ATM's

Thanks Tessan for verifying the Commerce Bank.

Because I had ATM issues last time, and worse ones in Amsterdam at Xmas, I took out a decent sum and parked it @ Commerce. Which is right down the street from me.

The real test will be in Frankfurt and Amsterdam next month. But now I know I am good in Buenos Aires.

Best Regards.

Smuler

I ran into a problem this trip in Europe. I use an ATM card linked to a savings account at my regular bank (USAA) but I couldn't use the card in Bosnia, Croatia, or Germany. None of the ATMs gave the option of savings vs checking accounts. Never had a problem with it in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, or Argentina. My CapitalOne ATM card worked fine even though it was also linked to a savings account but maybe that's because it's my only CapitalOne account.

I don't like to carry the ATM card for my USAA checking account because it is a debit card as well and debit cards are more vulnerable than plain ATM cards.

Live and learn. I ditched my Citibank account after getting hammered with fees last month in BA.

I've run into similar problems with ATMs not giving the option of withdrawals from checking and savings accounts (I can't remember now which countries) As a result, though, I've taken the precaution of transferring funds from savings to checking before I leave the US. If I don't spend it all, I transfer the balance back (but be sure to keep track of minimum balance requirements - that cost me a bank charge)

I went to Citibank to withdraw some today, and found 2 out of 3 machines were out of cash. It didn't even say "Out of Cash", but instead, "Technical Problems". This was in the middle of the day, on a Wednesday, so a bit surprising.

[QUOTE=Jaimito Cartero]I went to Citibank to withdraw some today, and found 2 out of 3 machines were out of cash. It didn't even say "Out of Cash", but instead, "Technical Problems". This was in the middle of the day, on a Wednesday, so a bit surprising.[/QUOTE]Maybe with everyone finding out they can get more then 300p form the Citibank ATM, they are getting allot more business and running out of cash faster.

I've bumped up against the $AR320 limit this trip. The same USAA (Cirrus) card in the same ATM (Banco Industrial near Las Herras / Puyerredon) gave me $AR1200 in March, but limits me $AR320 now. It's only a minor PITA as my banks (USAA, CapitalOne) don't charge a transaction fee overseas so I just make multiple withdrawals. But it's a major hosing for anyone using a fee per transaction card.

I tried my CapitalOne card (Plus) in Banelco and Link ATMs with the same result. I'll try a Citibank next time I'm near one.

After about a year of having the 320p /$100 USD limitation in place on VISA / LINK transactions, things have changed again - at least for me on this given day:

BANK: Banco Nacion.

CARD: Visa Plus, using a LINK ATM.

DATE: 30 April, 15:09

1st Withdrawal: 340p.

2nd Withdrawal: 380p.

3rd Withdrawal: 520p.

At this point I had reached my $400 USD Daily limit, so could not continue to try higher withdrawal amount. If someone has a VISA ATM card and uses the LINK system, try withdrawing about 1250p to see if we are back to the "old rules". Look forward to your reports.

Ok, I just went and used my Visa at a Link ATM and the transaction limit is now 650. However, after 2 withdrawals of 650 I tried a third one and it said I exceeded my withdrawal limit. For the third transaction I was able to get 300, for a total of 1600.

[QUOTE=Duddehaha]Ok, I just went and used my Visa at a Link ATM and the transaction limit is now 650. However, after 2 withdrawals of 650 I tried a third one and it said I exceeded my withdrawal limit. For the third transaction I was able to get 300, for a total of 1600.[/QUOTE]I pulled 400p out of Rio Santander today. Previously this location had limited me to 300p. I just made the one pull. Maybe some slack has been cut.

Hi there,

Worked for me at the HSBC bank over Maure St. I was able to pull 500 p. Each time.

Here is the link:

[url]http://www.animap.com.ar/default.asp?sec=buscar_direccion_mapa&opcion=%5bACTION%3dOPCION%5d%5bPAIS%3dARGENTINA%5d%5bPROVINCIA%3dCAPITAL%20FEDERAL%5d%5bCIUDAD%3dCAPITAL%20FEDERAL%5d%5bLOCALIDAD%3dCIUDAD%20AUTONOMA%20DE%20BUENOS%20AIRES%5d%5bCALLE1%3dMIGUELETES%5d%5bCALLE2%3dMAURE%5d%5bALTURA%3d%5d%5bPOSX%3d%2d58%2e435192%5d%5bPOSY%3d%2d34%2e565780%5d%5bZOOM%3d3%5d%5bUSUARIO%3d1000%5d%5bUSERIP%3d201%2e250%2e113%2e85%5d%5bLAYERS%3d%5d[/url]

Regards,

I received an email today from the local US Embassy (if you get on their email list, you will get one here and there) They have been investigating (or so they say) the ATM withdrawl issue due to the high number of expat complaints. In one breath they report that they have been unable to determine the cause for the 300p limit. In their next statement they report that VISA and MASTERCARD have recently raised the limit to 600p. Uh, am I missing something or were the culprits just identified?

Sid: what was the exchange rate for this HSBC pull?

[QUOTE=Doggboy]I received an email today from the local US Embassy (if you get on their email list, you will get one here and there) They have been investigating (or so they say) the ATM withdrawl issue due to the high number of expat complaints. In one breath they report that they have been unable to determine the cause for the 300p limit. In their next statement they report that VISA and MASTERCARD have recently raised the limit to 600p. Uh, am I missing something or were the culprits just identified?[/QUOTE]Looks like they raised the limit to 600p from 300p. I am able to pull it at banks where I could only get 300p before.

The lady at HSBC told me a few months ago, it was visa that was limiting the amount I could pull in one shot. I do not think she is right. The reason I don't think she is right, is that at Citibank you can pull more. I was able to pull 1500p, a while back. Citicards are MasterCard, so it should be limited if MasterCard is limiting it. My guess is that it's the people who run the ATM that 95% of the banks use, the one that has the big read BANCO on the screen when you go in. HSBC uses it, so does almost all the banks. Citibank probably uses their own ATM, it looks different, and so they set their own limits. Someone told me he could pull 2000p per transaction from the Citibank ATM. I have not check the Citibank in a while, since I pay no fee per transaction, my bank pays the fee for me, if I keep a high enough balance. I just go to the closes bank, and do more the one transaction.

The people who own that atm system, almost have a monopoly, so they can screw people into doing multiple transactions, and make several times the money they would have made. Even if a few people boycott them, they still make more money on the multiple pulls tourist and other people who doe not know better make. They control 95% of the atm in BA, only Citibank that I know of, does not use them. Anyone know of another bank, that uses a different atm network?

I think Citibank charges a 1% transaction fee.

This quote is from 4-7-08. The exchange rate was better then i was getting, at that time. But if you take 1% off, then i was getting a better rate. Think i was getting 3.145, then with no fees.

[QUOTE=Thomaso276]Went to Citi today on Santa Fe and pulled 1000p as a test for a Smith Barney FMA Mastercard. Lots of options came up on the screen (like 2500 pesos) I got 3.16 rate but will check my account tommorrow to see if they took a fee. They had told me they charge 1% for int'l charges. Alot better than 3% from HSBC.

The 3% is such a rip because it is HSBC account and local branch (sort of with Arg banking BS) and because they sell themselves as an international bank!

Think about it; at 3000 dollars monthly 3% will cost you over 1000 bucks a year. As it is, if I change my personal financial system it still cost me 360 bucks a year.[/QUOTE]

I have a non-Visa / MC ATM card (no one takes their 1 percent) and have had no issues with limits up toi 600 pesos. Haven't tried higher amounts.

The only problem was finding a machine that accepted it. The banks on Florida - I tried a couple including Citi - would not take it. But I had no problem with Citi on Callao / Alvear and another Banelco ATM a little up Callao toward Quintana.

For those who don't know - I use a Capital 1 Visa, and Capital 1 Savings account ATM card, when traveling. They are the best values out there.