ATMs that charge (abroad with a Starling card)

boomboomboom

Is there any way to know (in person and in advance) whether an area has ATMs that don’t charge for withdrawals when abroad?

I am going to Spain (Menorca) and Martin Lewis says the best rates are with cards so I am thinking of not taking any/much cash.

I know Starling do not charge, but they say take care if the ATM itself charges.

thanks

bagand96

Most ATMs will tell you during the transaction before you commit to withdraw.

Generally in Spain most now do charge now unfornately. In the Balearics earlier this year I found Banca March didn't charge at any of theirs and handily there were plenty of them around.

Always remember to choose to be charged in Euros and not accept their offer to convert to GBP. 

boomboomboom

bagand96 said:

Most ATMs will tell you during the transaction before you commit to withdraw.

Generally in Spain most now do charge now unfornately. In the Balearics earlier this year I found Banca March didn't charge at any of theirs and handily there were plenty of them around.

Always remember to choose to be charged in Euros and not accept their offer to convert to GBP. 

Thank you @bagand96 I am nervous of suddenly finding the only ATM near us do charge. I’ll try and do some Google street view exploring, if I find a Banca March as a good start, cheers

TadleyBaggie

I was in Lanzarote in May, used a Banca March for cash and wasn't charged a fee.

double_dutchy

Try looking here:

ATM withdrawal in Spain without fees (triptipedia.com)

Definitely avoid "Euronet" ATMs which seem to be very prevalent in tourist areas, airports etc.

eDicky

You'll probably find that you can pay for most things using your Starling card (always in euros if/when the payment terminal offers the choice) so there won't be much need for cash. It's a fixed fee of a few euros that ATMs charge, not a percentage, so avoid frequent withdrawals.

If you happen to be departing from Stansted, Gatwick or Southend airport, which have Moneycorp multi-currency ATMs, they can be used to withdraw euros without a fee and at the MasterCard rate with your Starling card. (At least this used to be the case, I haven't checked in the last three years or so.) After inserting your card and selecting what you wish to withdraw, the ATM offers a rate and gives a choice of proceeding with 'Conversion' or 'Without Conversion'. Make sure you select 'Without Conversion'', effectively declining the dreadful rate offered and allowing your card to make the conversion. This only works with credit card and a few debit cards such as Starling Bank, and not with any ATMs other than Moneycorp.

Doshwaster

TadleyBaggie said:

I was in Lanzarote in May, used a Banca March for cash and wasn't charged a fee.

Same in Tenerife. Banca March are the only ones I found which are free. Santander was something like €6 so I declined their offer.

https://www.bancamarch.es/en/branches-and-atms/

NoodleDoodleMan

I believe Banca March ATMs are still fee free, but can't be 100%.

The absolutely best deal for Spain and the Canaries is a Santander UK Everyday Current Account - use the debit card at Santander branded ATMs and there are no fees.

It is "user friendly" - no minimum monthly deposit required, or Direct Debits.

https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/everyday-current-account

Search engines are good for locating Santander branches and/or ATMs in resorts.

The Santander online banking has a facility for letting the bank know which dates you will be using the card abroad - the app will advise what is being debited in GBP quickly after the ATM transaction is actioned.

NoodleDoodleMan

I've just noticed that there is a £160 switch offer on the above Santander current account - a nice little earner debit card if you are also a regular holidaymaker in Spain and/or the Canaries.

Doshwaster

NoodleDoodleMan said:

I believe Banca March ATMs are still fee free, but can't be 100%.

I can 100% confirm that Starling + Banca March is fee free.

NoodleDoodleMan

Thanks for confimation.

Might not be so many branches/ATMs in Menorca though ?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?sxsrf=ALiCzsbDHp0V98kS3tgXw17eRi_LdmAJNA:1660726331947&q=BANCA+MARCH+atms+IN+MENORCA&spell=1&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjHsdHYv835AhWUmFwKHVlPCSgQBSgAegQIARA7&biw=1408&bih=636&dpr=1.36