nukesafe

I just spent a goodly portion of several days on line and on the telephone with Bank of America trying to find out how I locate the ATMs of their partner banks in France and Italy. Their partner bank in France is BNP Paribas, which they tell me has 3,000 ATMs in France and Deutsches Bank in Italy, which has 1,800 ATMs.

I obviously want the information so I can avoid the stupid $5 charge they make for using your ATM card in Europe at other than their partner banks. The B of A people don't have a clue, not can they direct me to a web link so I can look up the information for myself at either Paribas or Deutsches Bank.

I have tried navigating the European bank's web sites, without success, to find these locations, and I suppose I can just wander the streets looking for friendly ATMs, but it ticks me off that B of A won't give out this info. They have a handy locator for their own ATMs in the States, so you can quickly find the nearest cash point, but not for Europe. Do you suppose they really want my five bucks that badly?

Anyway, please forgive my rant, but I would really appreciate it if any of you helpful Fodorites has any suggestions.

Thanks,

saps

I just returned from Italy and I bank at BofA.

I called the week before to find out their partner banks and I was specific "What banks can I use to avoid the $5 atm fee". They gave me a list of 6 banks...Deutsche Bank was one option.

Luckily a Deutsche Bank was 2 minutes from my hotel so I got cash there 4 times over the span of 7 days.

When I returned I had $20 in ATM fees on my account. I called and was told that only Deutsche Banks with G/L logos waived the fee and that Italy had none. I asked why the previous rep had given me wrong information and the current rep told me that I was given a half truth...I laughed alot and said that was the stupidest thing that I have ever heard. I also demanded my $20 back and she said fine.

I got my $20 back and I hate BofA even more now. I am so close to changing banks!!!

francophile03

Yes. In France the B of A affiliated bank is BNP Paribas and they do have alot of ATM's available sometimes multiple ATM's on one block. I know that when I checked for ATM locations a year ago I found it on the B of A site, but I can't remember where. It should still be available though.

I'm not sure what it is for Italy-would like to know myself.

saps

P.S. The moral of my story is don't trust any information you are given by BofA.

Michel_Paris

I found this...this page gives you the branches. Enter Paris for the "ville" then whatver arrondissement you want, then Rechercher.


https://www.secure.bnpparibas.net/ba...20021219163230

nukesafe

Michel Paris,

Thanks for the link, but I cannot get it to open. It "times out", after I wait a long time. Perhaps it is because it is a "secure" site for the bank. I'll try some alternative ways in.

Anyone know a similar site for Deutsche Bank?

Michel_Paris

Strange.

Try this:

http://www.bnpparibas.com/

then 'particuliers' on the right

then 'nos agences'

and you are there!

JennyP

The Deutsche bank no fee for BOFA only applies to Germany. From what I understand it only applies to the country that the bank "orginates" from. For instance, BNP Paribas originates in Paris so you don't get charged a fee there, same with Deutsche in Germany and Scotia Bank in Canada.

To avoid the fees, try and open a credit union atm. That's what me and the DH do. We travel with a credit union ATM which charges no fees and our BOFA card as back up.

nukesafe

Michel Paris,

Thank you so much! That link, and your instructions, led me to exactly what I wanted. It even allows me to print out a map of locations. We will be staying in the 7th, and I now have one less thing to stress over.

JennyP,

I really didn't want to hear what you told me, i.e., about the $5 fee not being waived in Italy at the Deutsche Bank. At least it clarifies my strategy -- I'll use my B of A card ONLY at Paribas ATMs in France, and and use my other ATM cards, which have no fee, in Italy.

Fodorites have come through again -- and I think we can all agree that Bank of America sucks!

Underhill

Merci, Michel--very useful.

Neopolitan

For several years I have withdrawn money frequently in Italy from Deutsche Bank ATM's with my BofA ATM card and never had a fee for doing so.
This past summer (June and July) that changed and they do indeed now add the fee if the bank is not in its "home" country.

On the other hand, I have a BofA Advantage account and they waive the fee for the first two non-affiliated draws each month. With two of us that means 4 free non-affiliated withdrawals each month, so it hasn't been an issue with us.

Regarding the location of BNP -- where are you staying? I've never bothered looking up the locations as they indeed have always been readily visable throughout France and particularly in Paris. Where specifically are you staying? If nothing else, I imagine one or more of us here can tell you locations near to where you'll be.

nukesafe

Yes, Underhill, very useful. I followed the site a bit further and found a bank within two blocks of the Rue de las Cases apartment at which we are staying.

Somehow, socking it to B of A gives me such a warm feeling.

nukesafe

Neopolitan,

Thanks for the offer but, as I told Underhill, I have now found a wall out of which I can get money without paying Bank of America their pound of flesh.

suze

Thank you for one more reason to change by bank. I've been on the edge with BoA for quite awhile now (over excessive charges but worst of all that no one when you call customer service can actually explain what happened!).

RobertaL

I just returned yesterday from Paris. Although I notified Bank of America well in advance (and several times) about using my ATM debit card in France, I was only able to withdraw euros the first day. Bank of America put a block on my card and I had to telephone them from Paris to get it removed. I used BNP ATMs (just like Bank of America told me). They were even wrong about the amount I could withdraw overseas. Commerce Bank is so much better (my friends used theirs without any problems).

Judyrem

We were in Avignon and we needed cash. We have BOA and knew about BNP links. We went to one and their system was down, so my very frugal husband and I walked about a half mile each way to avoid paying the fee. It was just principle of the thing, he said. ;-) What a guy...sigh.

RobertaL

By the way, if you have any problems with your Bank of America debit card overseas, go to a pay phone (no money/phone card required) and dial 0800 990011, then 18004321000. Prior to my trip, B of A said I should take this number "just in case". It came in handy when I encountered my ATM problems.

francophile03

As to the Deutsche Bank affiliation with B of A in Italy, we got charged the $5/transaction fee. The Deutsche Bank ATM was located in Florence on, I believe, the Via de Calzaiouli, and so it was very convenient for us.

However, we were mislead in thinking that Deutsche Bank is like the BNP's in France and wouldn't be charging a fee. The B of A rep. today agreed to waive the charges, but she told us that there is no Italian affiliation like BNP in Italy. She says there is a fine print that the B of A ATM reps. need to tell customers about the transaction fee involved if they use Deutsche Bank or whatever other bank. Apparently it seems as though it depends on what rep. you speak to about requesting them to waive the fees as not all want to do so.

daveesl

RobertaL, thank you for that phone information. Hopefully it won't be needed, but that could be very useful.

Dave

Underhill

Just look for the BNP green signs above the ATM machines. I was able to find the various locations on the BNP web site.