Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Samoa that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
As a regular hostel backpacker, I’d say avoid small independent ATMs in Samoa and stick with big names in well-lit, central spots—BSP near Hotel Elisa or ANZ next to Frankies Supermarket are both solid choices. A few folks at Tatiana Motel told me they got their cards eaten by older machines, so check withdrawal limits: T$2,000 is pretty standard and you’ll see T$15 fees from most banks. Always stash a little cash as backup and, for peace of mind, check with your card provider about local usage before your trip.
If you just want a straightforward answer, both BSP and ANZ are safe bets for cash withdrawals with international debit cards across the major towns on Upolu. Their fees are transparent (T$15 each plus percentage, T$2,000 per transaction). I never got charged double or hit with any surprise limits, which was a relief. Skip SCB—they often just don’t work with overseas cards or display proper fee breakdowns. Most banks and ATMs close a little early, so get your cash before evening.
Heads up for anyone using foreign cards in Samoa: NB Samoa charges fees in NZ$ (NZ$4 per withdrawal) but only lets you take out up to T$2,000, and I found exchange rates weren’t always brilliant. No hidden fees, but do check your own bank’s international withdrawal policies before flying in. I got stuck at one or two smaller ATMs in Vaitele that didn’t recognize my Visa card at all, so stick with the big banks in Apia for reliability. Always have a backup plan like some USD or AUD cash just in case.
I was just in Apia and tried out a bunch of ATMs—personally had the most luck with ANZ and BSP machines. Both are widely available, especially near major hostels like Samoan Outrigger and in spots like Vaiala or the main market area. Fees at ANZ and BSP were T$15 per transaction plus a 0.75% final fee, and you can only withdraw up to T$2,000 at a time, but honestly, the machines always worked smoothly for my overseas Mastercard. If you’re staying longer, doing fewer, larger withdrawals helps avoid repeated fees.