Why shouldn't I have an ATM PIN beginning with zero if I travel internationally?

Question

Bank of America warns that customers travelling internationally shouldn't have a PIN beginning with 0. I've seen reports that people with PIN numbers beginning in 0 have had no trouble when using their card in Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Finland and Egypt. Why would this be a problem, and in what countries? I'm assuming it's a technical limitation, and I'm curious as to why it is.

Answer 1

Yeah, it's not a problem. It's on the Bank of America automated voice when you call, but it has been for years, and for some reason in Fodor's Italy also claims it, but as in the linked forum on the book, as well as forums on Fodor's own site and elsewhere, dozens of travellers with zeros in their BoA card have had no problem.

Possible reasons suggested for the myth:

• some US pins are 6 digits, European ones are 4, meaning you may then run into trouble not being able to type in the whole pin (I can't verify what happens in this case, might make another good question)
• some keypads don't have a 0 (no idea where this myth comes from, seems bizarre and is wrong)
• people being worried that letters on the keypads don't exist for the '0' - but that doesn't mean you can't press the button
• 0 being converted incorrectly as a digit to a string in code (but then their own customers would be picking this up pretty darn fast, as well as any testers they have).

All in all, it'll work. Even when Fodor's Italy said it was Italy with the problem, a person on their forums checked with a bank worker in Italy and confirmed that it was fine.