Armenia boasts ancient monasteries, stunning mountain landscapes, and rich cultural heritage. From Yerevan’s historic streets to Lake Sevan’s scenery and the Caucasus’ rugged beauty, the country blends tradition with modern life. When exploring churches, tasting cuisine, or hiking trails, having cash is key. This guide covers cash and ATMs in Armenia: withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance for a hassle-free trip.
Where to find ATMs in Armenia?
Urban Areas: ATMs are plentiful in cities like Yerevan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor, especially in city centers, shopping areas, and near banks such as Acba Bank, Evocabank, and IDBank.
Tourist Spots: Major tourist sites like Republic Square, the Cascade Complex, and museums usually have nearby ATMs. Many hotels and shopping centers also offer ATM services.
Rural Areas: In smaller towns and rural areas, ATMs are scarce. Carry enough cash when traveling outside major cities.
Best ATMs to use in Armenia for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Armenia are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Evocabank
- Ardshinbank
- Ameriabank
- ACBA Bank
- Inecobank
- Armeconom Bank
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Armenia.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Armenia, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in AMD).
- If you ‘Accept’, the ATM converts your money at the ATM’s set exchange rate. ATMs charge an extra percentage fee for this currency conversion.
- If you ‘Decline’, the ATM will convert at the exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in AMD’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Armenia?
You can use most foreign debit and credit cards at ATMs in Armenia. ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, and Cirrus cards. Some of them also accept American Express cards. However, they don’t accept JCB, UnionPay, Diners, Discover, and Rupay cards.
ATM operating hours
General Availability: Most ATMs in Armenia, especially those outside bank branches, are available 24/7.
Bank Branch ATMs: These ATMs follow the bank’s hours, typically from 9:15 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, with some branches open on Saturdays for shorter hours.
ATM names and language options
The word ‘ATM’ is displayed at the location, or ATMs have only the name of the bank.
ATMs typically have Armenian, Russian and English as the primary languages. If you’re not familiar with these languages, using live translation via Google Translate’s camera function can be helpful; however, try cautiously as translations may not be perfect.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Armenia?
ATMs dispense cash in the local currency, Armenian Dram (AMD or Դ). Some ATMs allow you to withdraw other currencies like USD or EUR.
ATM withdrawal limits in Armenia?
ATMs in Armenia have maximum withdrawal limit per transaction between Դ 100,000 to Դ 150,000 (Armenian Dram Դ).
ATM Fees in Armenia
There are many fee-free ATMs in Armenia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Armenia do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. Some ATMs charge 0.2% or 2% of the transaction amount as ATM Fees. So, you can use the ones without any fees.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Armenia. These are:
- ATM’s Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge a fee for using the card abroad. Verify with your bank about the applicable charges.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash
- Use ATMs with lower fees inside the country.
- Download the ATM Fee Saver app to find ATMs that have no or low fees.
- Choose Decline Conversion or Without Conversion when using an ATM.
- Get fee-free cards from your home country.
- ATMs at airports might charge higher fees.
For more in-depth insights and alternative methods, check out our detailed article, Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Armenia?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in Aruba on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Armenia. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you figure out exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Armenia.
Safety at ATMs
Travelers usually consider Armenia safe, including for ATM use. ATMs are common in urban areas, especially Yerevan. However, exercise caution. Use ATMs in well-lit, busy areas or banks to reduce risks. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid showing lot of cash. Regularly check bank statements for unauthorized transactions.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Armenia takes your card, contact the bank branch directly for help or call their helpline. At an ATM of the bank branch, they may be able to remove and give your card back. On the helpline though, they typically retrieve and resend cards only for their customers. If so, contact your own bank to request a new card delivered to your home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Armenia?
Yes, there are many fee-free ATMs in Armenia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Armenia do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Yes, you can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Armenia. Do check the card types accepted given above.
Bitcoin ATMs
As of now, there are no known Bitcoin ATMs in Armenia.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Armenia
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs.
Citibank: No, Citibank is not present here.
Barclays: No, Barclays does not have ATMs.
HSBC: No, HSBC is not present here.
Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not have ATMs here.
