion fees for credit card purchases or ATM withdrawals. I even got $56 back as a hassle-free reward for using my credit card. If you use an ATM machine, you may have to withdraw from "Savings," not "checking."
BootsN

P.S. I do have to pay a $2 ATM withdrawal fee here in the States. That is charged by the bank, not Capital One. I paid no withdrawal fee in France.
Boots N

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate this! We're off on Thursday and now this is one less thing for me to think about. Thank you! :)