ATM's in Europe

nikkig_3

I bank with Royal Bank of Scotland, and wondered if anyone knows which are the best banks to withdraw cash from in France and Greece using the RBS switch/maestro card? so as to pay the least for the interbank transaction.

Dumyat

I've used my halifax switch card abroad in a number of countries...Seem to remember it was a fixed fee of about £1.50 each time.

nikkig_3

I had thought I had been paying that, but on a recent trip to paris my bf used his barclays bank one in the first cashpoint we found and on our return found he had been charged £8 for the privelage! he has now found which banks he can use his for the best rates, but not having much look with the rbs one, the website isn't much help!

Dumyat

oh worth checking up on then...was it maybe like those atm's which charge a premium rate here?

ksrao

I think the best is nationwide visa debit card.You get the real xchange rate and no penalty for withdrawing your own money.

marylee

Barclays Visa card charged a lot. My son paid that much £8 for withdrawing about £150, and he was also charged interest on the amount drawn. It's a pity I did get not him a Nationwide debit card before his travellings. I do not think people realize how much they are charge when withdrawing money from visa card esp barclays. He normally banked with HSBC, it's possible they charge that much and we have not noticed esp charging interest on withdrawal.

jonesMUFCforever

Go to WWW.VISA.COM and on first page there is an ATM locator. You put in the country, town, street address (as far as you can) and it finds ATM's in the locality for you AND the type of cards it takes.
This might help but I cannot advise on which ones are cheapest to use.
Eric

jonesMUFCforever

Just been on the site, ATM locator has moved to bottom of second page - Find a cash machine.
Eric

carl310166

If you use a Barclays debit card in a machine belonging to the "Global Alliance",which is BNP Paribas in France,there is no fee.

I don't think RBoS is part of that group though?

nikkig_3

I do not think rbs is part of any group! will just have to try not to over spend!

markmat

How about opening a Nationwide Flex account for use when you're abroad, see Martin's article here.