I'm planning to travel Europe for around three months or longer. What's the best bank in Europe that offers a safe, free savings or checking account?

Honestly, my U.S bank account is pretty good because it offers free ATMs from anywhere in the world (they even reimburse other bank's fees), it's free, and their online interface is very good. The problem though is that I'd really like to have my money closer to me while in Europe.

So that's why I'd like to know the best bank to use throughout Europe with minimal or free ATM withdraws.

The other problem is that I really only speak English fluently, so I need a bank that is used to English speaking customers and that has an English based web site for checking my account online.

I'm flying into Greece and then I'm traveling through the Balkans, so I won't get to eastern Europe until a month later. I'm guessing that most of the strongest banks are probably in Switzerland? France? Germany? Or is there a bank that has branches in most of the countries in Europe?

I should also note that I'm talking about less than $10,000 here. That's all the money I have. My entire life savings.

I'm open to suggestions or reading experiences... because I've searched the Internet and the web site, but honestly I don't know where to begin to finde the answer my question.

This question was answered for ONEBIGCHUB!!

Re Bank question
Regarding banks in England you would need a permenant address and proof that you actually live there, utility bills etc and it takes ages to open an account, I've just been doing this and I've only just managed it after 6 weeks.
Why do you need to open an account if you are only travelling, just use the Internet to transfer funds.
Jean

Re : To open an account anywhere you probably need some ID , and a proof that u reside in that particular place or a local acquaintance. If you have any of these it might get u started.

and why exactly do you need to open an account try using the other services.

and for the medicine part, if you really need those thing, learn the what they call medicines in there.