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ATM Fees in Costa Rica. Like most places, if you are using an ATM out of your normal network, the local bank will charge a fee. In Costa Rica, these fees typically range from 1,500-3,000 colones (about $3-6). You also may get charged from your bank. Like with credit cards, you can be charged others fees from your bank at home as well.
Most ATMs in Costa Rica charge fees, though we have heard of some cards not being charged a fee with Banco de Costa Rica so this is worth trying first. Fees are usually around 1,500 to 2,000 Costa Rican Colon, with the standalone machines in shops and tourist areas attracting higher fees and also taking a surprisingly high commission with the currency exchange rate they offer.
ATM Fees Can Add Up. ATM fees can range from 0% (see zero fee cards) to 65% of the total transaction. If your issuing bank charges the standard $5 per transaction and you use a convenience store cash machine like the one pictured below with a separate $7.95 fee to take out twenty bucks the fees total to 65% of the amount withdrawn which is insane.
- Take Your Card and Money Out Quickly. In Costa Rica, if you don’t take your money and card out of the ATM quickly after making a withdrawal, the machine will eat (retain) your card and your money as a precaution—as inconvenient as that may be at the time.
- ATMs Run Out of Money. If you try to take money out of an ATM in Costa Rica, and instead of money, you get a receipt that says, “Insufficient funds”, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have enough money in your account.
- If Your Transaction Doesn’t Work, Don’t Keep Trying. In Costa Rica, an ATM will (eat) retain your card if you try to make a transaction unsuccessfully too many times.
- Talk to Your Bank About International Withdrawal Fees. It is a good idea to check with your bank before you start your vacation to see what you will be charged for international withdrawal fees.
The Banco de Costa Rica ATMs have a limit per transaction equivalent to about $100 USD and charge a fee. As for the number of transactions, you should be able to make multiple withdrawls in a day - probably equal to your accounts daily withdrawal limit.
Debit Card Guarantees No ATM Fees. We carry a Charles Schwab bank debit card that guarantees we will never pay an ATM fee in Costa Rica or anywhere else in the world. If there is a fee applied to the transaction by the local bank or ATM machine system, Schwab refunds the amount of the fee to our account at the end of every month.
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Nov 7, 2024 · Then there is the fee the local bank may apply per transaction. I can only speak to my Canadian Bank card, your bank may have different arrangements. My go - to bank is the Banco Nacional de Costa Rica BNCR. They do not charge me a fee over and above what my bank charges. I have been able to routinely get 300,000 or a bit more colones in one try.