Don't Be Tricked! 11 Top International ATM Withdrawal MISTAKES 💸 🏧

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Rule number one is to inform your bank before you leave and which countries you will be visiting, as well as taking a picture of your credit card front and back with your cell phone for reference in case your card is eaten by the ATM.

My tip is to have two accounts. I have my regular account, which has most of my money, and I have a "travel" account, which never contains more than a couple hundred dollars. I replenish the travel account as needed, by going online and transferring funds. That way, even if the worst happens and I lose everything from the travel account, I don't lose that much.

we recently purchased tickets for Europe in Sept and I started listening to travel tips on you tube. Your videos are "spot on", well produced and very informative. Thanks for your hard work putting these videos together and presenting them. I'm certain your advice will save me time, grief and most probably money on my upcoming trip. !

A little something to tack on to online banking. Get the mobile app for your bank. If anything happens like your cards get lost you can lock it right away through the app. Can report it stolen and in some cases mark transactions as fraud. You can even move the balance from your checking account to an account not accessible by debit card :)

#10 just happened to me in Greece !! I had watched this video before traveling but I did not heed the advice as I should have. I used an ATM in Athens with a major bank name but not at the bank . The ATM kept my card and gave me no money . Fortunately for me , it was 11AM on a Friday and I could walk to that bank’s physical location for help. The bank was due to close for the weekend at 2 pm and I was to leave Athens on Sunday . What a mess that could have been as this was just the start of a 2 week trip ! I called my bank which reported that my bank card was fine and should work which it had done before this incident and after . I believe that the ATM machine was faulty . Nora’s tip on this is very important information!

Excellent video, Nora!! I knew them all except the cash advance one since I've luckily never had to do it, but had always thought of it as an emergency backup. Now I know how to do it properly if it comes to that! And with my memory, it's always great to reiterate this stuff in hopes that it sticks. haha 🙂 The only tip I'd add is to keep an eye on your surroundings, even at an inside-the-bank ATM: notice who's watching YOU! In the past few years, youtubers in Mexico have talked about a rash of robberies where someone is casually hanging out yet watches for ATM activity and calls a partner outside, who then follows you looking for the perfect time to mug you. So notice people loitering around with not business in the bank, or hanging around the ATM without using it and, if possible, hop into a taxi or uber the moment you leave the ATM rather than walk away on foot. Honestly, it's something we need to do everywhere! (and thanks for no music on this one, so much easier to pay attention to your amazing info) EDIT: also remembered another one where one person says you've dropped something so you look away from the machine while in the midst of the transaction, while the partner grabs your card or cash and runs. The tip was to always go with a second person who stands next to you and never looks away from the ATM no matter what, or stands next to you facing the other people in line so no one can sneak up on you. Doesn't do much for us solo folks, other than being aware and trusting our spidey senses before using the machine.

Thanks for the tips, Nora! For years, I didn't realize that you could decline the conversion rate. I thought it would just cancel the transaction. But a fellow traveler finally mentioned it to me, and it was definitely an aha moment!

After withdrawing your money, get your card back and THEN ENSURE THAT THE SESSION IS FULLY CLOSED. This is important because sometimes it looks like it has closed, but instead, a few seconds later, it might ask "do you want to make another transaction?" and if you have already walked away, the next guy will say "yes" and proceed to revise your finances for you. I almost missed that recently, as at my home bank atms, withdrawing cash terminates the session engagement, but such is NOT necessarily the case elsewhere. Also, when entering your PIN, cover the whole keypad with your other hand to defeat any. camera positioned to capture your pin.

I have never done a foreign ATM mistake. I’ve always been super careful when I travel. I take cash with me and stick to that, and sometimes pay in stores with credit card. I never had any issues in 40 years. Not even a stolen wallet or purse. I’m super aware.

You are so right. Travelers really need to know this about international ATM's.

All great tips! Thank you so much for how to check for skimmers! I agree totally on using an ATM connected to a bank during office hours. Plus, in South America we found that ATMs did not always have money on the weekends. We also carry two different ATM cards if one doesn’t work. Finally, we always request an odd amount, like $290 instead of $300 so we get some small bills.

Awesome video. Great information provided with clear, upbeat, up to date info and no rambling on and on with side stories. I found it very useful. I ended up watching it three or four times and took notes. It's going to help me in my up coming travels. Thanks for doing the video. I LIKED and SUBSCRIBED.

Great tips! Some I hadn't thought of or run into in my years of travel, so thank you!

Good tips, one more trick is that ATM's are not the only dangerous place for a debit card - o'seas hotel clerks may take your debit card info for their friend in the US who then charges items before you even get home. This is less an issue in USA, where hotels generally want a credit card anyway. CC's can be hacked too, but your recourse is much better for "stolen" credit than debit. In addition, use an ATM that locals seem to be using, in the usual well-lit area, and bank-branded or at a bank, of course. You may also wish to even go into the bank (why Nora says to go during working hours) and ask for help if you are not comfortable, or it eats your plastic, or you finish x-action and no cash emerges, etc. Frankly, most of Nora's ATM advice (including private ATM's at convenience stores) applies to USA too, private ATM's are usually owned by the store or a guy renting it out, not a bank. So, it's a profit center, with appropriate fees 😁

While deployed to a European country. The exchange rate was in my favor. I went into the bank and asked about withdrawal rate at the ATM. Then said $10 a go! I told my fellow coworkers. Some didn’t listen. I did only two large withdrawals. My room mate made 10 total, in fear of getting robbed or picked pocketed. The bank did that for him.

In Japan, foreign credit and debit cards can't be used at bank ATMs. You can however use them at ATMs in the post offices.

Bravissima Nora! Thank you for this super helpful video. Heading to Portugal next week, so this is a great refresher. This is my first lengthy international trip since the pandemic, so I feel like a novice again. Hoping my many years of experience will come back to me. Hoping also to kick my travel back into high gear. Happy Trails!

Thanks Nora, I woke up at 4am this morning wanting to view ATM videos as I am leaving for Portugal in 4 hours. When I turned on YouTube...there YOU were! Thank you so very much for your information I had no clue about skimmers. Your videos are AMAZINGLY helpful. Obrigado e adeus!

Great tips! We also switched to a Charles Schwab checking account. Not only does our bank not charge a foreign withdrawal fee, it also reimburses us monthly for any fees charged by the ATM. An excellent perk for long term travelers! Especially since some ATMs have a low withdrawal limit. I was confused by the whole ATM conversion option until recently. The wording can be really tricky! Thanks for your videos. 🌺✈️ Heidi