Can anyone tell me the names of the most common Card Companies (STAR, NYCE, PLUS, CIRRUS) displayed on ATM's in both the Republic of Ireland AND North Ireland?

My research reveals the best rates on $ exchange can be got through Debit Card use at ATM's.

My bank doesn't charge a fee if I use their card at a foreign ATM. Bank of Ireland told me they don't charge either.

Can anyone help me figure out which Debit card to take to Ireland?

A true debit card should have the visa logo on it. If there is no visa logo, then it sounds like you are talking about an ATM card, which is not exactly the same as a debit card. If your ATM card has no visa logo, then call your bank and ask for a visa debit card. I think most all banks offer those in today's world.

That is probably true about debit cards being Visa (I guess all debit cards are Visa, aren't they? I've never seen a Mastercard one), but I think that isn't important to saoi (who may be using the word debit card loosely, and really means a debit or ATM card in an ATM machine). Star and Cirrus are common (I don't know about Irish differences), but my ATM card (which is NOT a debit card) has several different networks on the back, not just one. Doesn't your card work in most of those you name? Do you have a whole bunk of different bank accounts that you have a lot of different debit cards? If so, I'd take two of them that were slightly different to cover all bases. You never know when one may not work, become demagnetized, etc.

Hi sa,

>My research reveals the best rates on $ exchange can be got through Debit Card use at ATM's.<

You are correct.

You can use either a Debit/ATM card, which can also be used like a charge card, or you can use a ATM only card.

Plus and Cirrus are very common.

Saoi: I don't know if this is the answer to your question, but many of us use a) our credit cards whenever possible at sales sites such as restaurants, shops etc (making sure they do NOT charge us in local currency!) and b) use our bank ATM cards at ATMs for cash.

You should know that there's a bunch of us who use specific Cirrus/Plus ATM cards WITHOUT the Visa logo. I used it all through Republic of Ireland with no problem.

Here's the history. There was a thread on here eons ago that talked about the danger of having an ATM/Visa or ATM/Mastercard. A bunch of us switched. One person (was it Patrick--forgive me for not searching!) had a bad experience after the switch, but I can report that we have had good success with the ATM-only over the past four years.

The hardest part was getting our banks to issue one without the VISA logo. Took quite a few calls, but we were successful.

Thanks, Christina, Ira, PM! However, Amelia is right...I have a Bank ATM card with no VISA or MC logo on it. That card, which does display the "PLUS" and "MAC" logos on the back, has no fee for ATM use anywhere, according to my bank.

I recently got another Debit Card (says "Debit" on front) with a VISA logo. That bank charges $5. per ATM transaction out of the US.

They are both attached to Checking accounts, so my fees should be minimal. I have travelled exclusively with Travelers Cheques in the past....am "graduating" to ATM use this time.

Wish me luck?

saoi (Irish for "wise person&quot.

I know most display the cirrus network on the machines and I can use my Irish Cards in the U.S. when I visit.

Congratulations on your graduation to ATM cards!! WOOHOO, another convert from Traveler's Checks.

Even better is to get an ATM card like mine -- not only does my bank not charge me for ATM fees from any bank, it will credit me for any ATM fees charged by any other bank -- I just have to send them my ATM receipts.

Oops, forgot to name the bank! Compass bank

http://www.compassweb.com/index.html