Originally, it was conventional wisdom that only 4 digit PIN'sworked in Europea ATM's. As the years went by and international use of ATM's proliferated, that seems to have gone by the waysie and for the most part, today, European ATM's do take 6 digit PIN's. I have not read anybody in recent times claiming they could not access the ATM' because they had 6 digit PIN's. Therefore, it should not be a problem but to be on the safe side, if I could, I would try to get a 4 digit PIN.

On 2 othr erroneous pieces of information posted on this thread, Cirrus and Plus rules do not allow ATM's to impose the dreaded ATM surcharge on you if you have the audaicty to use an ATM of a bank not yours. Thus, if you have a Citibank account in the US and are using Barclay's Bank in Great Britain to make an ATM or debit card withdrawal, you pay whatever your bank wants to rip you off with (it should be free but that's another story)...

Secondly for a person to state that federal credit union as a class cannot be used at ATM's outside the US is absurd. If the Credit Union is a member of either Cirrus or Plus, then their cards should work unless the credit union itself chooses not to allow international transactions. Now some credit unions may only be members of regional network such as STAR or NYCE; networks not a part of the interational shared teller networks. In that case, the cards from those credit unions would not work.

The above information, unlike some of the information posted by know nothngs, is 100% correct

My credit union is Tower Federal Credit Union, which also serves primarily military. They also have some branches on bases overseas. Lovejoy, it's cool that your works at off-base ATM's (makes traveling that much easier!), but mine never has the whole time I've been overseas. Works fine on base, but not off, for me, anyway.

xyz123, I believe that it is possible, if you try hard enough, for you to get your point across without being so derogatory to other posters. For example, Lovejoy's posting corrects my information, but isn't negative or rude.

I think we're all just trying to post helpful info. If something is incorrect, as mine seems to be, then it's cool to post corrections, but it's NOT cool to put down other posters.

Sandi, I hope at least some of the info posted in this thread might be of use to you. Have a great trip to Italy.

You put wrong information on the board, information that could have been costly to somebody reading it. What do you expect anybody who knows the correct information to say. Anybody who says fcu' cannot be used in Europe to access their account, in this instance, simply does not know what they are talking about. If you had not told people not to use FCU cards but simply said your FCU card did not work then you would hve been giving valid information. Your information was wrong and posters must be very careful not to give information when they don't know what they are talking about; something I would never do. You can be most sure that any information I give on this board will always be guaranteed to be 100% correct.

The last couple of posts have me concerned now. My only bank is a credit union. The ATM card is a check card with a Visa logo - and a 4 # PIN.

I realize that BrimhamRocks has had problems but I could not tell from the posts of Xyz123 that they have had actual sucess using such a card.

I am going to Dublin, France, and London in 2 weeks and would appreciate any insights about use of credit union cards. Thanks!

If your card has a visa logo on the back,as it should, you shoud be okay. In addition your card probaly has a cirrus or a plus logo on the back which would mean you're doubly okay.

This information is 100% correct unlike the information that unknowns sometimes post. Any information posted by me is always correct.

" Any information posted by me is always correct."
Said the "fuhrer" to his minions

coldwar 27, my checking account is at a credit union, also. I was in London and Amsterdam recently and used the credit union ATM card (with a 4-digit PIN)in both cities. Had no problems at all; just looked for ATMs that are part of the Cirrus or Star system. They are all over the place.
Please do yourself a huge favor and call your own credit union (or go to their Web site) and find out whether they allow you to withdraw money worldwide. If so, ask how much money per day you can withdraw (my limit is $600) and whether there is a transaction fee (luckily, my CU doesn't charge anything). You really need to know the facts NOW, before you leave home.

It is certainly not as serious as that...there is not the slightest analogy there. This is a bulletin board where people give other people advise, nothing more nothing less. People have the right to know and feel the people giving the advise know what they are talking about and when I see things that are wrong when I am sure I will let you know. And there is nothing the slightest bit wrong with that.

Information that I put on this message board is 100% correct.

Oops oops oops...the word is advice not advise. Sorry

Informatio given out by me (spelling o a word is not information) is only given out by me if it is 100% correct.

Thank you. I will double check with my credit union.