Which is better - choosing With or Without Conversion at ATM in Azerbaijan?
I learned quick: say no to their conversion. That ATM USD offer always included about a 6% fee. Select “Without Conversion” so you get manat at fair bank rates. With my Citi Mastercard at an AccessBank ATM, I bypassed DCC - saving around $8 on a 150 manat pull. Let your bank handle it, not the ATM.
It’s a sneaky tactic - ATM tries to do your bank’s FX work for you, but charges a markup. Decline that “With Conversion” option and withdraw the local currency instead. I did a side-by-side on a Pasha Bank machine and saw the markup on the USD side was glaring. Choosing “Without Conversion” gave me a clean manat withdrawal that converted favorably in my Chase account.
That DCC screen essentially offers to convert your transaction into USD for you - but at a poor rate. Always choose “Without Conversion” in Azerbaijan ATMs and let your foreign bank handle FX. I tried both options at a Rabitabank ATM in Nizami Street and found “With Conversion” was nearly 7% worse. By declining, my Revolut Mastercard processed the charge at the interbank rate plus a tiny fee - much more economical.
That “With or Without Conversion” prompt is dynamic currency conversion (DCC). Opt for “Without Conversion” to withdraw in Azerbaijani manat, letting your own bank do the conversion. Choosing “With Conversion” forces the ATM to charge a marked‑up exchange rate (often 6-8%), which ends up costing you more. I tested it at a Kapital Bank ATM in Baku using my Wise Visa - declining conversion saved me nearly $12 on a 200 manat withdrawal.