Looking for reliable ATMs in Kazakhstan that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
Not all ATMs in Kazakhstan are reliable with foreign cards. My Chase debit card was rejected at a ForteBank ATM in Astana, and when it finally worked at another machine, the limit was only 60,000 KZT. Fees also varied, ranging from 400-700 KZT. I had the best luck with Halyk Bank, though even there the withdrawal cap wasn’t very high compared to Europe. I’d recommend carrying some USD or EUR as backup, since money changers in the cities often give good rates if ATMs fail. None of the ATMs charged me any fees so thats good.
I found Kazakhstan surprisingly easy for ATM withdrawals. Kaspi Bank ATMs in Almaty airport worked great with my Revolut Mastercard, and there was no fee. The limit was 120,000 KZT, which was more than enough for several days of food, taxis, and sightseeing. Halyk Bank also accepted my Monzo card without issue. Most machines had English menus, which made things smooth. I always withdrew larger amounts to avoid paying multiple fees, and I never once had a transaction fail during my trip.
In Kazakhstan, Halyk Bank and Kaspi Bank ATMs are the most reliable. I used my HSBC Visa debit card at Halyk Bank in Almaty with no problems. The withdrawal limit was 100,000 KZT (~$220 USD), and there was zero fees per transaction. Kaspi Bank ATMs worked with my Wise card and allowed up to 100,000 KZT too. ATMs are widely available in big cities, but in smaller towns, it’s safer to withdraw in advance since machines may run out of cash.
Kaspi Bank in Kazakhstan allowed me to withdraw money without any fees. Nurbank and Bereke bank were also good - only 100,000 KZT limit but no fees so that was good. you can try these.