What is a good international bank?

Question

I'm looking for a bank that offers free ATM usage in U.S. and France. It also needs to have good online banking support.

I am looking for a bank account based in Paris that will be accessible in the U.S. However, I may have several bills and incomes from U.S. that need to be paid from the account. Citibank sounds like a good idea.

Answer 1

Hello, Ted Drake!

Where are you based? Which currency or currencies are you planning to use? As for free ATM card in the U.S. and France, do you plan to use a French ATM card in the U.S. or a U.S. ATM card in France?

My advice? Try Citibank France or Citibank U.S. However, it is somewhat easier to have your account based in Europe, that is, in EUR, and then use your ATM card in the U.S. as opposed to doing it the other way around. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, it is hard to open an account in the U.S., though it is possible sometimes.

Please E-mail if you need more info.

Makberto

P.S.: Thanks for your extended explanation. If your account at Citibank France has an associated MasterCard Debit or Visa Debit Card (Visa Electron in some parts of Europe), you definitely won't have any problems paying bills in the U.S. If it is a recurrent payment, for instance, a monthly telephone bill in the U.S., you just tell the telephone company in the U.S. that you want to set up an automatic monthly charge using your card, and that's it. Then, you can check your status montly via Citibank France online when the payment is charged to your debit card even if you are in France, the U.S., or elsewhere. Good luck! Makberto