Butch wrote:is it absolutely necessary to transfer it on your account at citibank? Otherwise you could use the credit card of your German account to draw money at the ATM witout paying charges.
Well, ideally yes. Citibank doesn't charge for international money transfers between certain countries if you are transferring to another citibank account.
But that wasn't the OP's question....
Problem also with withdrawing money using credit card at overseas ATM's is you pay interest immediately, while using debit cards from savings accounts like maestro and cirrus network cards attracts a $5 fee per transaction typically.
Again citibank would have been perfect for this. I withdraw internationally using my Citibank readycredit atm card and no fees are charged at all.