That's odd because we just opened an account with WFB and our rep (the branch manager) said our ATM limit is $500
per day, debit (PIN) limit is $1500
per transaction, and debit-Visa purchase limit is $2500
per transaction but if we needed to--buying furniture, cruise tickets etc--we could have the limits raised. Note that the debit (PIN or Visa) limits were per transaction and can the daily limit is only based on the balance of our account. I'll double check to make sure I got that right when I'm there tomorrow.
But, I have had success with other banks in the past when it came to increasing my daily limits either for travel or a special purchase. I think the largest amount I've taken out of a machine at one time was $2000 at an Amex machine years ago. A coworker made the mistake of going to Vegas with a bachelorette group last month. A few members of the party were newbies...you guessed it, they got a little too wild and spent a little too much money. So my coworker being the "richest" one of the group had to get them some cash to some expenses since the others' credit cards were maxed out (20somethings just out of college). Problem is she hit her "daily" ATM limit the Friday they went to Vegas and the limit applied all weekend. She wound up having to use one of those workaround machines. Since most checkcards have two limits--a ATM cash/debit PIN limit and a credit purchase limit--she could use the credit "purchase" portion of her card and get more cash. Of course the service fees were 10 times a regular ATM withdrawal, she wasn't pleased with her group
Originally Posted by
DESMOINESguy
I think this is determined by your bank and the limits you agree to when you establish your account. Daily limits are typically $300. Doesn't matter where you make the withdrawl, Japan or your hometown grocery, the limit is the limit. Because I travel a lot internationally I have run into same issues that you describe, and I convinced my bank (Wells Fargo) to increase my daily limit to $500, but that's as far as they would go. They will not do temporary increases (say for the duration of a trip) either, stating it's for customer's protection as well as bank liability.
With the weak dollar now, and Euro at $1.34-1.35, even a $500 daily limit is really not a lot. I usually withdraw the max that I can (assuming I need that much and will be there long to spend it) so as to minimize impact of transaction fees (WF=$5.00 out of network ATM withdrawl fee).
I'd recommend asking you bank to increase your limit.