4757  Banelco ATM withdrawals with VISA cards in Buenos

Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 21:48:56 -0300
From: "Janis Kenyon" <Jantango@feedback.net.ar>
Subject: [Tango-L] Banelco ATM withdrawals with VISA cards in Buenos
Aires
To: "Tango-L" <Tango-L@MIT.EDU>

I was unaware of the new withdrawal limit at Banelco ATMs in Buenos Aires,
because my last withdrawal was ten days ago. Today, I went to the local
Citibank with a Banelco ATM to withdraw 300 pesos, but I was only able to
withdraw 100. This is reminiscent of the bank corralito five years ago when
Argentines were limited to withdrawals of 250 pesos per week from their bank
accounts.

I encountered difficulty getting the machine to read my card for another
transaction, so I went to another Banelco ATM two blocks down the street.
It was out of order. I went to a third Banelco ATM in my neighborhood where
I tried to withdraw 300 pesos. Once again, my transaction wasn't completed
until I requested 100 pesos.

It seems to be a modification within the Banelco system which limits
withdrawals. I don't know if this is only for foreign card holders or
applicable to all cards without talking to bank officials. I have used my
VISA debit card for a US credit union account for the past eight years
without problems. I always recommend tourists use the same rather than
changing dollars or travelers' checks.

This change is going to result in longer lines at the ATMs in order to
process multiple transactions or longer lines inside the bank to exchange
dollars for pesos. Tourists should be aware that banks require a minimum of
100 dollars for an exchange, and you need to present your passport.


Janis Kenyon
Buenos Aires

Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 09:09:42 +0100
From: " Christian L?then " <christian.luethen@gmx.net>
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] Banelco ATM withdrawals with VISA cards in
Buenos Aires
To: Tango-L@MIT.EDU

On 22 Feb 2007 at 21:48, Janis Kenyon wrote:

> This change is going to result in longer lines at the ATMs in order to
> process multiple transactions or longer lines inside the bank to exchange
> dollars for pesos

Not only that: this may also result in discouriging tourist to come (back)
to Buenos Aires / Argentina!!!

Also this results in less security for those who need to withdraw money

>from ATMs: when one would have withdrawn 1000 pesos at once

before now one has to expose his/her credit card PIN code 10 times ...
and there are enough chances that someone looks over your shouders
(and chances rising the more you have to use your number).

This is *very* enoying!
Christian