FWIW, I opened a French HSBC account (I am a US citizen, btw) and used the ATM withdraw-deposit trick you just described in order to produce Euros for local use. I was subsequently called in by the bank because they found my high denomination cash deposits very suspicious and requested that I stop doing it.
I wanted to offer an anecdotal warning that such a trick may work fine, or it may ruffle feathers; just be aware.
I wanted to offer an anecdotal warning that such a trick may work fine, or it may ruffle feathers; just be aware.