El Salvador, the smallest country in Central America, offers a variety of natural features, including volcanic peaks and Pacific coast beaches. The country has adopted Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the U.S. Dollar, offering unique payment options. Whether engaging in activities such as surfing in El Tunco, exploring Mayan ruins, or visiting the capital of San Salvador, it is important to know how to access cash. This guide provides information on cash and ATMs in El Salvador, covering withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance to ease financial transactions.
Where to find ATMs in El Salvador?
In Urban Areas: Cities such as San Salvador, Santa Ana, and San Miguel have a good distribution of ATMs, particularly in commercial districts, shopping malls, and near bank branches. Banks like Banco Cuscatlán, Banco Agrícola, and Banco Atlántida run extensive ATM networks.
In Tourist Spots: Popular areas like El Tunco, La Libertad, and Suchitoto have ATMs, though they may be less frequent. It’s advisable to withdraw cash in larger towns before visiting these spots.
In Rural Areas: In smaller villages and remote regions, ATMs are scarce. Travelers should plan and carry adequate cash when venturing into these areas.
Best ATMs to use in El Salvador for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in El Salvador are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Hipotecario
- Banco Agricola
- Davivienda
- Cuscatlan
- Industrial
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There is a Global ATM Alliance member bank – Scotiabank which allows fee-free withdrawals for member banks in El Salvador.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In El Salvador, some ATMs may prompt you to either Accept or Decline Conversion (also referred to as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in USD).
- If you choose to ‘Accept’, the ATM will convert your currency at its own exchange rate. For this, you incur an added percentage fee of the ATM.
- Conversely, if you select ‘Decline’, ATM processes the conversion using the exchange rate of your bank or card issuer (Visa, MasterCard, etc.).
Therefore, to avoid extra fees, it is advisable to choose ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in USD’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in El Salvador?
Yes, ATMs accept majority of the foreign debit and credit cards. ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus cards. Some machines accept only Visa and some only Mastercard (even from the same bank). They don’t usually accept others like Amex, JCB, UnionPay, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards.
ATM opening hours
ATMs in El Salvador are open 24/7, particularly those found outside of bank branches.
ATM identification and language options
You can identify an ATM in El Salvador by looking for the words ‘ATM’ or ‘Cajero Automatico’.
ATMs primarily offer Spanish as the main language, and many of them will even offer English as the second language choice. If you’re not familiar with these languages, using live translation via Google Translate’s camera function can be handy; but continue cautiously as translations may not be perfect.
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 El Salvador?
ATMs dispense cash in US Dollars (USD), as it is the official currency.
ATM withdrawal limits in El Salvador?
ATMs in El Salvador have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of US$ 275 to US$ 500, with the most common being US$ 300 per transaction. ATMs typically have a daily withdrawal limit of US$ 500 to US$ 600.
ATM Fees in El Salvador
There are some fee-free ATMs in El Salvador. Bank ATMs in El Salvador charge US$ 3.95 to US$ 7.91 per transaction as ATM Access Fees to foreign card holders. There are 2 banks that do not have any ATM fees for foreign card holders.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in El Salvador. These are:
1. The ATM’s Currency Conversion Charges (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. 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 El Salvador
- Use the 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 fee-free cards from your home country.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have 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
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in EL Salvador 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 El Salvador. 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 El Salvador.
Safety at ATMs
Crime is high in El Salvador, especially at ATMs. Avoid displaying wealth like expensive watches or jewelry or even displaying the cash you have just withdrawn. Use ATMs in secure, guarded areas like shopping malls or banks. Be aware of your surroundings, particularly in urban areas, and avoid using ATMs at night or in isolated spots. Regularly check bank statements for unauthorized transactions.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in El Salvador takes your card, contact the bank branch’s staff for aid with proof of identity so they may be able to retrieve your card at once. If you used an independent ATM, the bank’s helpline may not be of much help in which case, contact your own bank to request a new card sent to your home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in El Salvador?
Yes, there are 2 banks that do not have any ATM fees for foreign card holders, so be sure to use these. Else be prepared to pay US$ 3.95 to US$ 7.91 per transaction if you use ATMs of other fee charging bank ATMs.
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 El Salvador.
Bitcoin ATMs
El Salvador has a many Bitcoin ATMs, especially after adopting Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021. However, recent developments show that the government has revoked Bitcoin’s status as legal tender, which may affect the operation and number of Bitcoin ATMs in the country.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in El Salvador
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: Yes, Citibank runs here but not as a retail bank with ATMs here.
Barclays: No, Barclays does not have ATMs here.
HSBC: No, HSBC sold to Davivienda many years ago.
Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not operate ATMs here.
