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ATM card - cash withdrawals
You can use your ATM card to withdraw cash abroad if your card and the ATM machine has a Maestro, Cirrus, Plus or Link symbol on it. Check your card before traveling.
If you use your ATM card to take out euro in another country, you will not pay anything more than you would to take out money in Ireland. But if you take out foreign currency, like Sterling or Dollars from an ATM, you will pay extra charges, such as a foreign-exchange fee and a transaction fee. Our current account cost comparison has more details.
Many banks have minimum charges - as much as €3.00 each time you take out money, so bear in mind that taking out lots of small amounts can add up to be expensive.
Credit Card - cash withdrawals
You can also use your credit card to get cash from an ATM, but you will have to pay a cash withdrawal fee. Some people lodge money to their credit-card account to avoid paying cash withdrawal fees. But you should check with your credit-card provider before doing this, as you may still be charged these fees, even when you are withdrawing your own money.
You should also check whether the money you lodge to your credit-card account would be covered if your card was lost or stolen, and used by someone else, as some providers will not give you back your money if this happens.
If you withdraw foreign currency either at an ATM machine or over the counter in a bank abroad, you will have to pay a currency-conversion fee.
With some cards, you do not get an interest-free period for cash withdrawals so you pay interest from the moment you take out the money. Our credit card cost comparison compares fees across the main providers.
Using your cards to pay for goods and services
You can also use your debit card (if it has a Maestro symbol/the outlet accepts it) and credit cards when shopping or paying for services when you are abroad. Be aware that in some countries, you may be asked for identification such as a passport when you use your debit or credit card.
If your are in a euro-area country and the transaction is in euro, you pay the same amount as you would for using your card in Ireland.
When buying goods or services outside the euro-area on your debit card, you will pay a foreign-exchange fee and a transaction fee, similar to ATMs on your credit card.
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