Trying to avoid paying crazy ATM fees while traveling in Benin. Anyone found ATMs that are free for foreign cards? Would love specific banks or locations if possible.
On my trip, I mostly used Banque Atlantique ATMs in Cotonou. Withdrawals with foreign cards were quick and fees fair, between 2,000 and 3,000 XOF. The daily withdrawal limit should cover most travel budgets, usually 200,000 CFA francs. Avoid stands or non-bank ATMs in tourist areas-they tend to be expensive and sometimes unreliable.
The best ATM recos for Benin are Ecobank and BIBE. I used my Mastercard debit card at Ecobank in Cotonou and only paid a small fee, nothing crazy. Daily withdrawal limits were around 200,000 CFA francs which worked fine. Many small ATMs in local markets won’t take foreign cards or charge excessive fees-always use bank ATMs.
I struggled a bit with ATM fees in Benin, especially around Porto-Novo. Stick to ATMs at Banque Atlantique or Banque Internationale du Bénin for better acceptance and lower fees. Mastercard works best in most cases. The fees averaged about 3,000 CFA per withdrawal. For budget travelers, withdraw bigger cash amounts less frequently to save on fees.
In Cotonou, I found Ecobank and Banque Atlantique ATMs accept most foreign cards with reasonable fees. I was happy to pay around 2,000 to 3,000 XOF per withdrawal using my Visa card. Daily limits were enough for a traveler, about 200,000 XOF. I avoided independent ATMs in markets-they tend to charge way too much and sometimes don’t work with foreign cards.