Trying to avoid paying crazy ATM fees while traveling in Turkmenistan. Anyone found ATMs that are free for foreign cards? Would love specific banks or locations if possible.
For travelers with international cards in Turkmenistan, Halk Bank ATMs in Ashgabat are your safest bet. I used my Visa debit there, paying moderate fees. Daily withdrawal amounts fit most travel budgets. Airports definitely have higher charges, so avoid airport ATMs if possible. Also, carrying enough cash beforehand is smart as some ATMs don’t work outside the capital.
Turkmenistan’s ATM network is limited but Halk Bank seems most foreign card friendly in my experience. Daily withdrawal limits were around $500 USD. Fees were fixed, about 45,000 TMT each time. I stayed near the city center and found that bigger banks had more reliable machines for international visitors. Traveling on a tight budget means planning cash withdrawals carefully here.
I found that Turkmenbashy Bank ATMs in Ashgabat often accept foreign cards with reasonable fees and decent withdrawal limits. Some smaller city ATMs didn’t accept foreign cards at all. Make sure to use machines in bank branches and avoid random or standalone ATMs, which might charge extra or reject your card. Always have cash backup; card acceptance around the country is limited.
In Ashgabat, I used the Halk Bank ATMs because they were some of the few that accepted foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. The withdrawal fees weren’t too bad-around 40,000 to 50,000 TMT per withdrawal. Daily limits were roughly 500 USD equivalent, which covered my expenses well. Avoid airport ATMs as they usually have higher fees. For budget travelers, withdrawing larger amounts less frequently helps save on fees.