Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Eswatini that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
From my trip to Eswatini, I had the best luck withdrawing cash at Nedbank ATMs in Mbabane. The fees were reasonable-about 25 to 35 SZL-and the daily withdrawal limit per card was enough to cover my budget for a couple of days. I’d recommend bringing a travel debit card with low international fees to save money, and don’t wait till the last minute to withdraw because some rural ATMs can run out of cash. Hostels like Hawane Lodge can usually point you to the nearest reliable bank.
Standard Bank and Nedbank have the most foreign-friendly ATMs in Eswatini. I could use my Visa and Mastercard at their machines without major issues. The daily withdrawal limit was about 5,000 Eswatini lilangeni, which worked fine for most expenses. The fees were alright, not too high compared to other countries, about 30 SZL per withdrawal. If using a card like Wise or Revolut, you can save on conversion fees too. Always avoid ATM machines outside bank branches for safety.
Honestly, I didn’t love the ATM situation in Eswatini. I tried using my Mastercard at a few Standard Bank ATMs in Manzini, but some wouldn’t accept my card, and others had big fees. I would say stick to well-known banks like Nedbank or Standard Bank if you want reliability, but expect to pay between 30-40 SZL for each transaction. For budget travelers, carrying some cash is a lifesaver in rural areas because ATMs can be scarce there.
I just got back from Eswatini, and ATMs from Standard Bank and Nedbank in Mbabane and Manzini were the easiest to use with my Visa debit card. The fees weren’t outrageous-usually about 25 to 35 SZL per withdrawal-and the daily limits were good enough for most travel needs, around 5,000 SZL. I avoided smaller independent ATMs, which sometimes charged extra. If you’re on a budget, try to get one or two big withdrawals instead of many small ones to save on fees.