Want to know which ATMs in Bali are safe to use?
BCA and BNI are the best ATMs in Bali because they are the big banks across Indonesia and are safe, reliable and most importantly, don’t have any withdrawal fees.
Having your card swallowed by an ATM or losing money and not being able to withdraw is everyone’s nightmare.
Matthew and I have been digital nomads in Bali for 5+ years (on and off). Matthew absolutely loathes banking or ATM fees and he has done a whole lot of research on this.
Now, we are sharing the best ATMs to use, the worst ATMs to avoid, how to withdraw money safely and all you need to know about cash, cards and ATMs in Bali!
What Currency Does Bali Use?
The official currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. This is the only legally accepted currency to buy and pay with while in Bali, Indonesia.
The currency code for the Indonesian Rupiah is ‘IDR’ and the currency sign is simply ‘Rp’.
Whether you plan on traveling to Bali or to other cities in Indonesia, you will be using the same currency across the country.
Can You Make Card Payments In Bali?
Yes, you can make card payments in *most* places in Bali.
When we first visited Bali 10 years ago, card wasn’t widely accepted and we remember having to withdraw huge wads of cash to pay for tours, drivers and food.
Now at most cafes, restaurants and activities in the touristy areas it’s becoming more acceptable to pay with card.
Certain things like laundry services, motorbike rentals and tiny un-branded convenience stores won’t take card payments, which means you will still have to pay them in cash.
Please Note: Grocery stores like Pepito or convenience stores like Circle K will have a minimum spend to use a card is usually Rp 100,000 ($6.35 USD) for contactless payments.
For some reason, they may allow a lower spend if you insert the card.
Are ATMs Free In Bali?
Yes and no!
You can find ATMs in Bali that will charge zero fees BUT there are still ATMs that will charge a small fee to withdraw money.
That’s why it’s very important to keep a mental note of the best ATMs in Bali to use (reminder: BCA & BNI) so you don’t get surprised by a withdrawal fee.
It also depends on the kind of card you have. Matthew and I both have Wise and Revolut cards because they usually have no fees.
For ATMs in Bali specifically, we can confirm that we have and continue to withdraw for FREE with Wise and Revolut at BCA or BNI ATMs.
Which ATMs In Bali Should You Trust?
ATMs in Bali are located around almost every corner. You can use most of them to withdraw money, even with foreign cards, but that’s not the main issue, right?!
Are you scared of…
- your card getting swallowed by an ATM?
- your money getting stolen?
- paying exorbitant ATM fees (which are avoidable)?
Look, I’ll be honest. We’ve had at least 3 friends lose their card because an ATM decided to swallow it.
Unfortunately, there was no solution offered – they simply had to get new cards sent to them and borrow money from friends just to have some cash.
These ‘scams’ are more common than you think. But there’s good news…
All of those nightmare situations are avoidable.
If you simply know which ATMs in Bali are safe to use and which ATMs to avoid. In our 5+ years of traveling to Bali (on and off), we have learned a few tips to share with you.
3x Best ATMs In Bali To Look For
Here’s the 3 best ATMs in Bali to withdraw money safely:
We love and trust BCA ATMs the most. We recommend BCA ATMs because they have a large number of ATM locations across Bali with a good level of security (which is very important to us) and clean facilities.
With our Revolut and Wise cards, we don’t need to worry about paying any withdrawal fees at any of the BCA ATMs in Bali.
You can also use BNI or Mandiri. We have withdrawn from both and had good experiences.
If you can’t find a BCA, the next best ATM in Bali is BNI. Mandiri is okay but they may charge small withdrawal fees for certain cards.
These are some ATM locations in Bali we have withdrawn from and/or bank branches to visit:
- Canggu: BCA Canggu | BNI Canggu
- Kuta: BCA Kuta | BNI Legian
- Seminyak: BCA Seminyak ATM | BNI Seminyak
If you want zero withdrawal fees, your safest bet is BCA or BNI for ATMs in Bali.
ATMs In Bali To Avoid
Well, this one isn’t so straightforward.
Don’t withdraw money from ATMs in Bali that aren’t branded or more famous. The smaller, lesser-known ATMs can be dangerous. The most important thing is WHERE you withdraw your money from.
In saying that, we recommend staying away from Commonwealth Bank ATMs. Yes, as an Australian, Matt also thought that would be a good option in Bali.
However, they Commbank charge higher foreign transaction fees and give you horrible exchange rates. Not worth it – use local Indonesian banks instead!
We see a lot of tourists pull off the side of a random road while traveling across the island to withdraw money.
Don’t do that!
If you’re in the middle of nowhere or the ATM looks too old or dodgy – this is where you could get your card swallowed or your card could get swiped!
Wait till you can use a branded ATM in a more populated area.
⭐️ TTA TIP: Only withdraw from famous ATMs like BCA or BNI in tourist areas. We prefer to go to the actual bank branch if we can and use the ATMs within the bank building as there’s usually a security guard outside.
Where Can You Find ATMs In Bali?
You can find ATMs almost everywhere in Bali! As it is a huge tourist destination, they are easily accessible in popular areas like Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud, Canggu and Uluwatu.
Our number #1 tip for travelers looking for ATMs in Bali is that the best place to withdraw money is from the bank branches themselves rather than stand-alone, un-branded machines on the side of the road.
Go to the branch as there will be more facilities, security and staff around, especially for large amounts of money.
You can usually find ATMs in Bali at the gas stations like Pertamina. Even grocery stores (eg. Pepito or Frestive) and convenience stores (eg. Circle K or Mini Mart).
The only places we struggled to find ATMs in Bali were on the islands like Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida or the Gili Islands. ATMs are few on the smaller islands, but you will usually find them in the town center.
What Is The ATM Withdrawal Limit In Bali?
The maximum withdrawal limit in Bali is generally Rp 3,000,000 IDR ($190 USD) per transaction. If you need to take out more than Rp 3,000,000 then you will have to withdraw multiple times.
We have done this before to pay for accommodation – it’s still zero fees, just a little annoying!
⭐️ TTA TIP: When withdrawing large amounts of cash (more than the max withdrawal limit), we suggest going to a trusted Indonesian bank branch instead of a stand-alone ATM.
It’s much safer as there are staff inside, cameras around and a security guard at the entrance.
Most ATMs in Bali dispense Rp 100,000 notes like BCA and BNI.
Most places accept Rp 100,000 notes but sometimes businesses want smaller change. If you want smaller notes, Mandiri and Maybank may dispense Rp 50,000 notes instead.
Will Your Credit Card Or Debit Card Work In Bali?
Most cards will work in Bali. US, Australian and UK cards will work in most places across the island as long as they are attached to a common network (eg. VISA, Mastercard, etc).
Between Matthew and I, we have a few VISA cards, Mastercards and an American Express card. The AMEX is less likely to be accepted across Bali and often has higher foreign transaction fees.
We have multiple WISE and Revolut cards so if anything goes wrong or a card gets swallowed – we always have backup options! Don’t worry though, most cards are VISA or Mastercard which is widely accepted in Bali for most places.
Is Contactless Payment In Bali A Thing?
Oh yes!
Bali has quickly adopted the “contactless” payment system, making it easy to pay with Apple Pay or other digital wallets. A lot of cafes, restaurants, coffee shops and convenience stores will usually accept payWave.
Is It Best To Take Cash or Card To Bali?
The best thing to do is to have both cash and card while visiting Bali!
We recommend having at least Rp 500,000 in your wallet in case the odd place doesn’t want to take card payments.
A lot of places accept card now, but you don’t want to be in a situation where they don’t and you have to rush to find an ATM in the area.
You don’t need to have Indonesian rupiahs before you land in Bali.
It’s good to have a small amount in case you want to tip your driver, but otherwise ask to stop at an ATM before you arrive at your accommodation.
If you want the best exchange rates, wait till you get to the city center to access the reliable ATMs.
Beware: The smaller, money exchange booths may try to hand you the incorrect amount or offer you a really horrible exchange rate. They can be sly with their hands!
We suggest you avoid exchanging your money at these and simply withdraw it from an ATM in Bali.
For cards, we suggest bringing multiple debit cards and credit cards. We have a few Wise cards and a few Revolut cards.
In the rare instance a card gets stolen, swiped or swallowed by an ATM in Bali, we’ve got backup options.
Matthew and I have Visa, Mastercard and AMEX and sometimes we’ve had Revolut (Visa) work but Wise (Mastercard) won’t work for some reason (and vice versa).
Having multiple cards has saved us on numerous occasions around the world!
The Cards We Use For Better Rates (+ ZERO withdrawal fees)
Our readers will know Matthew hates these small (but annoying) withdrawal fees. We will visit a few ATMs in whichever country we are digital nomads just to find the one with the lowest (or zero) fees.
Matthew has been passionate about finding the best travel cards since we began traveling full-time in 2018.
What’s the result?
In simple words: These are fintech companies that offer free ATM withdrawals around the world while also having the best currency exchange rates.
We use both Revolut and Wise daily wherever we are – Bali and beyond!
We’ve had these cards since 2019 and it’s been a game-changer for us. Matthew and I barely worry about how to pay, high foreign transaction fees, withdrawal fees or high exchange rates.
🏆 TTA Golden Rule: Freeze Card After Withdrawing Money
We have made it a habit to ‘Freeze” our cards on the Revolut immediately after withdrawing money from any ATM. This gives us extra security and peace of mind that someone wouldn’t be able to access our cards or swipe them easily.
Revolut has this feature and it’s very easy to ‘Freeze’ a card. We highly recommend doing this if you have a Revolut Card.
Here’s how to freeze your card on Revolut: Click the card symbol on the top right > choose a card > click “Freeze” just below the image of the card.
It’s free to sign up, easy to navigate on their respective apps and they will deliver your card to you – wherever you are!
These are the best ‘bank’ cards for digital nomads and tourists.
Want to know more? Check out our Wise review and Revolut review for more info.
Must-Know Tips To Help You Safely Withdraw From ATMs In Bali
Withdrawing money from an ATM in a foreign country can be nerve-wracking at first. But if you know where to go, which ATMs to choose and what to watch out for – it doesn’t always have to be that way!
Here’s some key tips on how to safely withdraw money from ATMs in Bali and how to spot unsafe ATMs from a mile away:
1️⃣ Use ATMs attached to Indonesian banks (eg. BCA, BNI, Bank Mandiri, Maybank).
2️⃣ Don’t withdraw from ATMs in lesser-known, isolated areas that look old or dodgy.
3️⃣ Hide your pin with your hands and swipe across the keypad when finished.
4️⃣ For large amounts of cash, always go inside the bank branch ATMs instead of stand-alone machines.
5️⃣ Avoid ATMs located inside convenience stores IF they are unbranded, unknown machines.
6️⃣ Jiggle the card slot to check if it moves easily first (before inserting your card).
If it does wiggle too much, it means that someone might skim your card. I always move the card slot before putting my card in as pictured above.
These are some tips and things we’ve learned over the 5+ years we’ve been traveling to Bali. We hope you find these helpful and get your money withdrawn safely!
🏆 TTA Golden Rule: Always Select IDR (Rupiah) When Paying By Card
Have you ever experienced this?
When you pay with a card, the waiter starts to show you the payment machine and asks “Do you want to pay in Rupiah or your home currency (eg. USD)?”
There is only one right answer: always select IDR (or whichever is the local currency of the country you’re currently in).
This is another time the currency conversion can catch you out! If you select the local currency, you will get the best exchange rate.
Conclusion: Choose The Right ATMs And Watch Out For Dodgy Machines
There you have it, a complete guide on the ATMs in Bali and things to watch out for. Now you know…
The best ATMs in Bali are BCA and BNI. Both these options are usually safe to withdraw from, have many locations across popular areas and don’t charge withdrawal fees (for certain cards).
A few tips to remember: If you don’t want to pay high fees or get rubbish conversion rates, avoid Commonwealth Bank ATMs.
It’s also best to steer clear of unbranded ATMs or any machines that are in isolated areas.
Once you know where to go to withdraw and how to spot unsafe ATMs – it’s really easy to get money out around the island.
Hopefully, now you can withdraw safely and simply enjoy your holiday or digital nomad adventures in Bali!