You’re ready to arrive in the land of hills, beaches, deserts, parties, salsa, Spanish schools, and so much more! But to enjoy it all, you’ll likely need to carry cash at most times to get by in Colombia. In this article, we guide you on how to navigate cash and ATMs in Colombia, avoid fees and travel on a budget.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to save money for travelling in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Colombia?
Colombia is an interesting country when it comes to its network of ATMs. Where you’ll find ATMs, you’ll find a bunch of them around each other. And in some places, there are absolutely none. So you want to plan in advance.
In Colombia, you will find many choices of ATMs in big cities especially in and around touristic destinations and areas. When it comes to small cities, you will find 1 or 2 options. But in many small towns, you may not find any ATMs, and even if you do, it may likely be far from where you are, or it can be out of cash. So withdraw in advance if you are going to travel remotely.
You can find ATMs at:
- Big airports,
- Bank branches,
- High streets,
- Shopping malls,
- Tourist attractions,
- Market squares
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Local neighbourhoods,
- Small hill stations,
- Towns,
- Regional bus stops,
- Religious places,
Best ATMs to use in Colombia for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Colombia are those owned by popular banks such as:
Servibanca,
Scotiabank Colpatria,
Banco Popular,
Banco de Bogota,
Other banks like Banco Occidente or Banco AV Villas, and
Davivienda.
Other international banks also have their ATMs in Colombia, namely:
BBVA
Citibank
Itau
In Colombia, Scotiabank Colpatria is a member of the Global ATM Alliance.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Colombia, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in COP).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in Colombia, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in COP’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Colombia?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in Colombia. Some regional banks like Banco Popular, Banco Occidente, Banco AV Villas accept domestic cards only.
Firstly, different ATMs accept cards from different foreign banks and card companies. E.g. Davivienda accepts all cards from Europe and UK but doesn’t seem to accept some cards from Colombia. Same with Bancolombia and Caja Social
Secondly, a foreign card may work at one ATM of a bank but may not work at another ATM of the same bank! E.g. Your same card may work at one Banco de Bogota ATM, but may not work at another ATM of Banco de Bogota. So don’t worry if your card doesn’t work at one ATM in Colombia. Try at another ATM of the same bank if that’s the cheapest one. If you still don’t have luck at 3-4 ATMs of the same bank, then you can be pretty sure your card won’t work at any ATM of that bank. In that case, try a different card or a different ATM altogether.
What types of foreign cards work at ATMs in Colombia
ATMs in Colombia commonly accept cards with the logo Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Plus. You might find some ATMs that accept JCB and UnionPay, Diners, Amex, Discover but these are not common.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Colombia.
What are the ATM opening hours?
Yes. Usually, ATMs in Colombia are operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. ATMs in bank branches are also usually open 24×7 as you find them at the branch entrance.
What do they call ATMs in Colombia?
ATMs in Colombia do not always have a sign called “ATM”. They are usually branded with the name of the bank. So you might have to peek a little bit when you see a bank name to find if its just a branch or there is an ATM there too. Please note, ATMs in Colombia are not always marked on the maps apps that you might use. So rely cautiously. You can always ask a local directions for a “cajero” or “cajero automatico” nearby.
PIN type
Colombia ATMs accept 4-digit PINs as well as 6-digit PINs. If the ATM specifically shows you a 6-digit PIN box and you only have a 4-digit PIN, just enter it, leave the last 2 blank and continue with your transaction.
Languages at ATMs in Colombia
ATMs in Colombia by default are in Spanish. And usually at the start of the transaction, you will have the option to choose a language – Spanish or English. As a back-up, you can use Google Translate’s camera function if you need to translate ATM’s English language into your home language.
Do ATMs in Colombia work similarly as other countries?
Yes. ATMs in Colombia are equipped with modern technology and the ATM machines look and feel the same as those in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. So, you will have no trouble navigating through the ATMs to withdraw your money easily.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in South America.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Colombia?
ATMs in Colombia dispense only the official currency Colombian Pesos (COP). A handful of banks at some of their ATMs allow withdrawing USD and few other currencies, however, this is not very common.
ATM withdrawal limits in Colombia?
ATMs in Colombia have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of COP 300,000 to COP 2 million (Colombian Pesos). The withdrawal limits per transaction vary widely depending on the location of the ATM and the amount of cash available at the ATM at the time of withdrawal. For e.g., in some locations, Davivienda offers a withdrawal limit of 2 million Pesos per transaction and in others, only 400,000 Pesos. Similarly, Servibanca advertises on its ATMs that foreign card holders can withdraw up to 2 million Pesos in 1 transaction but some of its ATMs allow only up to 1 million Pesos. Good news is that ATMs in Colombia do not limit the number of transactions per day. So if you need more money, you can make multiple withdrawals.
ATM Fees in Colombia?
No, there are usually no fee-free ATMs in Colombia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Colombia charge between COP 14,770 to COP 28,500 per transaction (Colombian Pesos) as ATM Access Fees to foreign cardholders. Only one bank ATM has no ATM Fees but it is a small bank and works only with some specific bank cards.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Colombia – something every traveller handling cash in Colombia should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Colombia?
Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Colombia?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs 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 Colombia. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Singapore.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Is it safe to use Colombia ATMs?
Safety when using ATMs in Colombia depends on the location of the ATM. There have been numerous reports of people being mugged for their cash while waiting outside ATMs, particularly at night, on deserted streets, or even in busy areas.
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Colombia takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
No, its not possible to withdraw cash in Colombia free or cost as there are usually no fee-free ATMs in Colombia. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Colombia charge between COP 14,770 to COP 28,500 per transaction (Colombian Pesos) as ATM Access Fees to foreign cardholders. Only one bank ATM has no ATM Fees but it is a small bank and works only with some specific bank cards.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Colombia?
Absolutely! You can usually use credit cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Colombia. Most ATMs accept major cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Just look for the symbols on the ATMs – they’ll show you which cards are accepted.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Yes there are many bitcoin ATMs in Colombia mainly in bit cities – Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Medellin and Periera.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Colombia
Bank of America: None.
Citibank: Only one.
Barclays: None.
HSBC: None.
Standard Chartered: None.
