09 Sep 2024
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are omnipresent in Germany, offering convenient access to cash. Understanding how to use ATMs effectively is essential for Sri Lankan expats who send money to Sri Lanka from Germany. This five-minute guide provides vital tips to ensure a smooth and secure ATM experience.
German ATMs, or Geldautomaten, share many similarities with ATMs in other countries, yet they have distinct characteristics or peculiarities Srilankan expat users should know about.
The first aspect to consider while employing a German ATM is whether the card will be compatible. Although most contemporary ATMs are designed to work with both chip and PIN cards, it is essential, at least for some reason, to guarantee that your card contains this technology. While most ATMs in Germany are affiliated with the Mastercard or Visa system, it is wise to check whether the card is affiliated with any of these systems.
This is because Germany is multilingual, and most ATMs offer language options other than German. The use of English is also standard, which also makes it easy for foreigners to make their bookings around. You will not get Tamil or Sinhala languages to be selected. Nevertheless, it may be easy to learn some reasonably elementary German terms concerning the ATM to make sure everything is clear.
ATM fees might differ even in quantity and kind. While some banks do not charge anything for using other banks, some charge their account holders to withdraw cash using other banks’ ATMs. Also, a foreign transaction fee can be charged to your account depending on the type of account that you hold with them. One advantage of carrying cash is the ability to inquire about potential fees before using an ATM.
ATMs are used in Germany, and many installations exist, especially in cities. These are commonly used in bank branches, shopping centers, railway stations and airports. However, access to such ATMs might be scarce, especially in rural regions.
Safety comes first while using an ATM. Below are some tips that will be crucial for Srilankan expats:
When choosing a place to access your money, ensure that you use ATMs in well-lit places like malls or financial institutions with many people. Avoid lone ATMs, particularly at night.
Whenever entering your personal identification number (PIN), cover the keyboard with a hand. Keep your ATM PIN strictly confidential.
Be careful while using an ATM, and watch what is happening around you. Stay focused.
Be vigilant when checking for strange installation devices or signs of tampering with the electronic device one is using to acquire funds. Skimmers do this by stealing card data.
Notify the bank or local law enforcement if anything unusual happens.
Indeed, before withdrawing cash, you must ensure that your account balance is sufficient to accommodate your needs. It saves you the embarrassment and the extra cost involved when you have overdrafted your account. This is considered harmful as overdrafts attract costly charges. Therefore, they need to be avoided. In most ATMs, you see your available balance on the screen after you are prompted to proceed with the withdrawal.
Expats shouldn’t withdraw cash impulsively because they are responsible for making a money transfer from Germany to Sri Lanka. To ensure that you do not withdraw money impulsively, here are some of the common ways that you can use to limit your withdrawals: You can set daily or weekly withdrawal limits. Some smaller specialty banks will allow these limits to be determined through an online banking site, a mobile banking application, or a phone. If you set a limit, you won’t spend too much on a specific category and will also have money for other necessary expenses.
This is because whenever an ATM dispenses cash, you must physically count it the moment you receive it. This practice is helpful to avoid such minor conflicts and to confirm whether the correct amount was given to you. If there is a shortage, report the matter to the bank immediately. One should also retain the ATM receipt to ensure the transaction has been completed.
That might sound like extra paper, but keeping a receipt of the ATM transaction is essential. They act as evidence of your transaction and can be helpful in cases of a dispute or fraudulent business practice.
Think about how often you use cash. As a constant user of money, a minor inconvenience is that it’s advantageous to withdraw a more considerable sum at a time to avoid extra fees for using an ATM.
Also, beware of possible ATM fees. You should also know that there are fees for using ATMs outside your bank, especially fees for using its services to withdraw cash. Adhering to these tips makes withdrawing money from an ATM safe for Srilankan expats and is another step towards avoiding unnecessary expenses.
While ATMs provide access to cash, you might need to send money online to Sri Lanka from Germany to support your family back home. ACE Money Transfer offers a reliable and efficient way to transfer funds. With competitive exchange rates and fast transfer times, ACE Money Transfer makes sending money to your loved ones easy. With ACE, online money transfers from Germany to Sri Lanka have added alot of benefits, such as free money transfers and 3D security.
That's right. You won't be charged a fee for money transfers. Moreover, you can send money all across Sri Lanka with multiple payout options, such as cash pickup and bank deposit.
It is rather valuable to use ATMs in Germany, but it is even more important to remain safe and protected. Following these tips will also help ensure you are not becoming a victim of ATM-related crimes. Further, it helps to use secure money transfer services like ACE Money Transfer to send money to the family back home. Transfer of funds, for example, from Germany to Sri Lanka should be a relatively straightforward process. When choosing ACE Money Transfer, you can be sure that your cash is in good hands and that your online money transfer from Germany to Sri Lanka will be without risk.
When entering your PIN, always ensure that your hand conceals the keypad. This must go hand in hand with the fact that you must not disclose your PIN to anyone.
Refrain from using the ATM again; inform the bank or the local police.
The other fee that should be avoided is the one that they charge for using other banks’ ATMs. Some of these ATMs may have loose card slots or might be fixed with other strings that can quickly snatch your card. If possible, avoid using card-entry ATMs.
Dial your bank and block your card to ensure that nobody uses the information to make purchases.
It helps you scrutinize your bank statements to identify every unusual transaction.
