Hi all,
I am wondering has anyone been to japan with Citibank card? Where can I withdraw money from?
As 28 degree doesn't offer oversea withdraw like before.
do I use as saving account as I usually use in Australia?
Previous only 7 banks inside 7 -11 allow oversea card. I read a post 7 bank not accepting oversea card now.
Thanks for the reply!
Sorry Forgot to ADD. Using a citibank ATM should be FREE of atm fees
But using non Citibank will most probably cost you an Fee
Not with the Citibank Plus account, which gives you a Visa Debit card. No fees for ATM withdrawals from any normal ATM (so the atm in that strip joint that charges a $10 withdrawal fee doesn't count) worldwide. No currency conversion fees either.
I knew that strip Joint was dodgy.. Making it rain indeed
There is a number of Citibank ATMS in Tokyo CBD.
When I was there I either used Citibank ATM's or Japan Post ATM's.
No others I tried would work.
I draw from 7-11 ATMs with my Citi debit Visa. Stragely enough (now I really don`t know why) but the amount the pops up om my online statement clearly show the rate is better than the listed Citibank rate, which means no fees.
Other than that, in Tokyo I know Citibank ATMs at, Ginza, Shinjuku (very close to red light district), Shibuya (right up the crossing/109 building) and in Osaka it's in central Umeda. Also there's one right outside the international arrival gate at Narita airport.
By default the card will only let you draw $1000 AUD (~89000yen) but you can call Citibank and ask them to raise the card limit to $3000 (~270000yen). However the ATM will still limit you to 100,000yen, so you just need to draw 3 times to get the max daily amount.
Oh yeah forgot 7/11 only had mastercard issues, not visa card issues.
Whats the issue with Mastercards in Japan? My other half is going there in 3 weeks?
They work, but only in western-atms, like in post offices and at airports, etc. I would advise taking a visa of any kind as backup while there, as it is more commonly accepted (however most of the time a mastercard will work).
If you're not taking a citibank visa debit, you'll end up paying upwards of $100 in fees & conversion rates compared to the crappy mastercard rates (as there will be bank surcharges, etc). I'd advise your other half to apply for a citibank visa debit ASAP. Should arrive before they leave.
I signed her up for a Citibank plus account the other night, so I'm glad to know she'll be able to use it. She should be able to use this in almost any ATM there, with the Citibank ones being fee-free?
Is there trouble using a mastercard in stores? My suggestion to her is to use the bankwest platinum mastercard for in store purchases, and use the citibank plus to withdraw cash out for day to day spending where the card is a pain.
Would this work? She's a stresshead, so the more I can give her before she goes, the better (usually I take care of all of this stuff when we travel, but I'm not going so she's flying solo).
She should be able to use this in almost any ATM there … ?
No, only ATMs that support western cards. You can find them in almost all Post offices, at all the major airports (usually there's a citibank one at the airports), and in some convenience stores. The only way to know is to try. She will find out that many ATMs simply do not take western cards, and she'll learn to pick them.
Is there trouble using a mastercard in stores? My suggestion to her is to use the bankwest platinum mastercard for in store purchases, and use the citibank plus to withdraw cash out for day to day spending where the card is a pain.
I would suggest just using the citibank card and forgetting the mastercard - only have it as backup. The exchange rate makes it not worth it. The citibank card will be usable in places that take card, however cash is generally preferred and much easier to pay with than card - using card is almost rude? I mean it's not rude, but it's more hassle. I would just be getting cash out with citibank card whenever you see an ATM and need money.
Also a lot of places won't accept card, or are not sure about foreign cards, etc, so they will just say no to cards. Don't rely on cards over there (except to withdraw cash), even if many places accept them.
Also make sure you tell citibank and bankwest (as backup) that you'll be travelling to japan so they don't freeze the card/s.
Yeah correct - I'm not worried about the rate on the Bankwest Platinum Mastercard for purchases, the exchange rate is equivalent to Citibank Plus or 28 Degrees (no fees and very good rate).
Fair enough. I might leave her to her own devices in terms of getting cash out and have the mastercard as a backup. Shouldnt be too much of a problem… its only 10 day trip.
Using Citi bank debit visa card is free provided that you use their ATM . As brezzo mentioned you must let Citi bank know that you are travelling to Japan otherwise when you get there and try to use one of the local ATM you will not be able to get access to your account. That exactly what happened to me, as I arrived in Narita airport and using my Citi bank debit visa card at 7 banks ATM and all I got was a messaged said invalid card. The next day I went to one of Citi bank branch in Tokyo to try their ATM and I got the same message. It took three hours to seek help at the branch because they do not have any relationship with Citi bank Australia what so ever. I was given the phone facility to contact Citi bank call centre somehow they were able to arrange an emergency $1000 us dollars and that is all I got for the next 7 days the card remain invalid until I got to Singapore. Luckily we carried our CBA master card and we were able to purchase virtually at any shop and the fee is roughly 2.9% on the purchase price. Just remember carry some cash for emergency, especially on your first day because you still not familiar with the local environment yet. Nothing to worry about Japan is a very safe country and Japanese are extremely honest. Enjoy…
Now this is very different from what others have posted.
Was the issue with the Citibank card only for your card or all Australian issued Citibank cards? What did the Tokyo bank advise you. Was it your card or all Citibank Oz cards
Are you positive you were using the correct kind of ATM? There are specific western ones and japanese ones. You may have had bad luck, but I have never had a problem with Citibank card. It may be because you didn't contact them, yeah.
Sounds unfortunate to say the least.
The card was issue in Sydney. Tokyo branch give me no advice at all but provided me the phone to contact the call centre on 13-24-84. The call centre told me they have no idea why the card access was blocked. When I got back to Sydney I went to their head office in Sydney to query it with them, again they still don’t have an answer for me, but advise me to notify them next time if I am travelling overseas. I am talking about my personal experience with my card only; I don’t have any knowledge of what happened to other Citibank cards. If you want to get technical, I guess you have to contact Citi bank and find out. Let us know if you have more information on this issue.
Ok thank you for the undated info. Will make sure I call before I travel, as I usually do.
Thanks also to Brezzo for their extra info.
in my experience, the jp post offices always has an international ATM, where both the citibank and 28 degree cards worked.
i've been to japan 3 months ago if that helps (and managed to found withdrawal places pretty much everywhere i went, which was everything minus north of japan)
EDIT: it's probably stated, but citibank has quite a few branches which allow you to withdraw money through visa and mastercards.
Was in narita airport yesterday and could not withdraw money from seven bank ATM or prestia atm using my visa debit card. Luckily, my friend recently opened the same Citibank plus but he has a master debut and he was able to withdraw money. Will definitely complain to Citibank about this.
I'm heading there in 2 weeks times its a bit iffy where the locations are, do anyone had any deal for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka?
Assuming the Citibank card is a Visa Debit then you should be able to use it at any ATM
that accepts Visa cards. I put my spending money in this account
http://www.visa-news.jp/visitjapan/atm/index.phtml
I only use the 28degrees card for actual purchases including Accommodation and restaurants and purchases in shopping malls etc, but avoid using it with street vendors as a rule for security.