Originally Posted by
TravelinSperry
Ha! I actually went to numerous ATMs in Santiago all of which couldn't dispense cash (Santander and BBVA were two I recall). Also the queues for the ATMs were 10 deep for the ones that did have cash (like Banco Estado). Weirdly enough some of the banks only have one ATM... while a few blocks away a bank had 6! So I guess it's all luck where you go.
It also depends on the part of the city you're in. I live in the Centro, where availability of ATMs with cash can be problematic, but I work in Las Condes, where it is rare that an ATM is out of money, unless you're right on the main street, Apoquindo, or one block off. I've come up to my work neighborhood on the weekend when I've needed cash, even though it's kind of a hike, and out of the way for most of my weekend/social activities, just because it's almost always available. Too bad we still need so much cash in this country...