ATM's not a 'sure-thing'

ColombianoGringo says on Sep 8, 2007, 13:56:

I will occasionally run into an ATM in Colombia that does not work with my US card. However, I will normally just walk to the next bank and find one that works. I've never been completely out of luck.

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RJQuilla says on Sep 8, 2007, 14:44:

Same here, I had a little trouble in Santa Marta with a hotel ATM but in Barranquilla no problem. Try using the bank ATMs only. The hotel ATM said it was not in my bank network or something like that.

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podborski says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:03:

mastercard is a credit card, credit cards don't work in atm's for some reason. That's my experience and I've read that here on PBH at least a dozen times.

You need to use a debit card.

I've used my debit card hundreds of times in Colombia and argentina, rarely had a problem. But never once have I been able to use my Visa card in an ATM, even though it works in NA.

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pedro says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:12:

Pod, credit cards are fine. I have a Mastercard credit card and no problem.

The thing is, not all banks' ATMs are sets up for international cards. For example, I can never get cash at Banco de Bogota, BBVA or AV Villas.

For some bizarre reason, the main cubicle of ATMs at El Dorado Bogota mostly consists of banks that don't do international cards (at least in my experience).

The exceptions are ATH and Davivienda (although 2 years ago on my very first arrival to Bogota these didn't work either on that particular day).

Across from the main ATMs at Bogota airport, you will find a BanColombia ATM on its own. This is the one that always works for me.

que nota!

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static says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:15:

"mastercard is a credit card,"

That's is not always so.

My only Mastercard is my debit card, now that my bank (Washington Mutual) is in bed with them

It only has the Star symbol on the back. I suspect that I am screwed.

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panthdave says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:22:

Most you will see what networks that ATM works on...Never had a problem with a credit card, debit card, straight ATM Card I guess my time will be coming Never had a problem..Though on my plus ATM Card with no Visa/mastercard logo and only a Plus Logo I need to go to a plus ATM only which is Bancafe,Citibank,Colpitra,Banco Popular or Comeia only and had one problem I forgot back in 06 Ban Colombia hit my card twice for one transaction and refunded my bank at the end of the month but thats it on a Mastercard/Cirrus Bank Card..I use only now a Capital One Savings Plus ATM Card which has been excellent...along with a Capital One Mastercard for POS Transactions in case I have no cash on me...and my automatic bills in the States but not in Medellin..

panthdave Miami

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Mr. Hollywood says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:23:

I have always been told by my US bank that your ATM card must have a 4 digit pin and cannot begin with a zero if it's to work in foreign machines. Perhaps that was part of the problem?

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RUV says on Sep 8, 2007, 15:30:

This is why I take my Paypal ATM card. I put some funds right before I leave. I do not use it unless I have problems with my Bank's ATM card. The last time I had to use it. My bank canceled my ATM card.

The fees from Paypal are allot more, so I try not to use it. Also, it takes around 3-5 days to move funds from my bank to my Paypal account. It will not cost you anything to open an account with Paypal.

Good luck.

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ColombianoGringo says on Sep 9, 2007, 07:28:

I use a Chase MasterCard debit and have used it all over Colombia. The only place I've had to do the ATM shuffle is in Neiva.

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danronian says on Sep 9, 2007, 07:30:

I have no problem getting money with my ATM other than with Ban Cafe (sp) and Banco Popular (sp) machines. Everything else always has worked for me and I have a mastercard ATM from a very small bank.

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ColombianoGringo says on Sep 9, 2007, 07:32:

Now that you mention it, Banco Popular is one of the ones that didn't work for me.

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podborski says on Sep 9, 2007, 07:43:

I continually run into tourists her ein argentina and in colombia that complain they can't get money out of an ATM, and every time it is because their card is a visa or master card.

Why don't you just eliminate that risk and use a debit card?

My VISA card is set up as a debit card in NA, but it does NOT work in either colombia or argentina.

DEBIT cards work.

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ColombianoGringo says on Sep 9, 2007, 07:46:

Now that you mention it, Banco Popular is one of the ones that didn't work for me.

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Lowell says on Sep 9, 2007, 08:49:

Been using my WAMU debit Matercard here for 2 yrs and no problems.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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SamGompers says on Sep 9, 2007, 08:50:

I've never had problems with my debit card. I've had problems elsewhere trying to access cash with a credit card (Brasil, Dominican Republic, Uruguay). Given all the credit card fraud/identity theft these days - - some banks target areas as high crime zones and will not allow cash access via ATM's, even if you let them know in advance where you'll be traveling.

That said - - almost all credit card companies will allow cash advances if you go to a teller window rather than an ATM.

Finally, I've never had problems in Colombia using my MasterCard for cash advances - -either via ATM or teller window. Maybe this is one instance where it pays (so to speak) to use a huge, multinational, rapacious, banking conglomerate like Chase.

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static says on Sep 9, 2007, 08:50:

My fancy-schmancy Washington Mutual Gold Debit card only has the Star symbol on the back. This is the one with the MasterCard logo on the front.

I have a feeling that I am in for a big disappointment.

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Lowell says on Sep 9, 2007, 09:01:

static. that's what i have. looking at it now. only has mastercard logo and STAR logo on back. i did inform the bank that i'm in colombia.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

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coffee beaner says on Sep 9, 2007, 11:00:

static no worries, I have the same WAMU debit card as you and withdraw money in Medellin without a problem in most ATM's. Although now I usually stick to withdrawing from Bancolombia and Servibanca because they are close to where I live. The only bank I can't withdraw with my card is from Conavi.

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Papi de Alejo says on Sep 9, 2007, 11:29:

When I visited Colombia a month ago, I tried to get money at the ATM at El Dorado and was unsuccessful. I just thought that I had not made my transfers and just left it alone. Later I looked up my account online and found that the transfers had been in place; still didn't worry about it. Then I had to pay for my hotel in Rodadero and the ATM that I went to didn't work. Panicking now, my friend told me to just try another bank. We walked a few blocks to another bank; no problem. Now if one ATM doesn't work, I just go to another. No problem

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Man Tequila says on Sep 9, 2007, 12:14:

Pod, I have never been able to get my Canadian Visa to work in Argentina, except for hotel reservations. I have not had problems in Colombia.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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podborski says on Sep 9, 2007, 13:38:

just to confuse things even more, you CAN get a cash advance (a substantial amount too, into the thousands of dollars) on a visa card by talking to the right person inside a bank in Colombia, but you can NOT get a cash advance of any amount on a visa card at any bank in argentina. No idea why not, but I tried and was told it was not allowed.

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El Piloto says on Sep 10, 2007, 10:02:

My ATM card from a U.S. bank is a Visa debit card/check card. On the back it has symbols for Plus, Star and Interlink networks. I have a 4 digit PIN. Even with all that, it took me trying about 4 different ATMs in Oviedo Mall in Medellin before I finally found one where my card would work.

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RJQuilla says on Sep 10, 2007, 10:28:

Speaking of ATM's do the machines at the Bogota airport offer good xchange rates. I will be there next month and need dinero.

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Robert Jorge says on Sep 10, 2007, 10:44:

RJQuilla, yes, as good as your going to find. I found the money exchange windows are fair and honest (in the airport), but they do take a much bigger cut of your hard earned money that you exchange. ATM is the way to go to minimize the price you pay for your money.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Leeroy says on Sep 17, 2007, 19:55:

ATMs is a pluralised form of ATM.

No apostrophe needed.

Okay, okay, I'm going...

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cali373 says on Sep 23, 2007, 12:22:

I never had issues with ATM's in colombia until this year. But the funny thing is that I was able to use any bank ATM the first month I was in Colombia. After that only BanColombia ATM would work for me. I never had an issue using the ATM's in el dorado airport, so its not that the ATM's are not setup for international.

I have always used a small credit union.

Smile if you are a thinker!

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