Do you need to pre order dollars from the post office?

ncmc

Just a quick question, I am off to the States next week and to avoid the crazy bank charges applied when withdrawing cash from ATM's abroad, I have decided to get an An Post currency card and also a small amount of dollars. Do you need to pre book your dollars or can you just get them at the counter (I would be looking for about $600) also, does it take long to apply for the currency card and when you go online to authorise it, is that instant?

Yggr of Asgard

$ Cash, in my local post office you don't need to pre-order $ notes, but it depends on how big your office is, you might want to give them a ring and check.

$ Card, you get the card on the spot if you have all the paperwork you need (passport or EU ID card and proof of residence via bill etc.). Make sure you ask for the free second card (in case you loose the first one) and make sure that you register online for viewing of your account balance with the first card number.

The card is ready to go from the moment you leave the post office.

Enjoy your stay.

coylemj

Don't fall for the An Post 'no commission' carrot, AIB are currently better than An Post for US Dollars even with commission.

An Post are quoting 1.3005 (sell USD notes) while AIB are quoting 1.3231. Allowing for the 1% commission charge in AIB, $600 will cost you €461.36 in the post office but €458.02 in AIB.

Those rates are as of today (Aug 21st), click below if you're reading this after that date......

http://www.aib.ie/personal/current-accounts/Foreign-Exchange/Foregin-exchange-rates-Sell
http://www.anpost.ie/AnPost/MainContent/Personal+Customers/Money+Matters/Foreign+Exchange/?utm_source=mainbanner&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=ForeignExchange