Ukraine, a country of resilient spirit, sweeping landscapes, and rich cultural heritage, offers travelers everything from historic cities to vibrant traditions. Whether you’re exploring the architecture of Lviv, walking along the Dnipro River in Kyiv, or visiting the Carpathian Mountains, knowing how to manage your money is essential. Cards are widely accepted in major cities, but cash is still preferred in rural areas, local markets, and for public transport. This guide provides essential information on cash and ATMs in Ukraine, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a smooth and well-prepared journey.
Where to find ATMs in Ukraine?
Cities like Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv have excellent ATM access. Machines are typically located near metro stations, bank branches, supermarkets, and major streets like Khreshchatyk in Kyiv. Ukrainian banks such as PrivatBank, Raiffeisen Bank Aval, and Oschadbank operate most networks. ATMs dispense Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH) and usually accept Visa and Mastercard.
Tourist Spots:
Tourist-heavy locations like Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Lviv Old Town, and Odesa’s Potemkin Stairs have ATMs nearby. Airports and major train stations also offer reliable access. Many ATMs allow users to select English or other language options, though smaller-town machines may default to Ukrainian.
Rural Areas / Conflict Zones:
In rural western or central Ukraine, you’ll often find at least one ATM in each town, but smaller villages may lack them altogether. In eastern or southern regions affected by conflict, ATM access may be severely disrupted or unreliable. Always carry sufficient cash when traveling to remote or border areas, and confirm that your bank card is supported by local ATM networks.
Best ATMs to use in Ukraine for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Ukraine are those owned by popular banks such as:
- OTP Bank,
- UkrSibbank,
- Kredobank,
- Tascombank, and
- Oschadbank.
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Ukraine.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Ukraine, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in UAH).
– 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, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in UAH’.
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 Ukraine?
Yes, many foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Ukraine. ATMs commonly accept Visa and Mastercard. Some of them also accept Plus, Cirrus and CUP cards. Others such as JCB, Maestro, American Express, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
What are the ATM opening hours?
In major cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa as well as in small towns, ATMs are widely available and generally operate 24/7. However, during periods of instability or power shortages, access can be temporarily affected.
What are ATMs called in Ukraine?
ATMs are commonly referred to as “Банкомат” (Bankomat) in Ukrainian. Signage often includes “ATM” as well, especially in shopping malls, airports, and tourist areas.
Language options at ATMs
Most ATMs offer Ukrainian, Russian, and English language options.
Don’t know the language? Use the Google Translate camera function to get a rough translation of the ATM screen.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Ukraine?
ATMs in Ukraine normally dispense only Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH), the official local currency. However, a small number of specialized ATMs in Kyiv – such as those operated by JSB ClearingHouse – offer U.S. dollar (USD) withdrawals to international cardholders. However, this is rare and typically located near the bank’s head office. From the vast majority of ATM machines, only UAH is available.
ATM withdrawal limits in Ukraine?
ATMs in Ukraine have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of UAH 4,000 to UAH 5,000 per transaction. Most banks have daily withdrawal limits of UAH 20,000 to UAH 50,000.
ATM Fees in Ukraine
There are some fee-free ATMs in Ukraine. Some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Fees for foreign card holders while many others charge varied fees – either fixed fees of UAH 50 per transaction or 2% to 4% of the transaction amount. So you can use the ones with no ATM Fees here.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Ukraine. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (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 Ukraine
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 a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Ukraine?
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 Ukraine. 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 Ukraine. Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Safety at ATMs
ATM access in Ukraine is widespread, particularly in cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa. While most ATM use is safe, the ongoing geopolitical situation means extra caution is advised, especially in eastern and southern regions. Card skimming and fraud are possible, so stick to ATMs located within bank branches, malls, or hotels. Avoid standalone ATMs on the street and be mindful of your surroundings. Always shield your PIN, stay updated on local advisories, and monitor your account for unauthorized activity.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Ukraine 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 in Ukraine?
Yes, its possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in Ukraine. Some bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Fees for foreign card holders while many others charge varied fees – either fixed fees of UAH 50 per transaction or 2% to 4% of the transaction amount. So you can use the ones with no ATM Fees here.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in Ukraine?
Yes. ATMs in major cities in Ukraine and international hotel chains accept many types of international cards.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Ukraine has a growing network of Bitcoin ATMs, with confirmed locations including Kyiv (3 machines), Lviv (2), Odesa (2), plus others in cities like Kharkiv, Dnipro, Poltava, and Vinnytsia. Locations include popular spots like Ocean Plaza in Kyiv. These are typically operational during mall hours – approximately 10 am–10 pm.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Ukraine
- Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
- Citibank: Yes, Citibank operates corporate and institutional banking in Ukraine but does not serve consumer ATMs.
- Barclays: No, Barclays has no retail ATM presence in Ukraine.
- HSBC: No, HSBC does not maintain consumer ATMs here.
- Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not operate consumer ATMs in Ukraine.
