Schwab Debit Card - ATM Access?
 

I recently went on a trip with a buddy to Asia (not China), and he told me about the Schwab debit card (I was an idiot for not bringing mine considering I do have a brokerage account and an investor checking account). So I lost out on fees by exchanging at the airport and having to scramble for cash.

So for my next trip to China, I'm thinking of bringing my Schwab card. Should I arrive at the airport (PEK) with some cash in advance? Or would I be ok finding some ATM there? I likely don't need to get much cash anyway, as it's just for the car service I've hired to take me around. I plan on expensing most other things on the company card.

My only worry is that if I can't find an ATM, I won't be able to get a ride to my hotel. I just hate the thought of getting ripped off at a Travelex for fees.

There are a ton of ATMs at the airport, but its always nice to have cash on hand just in case

Yeah I'll probably get like $50 worth or something so I can at least make it to my hotel, and count on ATM for the rest. Seems like PEK has tons of ATMs according to some websites, and if not I'm bound to find something near my hotel at Wangfujing.

If you stay in a high-end property when you arrive at hotel you may ask receptionist to pay for your taxi fee and then post it into your room account and you settle it when you check out
yes that could be awkward and of unease but just last solution I like to introduce
I highly recommend you prepare cash advance from home or get some from airport foreign exchange counter or ATM
my experience is for your last option

I couldn't disagree more. I use my Schwab card almost daily, and I can't recall it ever taking me more than 5 minutes to get cash (sometimes ATMs are out of money, and sometimes they don't like my Schwab card, but this is basically a non-issue).

I think easygoer is agreeing with you. He meant that getting the hotel to pay for the taxi and charge it to the room is the last resort.

I totally missed that..my bad. In any event I love my Schwab card.

^ Been thinking about getting one myself. How does one deposit cash into the Schwab account? Will any ATM do or does it have to be a specific network?

You can link to another account, take photo of a check or mail in a check. It works rather well actually. I am a big fan of Schwab and use it as my primary checking account now. Customer service is really great too. My only complaint is that they don't have an EMV chip but eventually that will come about.

Thank you very much cornellfOo for reminding moondog of my point £¡cheers

to get a Schwab checking account, you must open an investment account too correct?

Yes, but this is really easy.

whats the investment account look like?

I love, love, love my Schwab debit card for travelling anywhere that I'm hoping to use an ATM. Given that I only use it in ATM machines, what exactly would be the benefit of the EMV chip?

My one and only complaint regarding the card is that they don't have an online site where I can input my expected travel info. I've never had the card refused, but I always call them before travelling abroad, and think that that has facilitated its acceptance (in at least 40 different countries to date). That said, I've never had anything but the most pleasant interactions on the phone with their customer service reps when making those travel alert phone calls.

I do use it as a debit card while abroad & it helps avoiding cloning of the card. My card was cloned in Mexico and they began attempting to use it a few weeks after my vacation ended. Schwab & Visa service was awesome. They of course voided all the transactions, allowed me to use my current card to go to an ATM and get some cash to hold me the 48 hours it took to get me a new card.