I'd like to think that I'm a pretty savvy banking customer in Canada. Using PC Financial I've been able to mostly avoid banking fees thus far in my life. I get points on my credit cards more than I get charges. But a recent trip to Central America over the holidays called that self-conception into question: I paid a heck of a lot of bank fees when withdrawing money from foreign ATMs.
My PC Financial debit card didn't work in the ATMs in Guatemala and Honduras. Ditto for my MasterCard. My Royal Bank card and my VISA did work, but the fees were enormous for those.
Do you have thoughts on minimizing ATM fees while travelling in parts of the world that don't accept our ATM cards as much as North America and Europe do?
Much obliged. : )