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Will my bankcard(Irish) work anywhere in the EU during my travels?

  • 21-06-2012 2:51pm
    #1
    PaurGasm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 197 ✭✭


    I am going interrailling this summer and I am wondering if my bankcard will work at ATMs in the EU as I do not want to carry cash around!!

    Thanks in Advance


Comments

  • #2
    spurious
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,316 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    If it has a Cirrus or PLUS logo on the back, then yes it will, but double check with your own bank. Check do they charge for withdrawals too.

    Here are a couple of handy sites for finding ATMs:
    http://visa.via.infonow.net/locator/global/jsp/SearchPage.jsp
    http://www.mastercard.us/cardholder-services/atm-locator.html


  • #3
    PrzemoF
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,931 ✭✭✭PrzemoF


    I tried to get cash from an ATM in Poznan - failed badly (a weird message, bank staff couldn't help). Went to a next one - worked fine. I had similiar problems in France when I tried to pay in a supermarket. Having some cash in your pocket is not a bad idea...


  • #4
    P. Breathnach
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,089 ✭✭✭✭P. Breathnach


    Not only should you check your card for Cirrus, Maestro, or other logos; you should also check ATMs for matching logos.

    It is often difficult to use banker's card in retail outlets.


  • #5
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,626 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    Most Irish bank ATM cards have a Cirrus logo on the back, when you're abroad just look for the Cirrus logo on the ATM and if you see it, you should be ok.

    The above poster in Poland could have been trying some local credit union or building society ATM in which case it wouldn't be a major shock to find that it does not give cash to tourists.


  • #6
    ardmacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


    The card will work in every country, but probably not in every ATM.
    Keep a bit of cash in the moneybelt in case it doesn't work or you lose it. There are no charges in the Eurozone, but if outside the eurozone the minimum charge will allow taking out €150 or so, so don't be taking out dribs and drabs.


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  • #7
    schemingbohemia
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,606 ✭✭✭schemingbohemia


    PrzemoF wrote: »
    I tried to get cash from an ATM in Poznan - failed badly (a weird message, bank staff couldn't help). Went to a next one - worked fine. I had similiar problems in France when I tried to pay in a supermarket. Having some cash in your pocket is not a bad idea...

    Your "laser" card won't work as a debit card abroad (generally speaking) it will only work in ATMs.


  • #8
    naughtysmurf
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,294 ✭✭✭naughtysmurf


    If it's a Irish bank issued Visa debit card, it will or should work at atm's with the visa logo displayed


  • #9
    Procrastastudy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭Procrastastudy


    For reasons best know to the UK and Ireland we went off on our merry way with Switch and Laser when the rest of Europe was using Maestro - most laser cards are now maestro too. AIB Certianly is. If yours if it's just like being at home. A proper Visa card (NOT visa debit or electron) is worth having for booking things if you havve one.


  • #10
    niamhzie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 106 ✭✭niamhzie


    Yep it should work, but as already said, watch out for any sneaky charges outside of the Eurozone, but still in the EU- Poland was mentioned before, as is Sweden etc...
    And slightly related: is it also a Debit or a Credit card? In some countries, Germany incl., Credit/Debit Chip-and-Pin type payments aren't always accepted. You could be stuck in places like supermarkets where the only card they accept is the local "EC", so do have a bit of cash for emergencies too!


  • #11
    Dublin Spotter
    Closed Accounts Posts: 89 ✭✭Dublin Spotter


    I am going interrailling this summer and I am wondering if my bankcard will work at ATMs in the EU as I do not want to carry cash around!!

    Doing the exact same thing in July.


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  • #12
    finality
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,763 ✭✭✭finality


    GCDLawstudent wrote: »
    For reasons best know to the UK and Ireland we went off on our merry way with Switch and Laser when the rest of Europe was using Maestro - most laser cards are now maestro too. AIB Certianly is. If yours if it's just like being at home. A proper Visa card (NOT visa debit or electron) is worth having for booking things if you havve one.

    Why not visa debit? I've used it for booking hotels etc and for buying things online with no problems. It has worked wherever the visa logo is displayed.


  • #13
    Procrastastudy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,224 ✭✭✭Procrastastudy


    There are a fair few places, Online hotels in France particularly, that don't take Visa debit. Electron tends to be accepted in even fewer places although it is better now than it used to be.

    The second reason is a full credit card gives you much more protection than a debit card.

    Lastly as Maestro is essentially Mastercard in debit form its worth take a Visa card as your credit card to cover all eventualities.


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