ATM fees and limits in Burundi?

Honestly, don't count on ATMs in Burundi. I'm a bit of an old-school traveler, and I brought most of my funds as US dollars. You can exchange them at banks and official currency exchange bureaus in Bujumbura. The exchange rate I got was about 2,800 BIF to 1 USD, which was decent. I tried using a local ATM once, and it just didn't connect with my foreign card at all. It's much less stressful to just carry cash and only use ATMs as a last resort, if at all.

I was in Burundi for a few weeks on a project, and finding reliable ATMs was a constant struggle. I learned the hard way that you should only use ATMs that are attached to a bank branch during their business hours. I had a frustrating experience where an ATM swallowed my card. Thankfully, it was at a Diamond Trust Bank branch, so I was able to go inside and get it back. The fees were pretty steep, too-about 10,000 BIF plus my bank's charges. Cash is definitely the most dependable option here.

You'll definitely want to carry US dollars with you to Bujumbura and exchange them as needed. The local ATMs can be a bit of a gamble. I had the most luck with the Ecobank ATMs located in the city. My Mastercard from a UK bank worked, but the transaction fees were a bit on the high side. My bank charged a foreign transaction fee, plus the local ATM fee was around 7,500 BIF per withdrawal. It’s smarter to take out a larger amount at once to minimize the fees. Don't expect to find many ATMs outside the capital.

Burundi can be a bit tricky for finding reliable ATMs, so planning ahead is key. The best bet is to stick to the capital, Bujumbura. You'll find a few bank branches there with ATMs. I used a Visa debit card at a KCB Bank ATM in the city center. It worked after a couple of tries, but the fees weren't too bad, maybe 5,000 FBU. Don't rely on smaller towns or the border crossings; you’ll have a hard time finding a working machine. Make sure to bring a decent amount of US dollars in cash, as they are widely accepted.