Belize, a captivating Central American country, is renowned for its lush rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins, and stunning barrier reef. From the vibrant marine life of the Belize Barrier Reef to the serene beauty of the Cayo District, Belize offers an array of adventures for nature and history enthusiasts alike. To ensure a seamless experience, it’s essential to grasp the local currency and cash along with using cash and ATMs in Belize and understanding the accepted payment methods. This will llow you to immerse yourself in the wonders of Belize without any financial hassles.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to travel on a budget in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in Belize?
In Belize, you have 130+ ATMs provided by the country’s main banks. They’re accessible in cities but less so on far-off islands.
You can find ATMs at:
- major transport hubs, central markets, busy tourist streets, malls, and near banks.,
- Central Markets,
- Busy tourist streets,
- Malls,
- Near Banks.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Small airports on islands,
- Bus stops in the area,
- The villages’ interiors,
- Hidden away in small towns, away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets,
- Remote resorts and retreats.
Best ATMs to use in Belize for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Belize are those owned by popular banks such as:
Altantic Bank, and
Heritage Bank.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards like Belize Bank, however, it has high fees.
Global ATM alliance: Global ATM Alliance is a partnership among many banks in the world to allow its customers to withdraw cash from all partner banks abroad without any ATM fee. Many banks in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and Latin America are part of the Global ATM Alliance, including Bank of America, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and others. Scotiabank used to be part of this but it no longer operates in Belize.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Belize, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in BZD).
- 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 Belize, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in BZD’.
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 Belize?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in Belize.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in Belize.
What are the ATM opening hours?
Most ATMs operate non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Standalone machines are always available, but those inside banks may keep to the 9 am to 3 pm schedule.
What do they call ATMs in Belize?
Words ATM are used or ATMs are present only with the name of bank. You may need to enter a bank branch to access the ATM
PIN type
ATMs in Belize primarily accept 4-digit PINs. It is unlikely that ATMs in Belize will accept PINs longer than 4 digits.
Languages at ATMs in Belize
English is the standard language for ATMs in Belize, with some machines providing Spanish as an alternative.
You can use Google Translate’s camera feature to get real-time translations of your phone’s menu options to translate the ATM screen. Feel free to take your time and not rush through the transaction. Just keep in mind that these translations may not always be 100% accurate.
Do ATMs in Belize work similarly as other countries?
ATMs in Belize are decidedly contemporary, offering a user experience similar to those in the US, UK, and other developed regions. Take care to remember your card post-transaction, as it gets completely taken in by the machine.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in North & Central America.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Belize?
ATMs in Belize dispense only the official currency Belize Dollar (BZD).
ATM withdrawal limits in Belize?
ATMs in Belize have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of B$ 500 to B$ 1,500. Banks usually limit the withdrawal per day to B$ 1,500 or US$ 750 equivalent (B$ is Belize Dollar).of LEK 75,000 per transaction or € 1,000. Some ATMs allows to withdraw as much as the card’s withdrawal limit, in one transaction.
ATM Fees in Belize?
There is only one fee-free ATM in Belize. Otherwise bank ATMs in Belize typically charge two fees – a fixed ATM fee per transaction plus a variable ATM fee i.e. a percentage of the withdrawal amount. The fixed fees per transaction are usually US$ 3.5 and variable fee is usually 1% of the withdrawal amount.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Belize – something every traveller handling cash in Belize 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 Belize?
- 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 Belize?
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 Belize. 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 Belize.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use Belize ATMs?
Safety on using ATMs in Belize depends on the location of the ATM. There have been many cases of being mugged for cash outside ATMs especially during night time, on empty streets and even in crowded places.
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 Belize 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?
Yes, its possible. But, There is only one fee-free ATM in Belize. Otherwise bank ATMs in Belize typically charge two fees – a fixed ATM fee per transaction plus a variable ATM fee i.e. a percentage of the withdrawal amount. The fixed fees per transaction are usually US$ 3.5 and variable fee is usually 1% of the withdrawal amount.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Belize?
Yes. You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Belize.
Bitcoin ATMs?
No, there are no Bitcoin ATMs in Belize.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in Belize
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs in Belize.
Citibank: None.
Barclays: None.
HSBC: None.
Standard Chartered: None.
