Getting Money from ATMs in Greece?

[xmelissaa]

I have a friend who just came back from Greece and she told me she had issues using the ATM machines.

I have never had a problem, but I am curious as to what is going on.

Does anyone know why her ATM card, which works int he US, might not have worked in Greece? It is making me wonder if I need to also do something with my bank before I go to Greece again.

She said the machine kept giving her an error that said it wouldn't work because the card wasn't hooked up to a savings account?

 

[k_tsoukalas]

That’s definitely frustrating for your friend, but it’s a great question to ask before you travel! Greek ATMs usually work fine with international cards, but there can be hiccups depending on the bank and card settings. If her card was linked only to a checking account, and the ATM was looking for a savings account (which can happen with certain European systems), that might explain the issue. Some machines default to “savings” and if there's no linked savings account, it throws an error.

Also, some U.S. banks automatically block international withdrawals for fraud protection unless you set a travel notice. It’s always a good idea to notify your bank before traveling and confirm your card works internationally. Bringing a backup card or a credit card with no foreign transaction fees is also smart. I've had issues too.