French Banks/smaller currency

Please forgive if this is a %26quot;Duh%26quot; question.

When we were in Paris in March, the ATM machines would give us our Euros in 50, 20, or 100 denominations. We hardly ever shopped anywhere that we weren%26#39;t always asked if we had a smaller denomination to use. (Even when we used a 20--and they really preferred you to have exact change.)

Question--Can you use the banks in Paris the same way you can in the US? If I needed change here, I could just go in to the bank and ask for it. Is this possible? Would there be some sort of fee for this transaction? I wouldn%26#39;t think there would be (just changing Euros to Euros--but ???).

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It may depend on the bank. If you are after smaller denominations, consider using a smaller Bureu de Change. There are some on the Champs Elysees which are good. If you are stuck with large notes, just use them. It is usually policy in some restaurants to ask patrons for smaller notes, but refusal will not offend.

If in any further doubt, change your money in the United States where the cashier will understand exactly what you mean when you ask for change.

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There is no need to worry about it. They will take your cash, even if not terribly happy about large bills. I would try to spend a 50€ bill first to get some smaller bills, perhaps for lunch for two, or metro passes, for instance. After a few times, you will begin to accumulate plenty of 1,2€ coins and smaller bills.

Banks are not quite as %26#39;user-friendly%26#39; in France as in the US so don%26#39;t spend time going in there.

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Thanks for the replys. I%26#39;ll stop worrying about it.

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Be sure to hoard your smaller change after you get there, too. Needed for toilets especially!

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OMG, please don%26#39;t go into a French bank and ask for change, this%26#39;ll start another - justified in this case! - thread about French rudeness and poor customer service!

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I would never start a thread about French rudeness or poor customer service. Mostly because I do not believe this is true, I have never had anything but sincere helpfulness on my trips to Paris, and if I did think this ,I would just go about my business and keep those thoughts to myself.