I used my US card in Kenya & the ATM just asked me Accept or Decline Conversion - I feel like I should choose Accept coz it seems more appealing but it had these super confusing numbers on the screen saying 8% markup so not sure. What should I do?
At JKIA Nairobi airport, Barclays/Absa ATMs asked me the same. The design makes “accept” look official and recommended. But I declined, got billed in KES, and Revolut applied the fair rate. Another traveler I chatted with at Wildebeest Eco Camp chose accept and was furious when he compared statements later. In Kenya, decline is always cheaper.
Pulled cash in Kisumu at an Equity Bank ATM. It flashed “accept conversion” into USD with numbers that looked safe, but in reality it was just padded rates. I picked decline, charged in KES, and my Chase card handled it properly. I once made the mistake of hitting accept at Jomo Kenyatta Airport and regretted it. Always decline, no matter how appealing the wording looks.
At a Co-operative Bank ATM in Mombasa, I faced the same confusing conversion screen. Accept showed USD with a big check mark, but decline kept the transaction in KES. I went with decline, and Revolut gave me the proper interbank rate. A British backpacker at Diani Beach hostel had accepted and said he lost around 9% extra. Don’t get tricked-decline is the way.
In Nairobi, I used a KCB Bank ATM in Westlands. It asked me to accept conversion into USD. The green “accept” button felt safer, but the small text said 8% markup. I declined, got charged in Kenyan shillings (KES), and Wise converted at a fair rate. When I tested accept earlier at a Standard Chartered ATM near Sarit Centre, it was $20 more expensive. Always decline in Kenya, it’s pure Dynamic Currency Conversion.
I&M Bank in Kenya offered currency conversion at the ATM-definitely go with Decline Conversion to avoid those extra charges.
At NCBA Bank in Kenya, make sure to hit Decline Conversion. Itll stop you from being charged unnecessary currency fees.