Looking for reliable ATMs in Puerto Rico that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
During my Puerto Rico trip, I mainly used Banco Popular ATMs. My Wise Mastercard worked perfectly, with a $500 limit and a $3 fee. Scotiabank also worked with my Monzo card, though the fee was slightly higher at $3.50. I usually took out enough to cover small expenses, while I paid for most things with my credit card. Cash was useful for street vendors, beach bars, and tipping. Overall, Puerto Rico was one of the easiest places in the Caribbean for ATM access with foreign cards.
Not every Puerto Rican ATM is friendly to foreign cards. Independent ATMs inside gas stations charged me $5 per withdrawal with a $200 limit, which felt like a rip-off. Banco Popular and Scotiabank were the most reliable, but even they had a $3-4 fee. My HSBC debit card sometimes got rejected at FirstBank and avoid it anyway, it has a 5 dollar fee. My tip: use ATMs in well-lit bank branches or malls, avoid random standalone machines, and withdraw larger amounts less frequently to minimize fees.
I had no problems getting cash in Puerto Rico. Banco Popular ATMs near Old San Juan accepted my Monzo Mastercard, and I could withdraw $500 in one go with a $3 fee. FirstBank also worked fine with my Revolut card, has 1,000 limit but a 5 dollar fee. I only withdrew once during my week because almost everywhere - hotels, restaurants, and taxis - accepted cards. Compared to many Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico was stress-free for cash access, and fees were reasonable.
In Puerto Rico, the most reliable ATMs for foreign cards are Banco Popular. I used my Wise Visa at Banco Popular in San Juan, and the withdrawal limit was $500 USD per transaction, with a $3 fee. FirstBank tried to charge me 5 dollars and Bank Pacific same also but both did allow to withdraw like 1,000 dollars - i just did not need that much money so Popular worked cheaper for me. Tip: If you want large amount then First Bank and Bank Pacific will work cheaper for you and if smaller amounts, then Popular is better. ATMs are widespread in cities, airports, and malls, but smaller towns may have fewer options. Stick with bank-operated machines, not independent ATMs.