ATMs in Aruba keep asking Accept or Decline Conversion - what does that mean? Shows high charges for this
That “Charge in USD?” prompt is DCC. The ATM quotes you a rough USD amount with hidden markup - mine was 6.5%. Always tap “Decline” and let your card do the FX at a better rate. I used a Revolut Visa for large cash pulls after that, and it showed the interbank rate minus only the small bank fee. Before I learned this, I was paying extra on every withdrawal. Now I remind my travel buddy to watch for it too.
I almost fell for it at an Aruba Bank kiosk in San Nicolas, then noticed “conversion fee 7%” flashing on screen. Decline conversion every time on Aruba ATMs - it’s always cheaper than letting the ATM preset your currency. After that, I got USD at my bank rate. My bank reimbursed me too, since it was just a standard ATM withdrawal fee. It’s easy to save real bucks by pressing “Decline” each time.
That pop-up is a DCC tactic - ATM pushes to do the conversion for you in USD, but the offered rate is gouged. At a Scotiabank ATM in Oranjestad, I saw almost 8% in markups. Decline conversion and withdraw in local Aruban florins or USD - your bank gives a far better FX rate. I was using a Wise Mastercard, and once I declined, I got the interbank rate plus a small flat fee. Don’t let that ATM’s bait-and-switch fool you.
I saw that prompt at a Banco di Caribe ATM near Palm Beach. It’s dynamic currency conversion (DCC). If you click "Accept," the ATM converts your withdrawal into USD using a marked-up rate, often adding 5-10% on top. Always choose "Decline Conversion" in Aruba ATMs so your own bank handles the currency exchange. I tested both options with my Schwab Visa and saved almost $15 on a $200 withdrawal by declining. Lesson learned - look carefully at the total before confirming.