roterbaron

My American bank - AmSouth - is so ignorant that they are unable to tell me what charges I will incur when I use their ATM card in Germany. Has anyone here had any experience with using an ATM card from an American bank in Germany?

TuckH

My bank - Chase - charges $3 per withdrawal regardless of the amount.

suze

If your bank cannot answer that question... well that is truly amazing! It doesn't have anything to do with Germany specifically, but whatever their international usage fee is.

For my account at Bank of America it is $2 internation transaction fee / per use. Doesn't matter where once it's outside the US and I have never gotten an additional charge from the machine/bank where I am using it.

Nutella

Like Suze, I've never been charged from the bank whose machine I'm using in Europe, although I have always heard rumours that such charges exist. Roterbaron, from experience with questioning my bank, your bank probably just means that they aren't responsible if this occurs and can't peg down the possible charges. However, if they can't tell you what THEY charge, ask to speak to their supervisor or someone who can!

dga

Union Bank of California charges $3.50 for each international ATM cash withdrawal.

roterbaron

For suze:

You mean to tell me that you never had to pay a fee for a "currency exchange" (or conversion) fee for your withdrawels? AmSouth will charge me $1.50 per transaction but what about the CIRRUS, PULSE or STAR? Do they not profit from the transaction?

suze

Nope, I have not, unless it was very well hidden in the rate of exchange. I do find/use a machine that matches one of the logos on the back of my card (i.e. Cirrus or Plus).

Jennie

roterbaron:

It truly does depend on the bank. I have talked to my bank and they have told me there will not be any charges on THEIR end for ATM use in Europe. Unless the owner of the ATM on the European side charges (which, to the best of my knowledge, most do not), I will not be charged a fee to withdraw money from my account.

However, your bank MAY be different. And whether the person you spoke to knows it or not, they WILL have a policy . . . yes, even small banks in small areas. I bank at a local bank here in Oklahoma and they have a policy.

Call back and ask to speak to a supervisor in the ATM department!

Have a great trip,
Jennie

StCirq

I have never paid a fee of any kind - on either end - to use my ATM debit card in any country in Europe. It's only when I use the card here in the USA that I pay a fee, if I'm not withdrawing from a branch of my own bank.

HeatherH

At least your bank will tell you if the card can be used overseas! I talked to the supervisor of my bank (American State Bank), and she couldn't even tell me if the card would work or not. All she would say is "I've never had anyone complain about it not working." When I asked if anyone had ever said it DID work, she couldn't answer. So have any of you ever used an American State Bank ATM card overseas? It does have the cirrus logo, so I am assuming it will work (but I'm going to be in deep ?*# if it doesn't!)

TuckH

To add to my earlier reply and for what it's worth here, my bank statement reads "Int'l CIRRUS ATM Fee...$3.00".

Marilyn

I have the exact same experience as StCirq. US banks seem to find it necessary to issue a disclaimer along the lines of "We don't charge you, but the foreign bank may." But I have been told more than once that it is actually illegal for the foreign bank to charge in these circumstances. I know it seems weird, but there was a thread a while back on this subject and that seems to be correct.

roterbaron, believe me, SOMEONE at your bank does know the answer to this question, or can find it out. You may have to keep working your way up the chain of command to find out.

ira

Hi roterbaron,

When you got your ATM card it came with a brochure that described all of the charges, including fees for using ATMs not owned by the bank.

If you are like the rest of us, you no longer have it, but **the bank does**.

The fee seems to be about $1.00.
See http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idy...st/000957.html

swalter518

Is this a banking question or a travel question Roterbaron? Just kidding. Although my bank claims there is a $3 charge, it's never been applied on my statements.

Intrepid

Did someone above actually ask if banks are making any money on ATM uses????? Uh, if they weren't they wouldn't let us have them!

Debbie

My bank told me they didn't charge special for outside the US.

That was only partially true. There wasn't a "europe" charge, but instead, an "OUT OF NETWORK" charge of around 3.50 ( mine is a Pulse card) I still got hit, but not for the reason I thought.

Good thing to know , though. Because a lot of ATMs even in the US. (Like the ones in Casinos etc) So I now look a lot closer at the ATM's to verify the network.

Lil

I have two seperate accounts at two different banks. The first, USAA, will reimburse any fees (up to $2.50 per transaction/10 transaction per month limit) you are charged for using another banks ATM. Also, there is not an additional fee tacked on for currency exchange/conversation.

On my other bank, a local one, they charge up the wazoo anytime you do not use their ATM's. I only use this one to make purchases with. Since these purchases are recorded as as a credit card charge, I actually get a refund for using it.

If you cannot get a response from your local office, e-mail there home office. Their website address is: http://www.amsouth.com/

Christina

Frankly, I'd be concerned about a bank that couldn't answer such a question. Most likely, it is the same fee that you'd be charged for using it at another bank's ATM in the US, though. My bank charges $2.

I also think they say that thing about European banks may charge you just as a disclaimer. If you use one of those private-brand ATMs in Europe, you may be charged, of course, just like in the US (the ones not affiliated with a bank).

NorthSideSue

My CitiBank card does not seem to charge for my using my debit card out of the country. There is no charge listed, and the rate I have gotten ( in Ireland, Germany, Japan, Cayman Islands, Scotland, Taiwan) does not seem to hide an exchange rate. Maybe I'm dense.

jody

My Bank of America does not charge any transaction fee...but I have 2 checking accounts, a savings account, a mortgage and a line of credit..It all depends on what your status as a customer is. I'd really be concerned if someone I talked to could not answer my question and I would insist on speaking to someone who could!