Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Banking and Currency
San Francisco's Financial District
(see pp108-23)
is the banking
center of the West Coast. The imposing corporate
headquarters of major US banks and foreign branches of
some of the world's leading financial institutions can be found
in this prestigious area. For the convenience of residents and
visitors alike, hundreds of cash machines (ATMs) throughout
the city allow automatic transactions 24 hours a day.
Wells Fargo cash-dispensing
machines (ATMs)
There are several Travelex
America Currency Exchange
offices and ATMs located
throughout the International
terminal at SFO.
Banks and Bureaux
de Change
Banks in San Francisco are
generally open from 9am to
5pm Monday to Friday. Some,
however, open as early as
7:30am, close as late as 6pm,
and are open on Saturday
mornings. Always ask if any
special fees apply before
making your transaction.
US-dollar traveler's checks can
be cashed at most banks,
provided you have a
government-issued form of
photographic identification.
Credit unions will serve only
their members, so look for
banks that offer services to the
general public.
Bank of America
and
Wells Fargo
have
headquarters in the city, and
Chase
has a major presence as
well. You will see local branches
of all three in the Financial
District and in shopping areas.
Foreign currency exchange is
available at the main branches
of large banks, at bureaux de
change throughout the
Financial District, and at the
area's international airports (SFO,
Oakland, and San José;
see
pp276-7
). Foreign currency
exchange offices charge fees
and commissions, and they are
generally open on weekdays
from 9am to 5pm. One of the
best-known firms is
Travelex
.
there are plenty of people
nearby, and make sure that
nobody can see your PIN as
you type it in.
Be sure to notify your bank
and credit card companies that
you will be traveling. In some
cases, access to funds can be
cut off when banks see what
seem to be suspicious charges.
ATMs
Automated Teller Machines
(ATMs) can be found in most
bank lobbies or on an outside
wall near the bank's entrance.
US currency, usually in $20 bills,
can be electronically withdrawn
from your bank or credit card
account in seconds. ATM
withdrawals may provide a
better foreign currency
exchange rate than cash trans-
actions. Before you travel, ask
your bank which ATM systems
your card can access in San
Francisco and how much each
transaction will cost, as a
conversion charge may apply.
Popular systems include Cirrus,
Plus, and Star, and they accept
various US bank cards, in
addition to MasterCard, VISA,
and others. Although they are
likely to be less secure, the small
ATM kiosks at grocery stores,
liquor stores, and on city streets
sometimes handle foreign cards
better. However, you may be
charged around $2.50-$3 to
use them.
Be aware that robberies can
occur at ATM machines, so use
them only in daylight or when
Travelers' Checks and
Credit Cards
Credit cards and travelers'
checks are widely accepted in
San Francisco, but be prepared
to show photo ID when using
them. Travelers' checks issued in
US dollars by
American Express
and Thomas Cook are generally
accepted without a fee by most
shops, restaurants, and hotels.
Foreign currency travelers'
checks may be cashed at a
bank or by the cashier at a
major hotel.
The majority of credit cards
offer merchandise guarantees
or other benefits. American
Express,
MasterCard
, and
VISA
are accepted at most
establishments. In most
instances you'll be asked to
sign a slip; in a very few cases,
retailers will print your credit
card number on receipts, so
be sure to check and black it
out if necessary. Most hotels
ask for a credit card imprint on
check-in. Car rental agencies
put a hold on renters' cards
equal to a deposit of anywhere
between $100 and $300, and
they penalize patrons without
credit cards by asking for
large cash deposits. Most
hospitals
(see p271)
will
accept the credit cards
listed above as payment
for treatment.
A large branch of Chase bank in downtown San Francisco
