Diana writes:
if you're planning on using your ATM card for cash while you travel, be on the safe side, call your bank before leaving to let them know your travel dates and countries you'll be visiting in order to avoid a possibly unpleasant experience when the machine refuses to give you money!
The only problem I ever had was when First Union took over Core States: I was in Ireland - my Core States Debit card, which my local branch Manager had assured me could continue to be used until I received my new First Union card, didn't work! It worked at the First Union ATM back home but apparently they had 'pulled the plug' on the Core States bank codes for International banking. It wound up costing me a bunch to get cash advances on my Credit Card.
In cases like this, 'Call your Bank' isn't the solution. Even Customer Service at most Banks or Credit Card Companies doesn't know what is going down. Someone notified the International Banking System's computers to delete Core States from its Data Base at such a date and time and that's what happened.
Needless to say: The dumbass AVP, or whatever, to whom I complained didn't give me any satisfaction at all.