Hello,

I have a friend who is in Shanghai right now, he had signed up for a Citibank Ultimate Savings Acct before leaving the US so he could access his money from ATMs there...Seems other people as well as the bank said it would be no problem to access money from any ATM in the world.

He's now in Shanghai and trying to to withdraw money from the Xujiahui branch ATM. When he could not do so, he inquired in the Xujiahui branch and they informed him that he was given wrong advice, that he could not use the card, it's not valid and that other's have had the problem.

He's called collect to Citibank as it says to do on the card, the CSR told him that she "fixed" the problem, however he still cannot use the card. He inquired in the Xujiahui branch yet again, and asked them to call the international Citibank number, however they say the card isn't valid and will not help in any way.

I'm posting this to get some help from him, to see if anyone has experienced a problem like this and have any advice at all on how to get this resolved. He's going to be there 2 1/2 months and it would be impossible for him to go that long w/o access to his money.

Thanks in advance

Amber xx

The best option would probably be go go into the branch in Shanghai and kick up a stink.

Step 1: Get Shanghai and America to speak to each other until the problem is advised as being fixed. It's not for the customer to be falling between the gaps.
Step 2: Walk the manager out to the ATM and try it.
Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 as needed.

If it really doesn't work (and no card works in any ATM) then get money wired over.

Back when BofA had a single (TMK) ATM in the entire country, I would dutifully walk over there on the promise of saving $5. Silly, I know, but apparently I was not alone because, more often than not, that sucker was out of order. The first time I was rejected, I walked into the branch itself and inquired about withdrawing in person. I now understand that that was a pipe dream because the activities foreign banks are currently permitted to engage in is laughable (for the sake of simplicity, forex accounts for foreign passport holders).

Thus, I now appreciate the current strategy -- foreign banks invest the legal maximum in Chinese banks.... and we (foreigners) get the benefits of the local network.

IIRC, Citi's partner in crime is the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. But, I'm guessing this won't help the OP's friend much since her issue appears to be more serious than simply avoiding a $5 fee.

BTW, there is another current(ish) thread on pretty much the exact same topic.