If you have a Bank of America ATM card issued in New York state which has a five digit PIN, you’re in for a rude surprise. Don’t bother using an ATM–even one of Bank of America’s–anywhere but New York. In fact just stay home.

My bestest friend moved back to Los Angeles from New York state and went online to open an account with Bank of America where she has an IRA. The IRA is at a branch in her former city. She opened the new checking account with her new Los Angeles address and wired transferred cash from another bank into her new B of A account.

Much to her surprise, she discovered that Bank of America had created an account for her at the New York bank where she had her IRA. However, they mailed her ATM card and PIN to her Los Angeles address, so it wasn’t really that big a deal–she could still get out cash and use the debit function at merchants, right?

Wrong. She went to a Bank of America ATM in Hollywood and couldn’t withdraw cash. Then she went inside and learned the stupid truth:

New ATM cards issued by Bank of America in New York state only have a five digit PIN. ATM and debit machines across the world recognize four digit pins. Her ATM card is good for withdrawing cash only in New York state, per our local B of A branch.

So if you residents of Gotham City or anywhere in the Empire State decide to you want go to  Disneyland, Vegas or Paris, be prepared to use anything else but your of Bank of America card to access cash.