you may get a better rate exchanging euro to dollar in europe.

if you are trying to exchange over €20,000 try

http://www.comfex.com/

their rate is bank minus 1 to 1.5% (plus a $10 wire transfer fee)depending on amount and frequency.

i agreed to honor faxed checks. i would get a rate and dollar amount, and fax them the check and the copy of the pro invoice i had received. the money would hit the european vendor acct. the next day.

if you are looking at a one time transfer of less than 20K, avoid every bank you can think of, and start calling the mid-sized guys and ask each for the rate for 10K or whatever. if you or a friend has an AAA account, call them also. they used to have an excellent exchange rate.

i also used Ruesch International. the rate was not that bad, but they were a real pain to deal with.

usually cash is more expensive to trade than transfers.