ATMS / Bank availability on the CP

[isnardj]

Just curious to anyone who’s done the CP from Lisbon to Santiago lately:

Who are the ATMs (trusted) & banks along the CP ?
What cash reserves would you recommend ?
Do most places - food & accommodation take debit cards ?

 

[jungleboy]

Trusted ATMs are ones with an ‘MB’ sign. This means multi banco and is the banks’ ATM network. Euronet is the network that charges more.

 

[dougfitz]

Who are the ATMs (trusted) & banks along the CP ?
What cash reserves would you recommend ?
Do most places - food & accommodation take debit cards ?

I used ATMs at banks or supermarkets. I had no issues doing that. As for cash reserves, I started with about 200 euro, and replenished if I got below 100 euro. Some places do need cash, but I used a credit card at others. Never used a debit card.

 

[henrythedog]

Just curious to anyone who’s done the CP from Lisbon to Santiago lately:

Who are the ATMs (trusted) & banks along the CP ?
What cash reserves would you recommend ?
Do most places - food & accommodation take debit cards ?

If you’re going to use an ATM try to use one attached to a bank - or in a banking-hall, during opening hours.

As to which are ‘trusted’; I’m sure they’re all as safe and secure as a Swiss … oh, hang on.

I use cash under €10 or so, but pretty much everywhere took cards and the locals seem to paying by card for just about everything.

 

[t2andreo]

I am in the hsbit of using cash for everything. I hit an ATM to top off every 3 - 4 days.

 

[Robert Long]

We did the CF last Sept and Oct. I was surprised how many places accepted credit cards. many more than 6 years ago.
Buen Camino

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Just curious to anyone who’s done the CP from Lisbon to Santiago lately:

Who are the ATMs (trusted) & banks along the CP ?
What cash reserves would you recommend ?
Do most places - food & accommodation take debit cards ?As

As @jungleboy comments, MB (Multibanco) machines are the standby; all the local banks are part of that network. You'll find one outside almost any bank branch through the country.

Another advantage of using them: if you have picked up a local SIM card for your phone, you can top it up through any Multibanco. I thought this was brilliant!

Debit cards--supermarkets and mid > upscale restaurants, yes.

Before Covid, the smaller places were just starting to use them; we found that after Covid, a lot of small cafés and tiny stores in our semi-rural area had quit doing so. The economics of keeping going meant they didn't want the overhead of paying for the service, when a lot of their customers still used cash. I know we got this comment from a couple of our local businesses.

 

[Jo H]

As @jungleboy comments, MB (Multibanco) machines are the standby; all the local banks are part of that network. You'll find one outside almost any bank branch through the country.

Another advantage of using them: if you have picked up a local SIM card for your phone, you can top it up through any Multibanco. I thought this was brilliant!

Debit cards--supermarkets and mid > upscale restaurants, yes.

Before Covid, the smaller places were just starting to use them; we found that after Covid, a lot of small cafés and tiny stores in our semi-rural area had quit doing so. The economics of keeping going meant they didn't want the overhead of paying for the service, when a lot of their customers still used cash. I know we got this comment from a couple of our local businesses.

As @jungleboy comments, MB (Multibanco) machines are the standby; all the local banks are part of that network. You'll find one outside almost any bank branch through the country.

Another advantage of using them: if you have picked up a local SIM card for your phone, you can top it up through any Multibanco. I thought this was brilliant!

As @jungleboy comments, MB (Multibanco) machines are the standby; all the local banks are part of that network. You'll find one outside almost any bank branch through the country.

Another advantage of using them: if you have picked up a local SIM card for your phone, you can top it up through any Multibanco. I thought this was brilliant!

Debit cards--supermarkets and mid > upscale restaurants, yes.

Before Covid, the smaller places were just starting to use them; we found that after Covid, a lot of small cafés and tiny stores in our semi-rural area had quit doing so. The economics of keeping going meant they didn't want the overhead of paying for the service, when a lot of their customers still used cash. I know we got this comment from a couple of our local businesses.

How did you top up your local SIM card using the MB ATM? Was yours a Vodafone sim?

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Mine was a Vodaphone SIM.

It's pretty straightforward.

On the first MB screen after inputting your PIN, there are a variety of choices. I believe one of these is "serviços." (I hope @jungleboy or someone else present can confirm this. I'm working from memory, here in Canada...)

After pressing "services" or the equivalent, you'll get something like this:


Bottom left is "telemoveis," which is mobile phones.

Click that, and it'll give you a list of all the providers in Portugal.

Choose the one you use (Vodaphone for me), and it will ask you for the phone number in question, and how much you want to top it up. Obvious blanks: 9 spaces for the phone number. I guess it assumes it's Portuguese.

It displays both the phone number and the amount input for top-up.

Once you confirm that, about 30 seconds later, you'll get a text notification on your phone that the topup has occurred. A great service!

---

More on Portuguese ATMs (websites found while looking for this screenshot):

ATMs in Portugal: All About Fees, Charges And Withdrawal Limits

ATMs in Portugal: Everything you need to know about ATMs in Portugal, including where they are, how to use them, fees, withdrawal limits, and more.

www.beportugal.com

https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/portugal/money/banking/multibanco-system

A guide to using ATMs in Portugal - Portugalist

At some point or other, you’ll probably need to withdraw money from an ATM in Portugal. While card payments are becoming more common...

www.portugalist.com

ATM's in Portugal - Rick Steves Travel Forum

I recently read on another forum that lots of Americans have had problems using their debit cards in Portugal. Since that is always the way I get virtually all of my euros on a trip, this obviously makes me very anxious... Has anyone had experiences recently - success or problems - with using t...

community.ricksteves.com

Bom caminho!

 

[Jo H]

Mine was a Vodaphone SIM.

It's pretty straightforward.

On the first MB screen after inputting your PIN, there are a variety of choices. I believe one of these is "serviços." (I hope @jungleboy or someone else present can confirm this. I'm working from memory, here in Canada...)

After pressing "services" or the equivalent, you'll get something like this:

View attachment 143336
Bottom left is "telemoveis," which is mobile phones.

Click that, and it'll give you a list of all the providers in Portugal.

Choose the one you use (Vodaphone for me), and it will ask you for the phone number in question, and how much you want to top it up. Obvious blanks: 9 spaces for the phone number. I guess it assumes it's Portuguese.

It displays both the phone number and the amount input for top-up.

Once you confirm that, about 30 seconds later, you'll get a text notification on your phone that the topup has occurred. A great service!

---

More on Portuguese ATMs (websites found while looking for this screenshot):

ATMs in Portugal: All About Fees, Charges And Withdrawal Limits

ATMs in Portugal: Everything you need to know about ATMs in Portugal, including where they are, how to use them, fees, withdrawal limits, and more.

www.beportugal.com

https://www.angloinfo.com/how-to/portugal/money/banking/multibanco-system

A guide to using ATMs in Portugal - Portugalist

At some point or other, you’ll probably need to withdraw money from an ATM in Portugal. While card payments are becoming more common...

www.portugalist.com

ATM's in Portugal - Rick Steves Travel Forum

I recently read on another forum that lots of Americans have had problems using their debit cards in Portugal. Since that is always the way I get virtually all of my euros on a trip, this obviously makes me very anxious... Has anyone had experiences recently - success or problems - with using t...

community.ricksteves.com

Bom caminho!

Thank you so much for this detailed helpful reply. It will be so much easier doing it this way as last time I went into a Vodafone store as I wasn't confident doing it online. Bom caminho and muchas gracias!

 

[Jim]

Trusted ATMs are ones with an ‘MB’ sign. This means multi banco and is the banks’ ATM network. Euronet is the network that charges more.

Thank you for that information-- very helpful to be in the know on this.