High currency conversion charges at ATMs in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

I found it super annoying that every ATM at the Bank of Saint Vincent asks about currency conversion. Accepting means the ATM grabs a worse exchange rate with added fees that really add up. I always decline and let my Chase credit card handle it, with lower fees and better rates. Just be ready to pay at least $5 per withdrawal though-that’s standard for most local ATMs. Definitely keep an eye on the options, so you don’t accidentally spend more.

Honestly, the Accept or Decline Conversion question on ATMs in Saint Vincent gave me headaches. I accidentally accepted once at a First Caribbean ATM and got hit with nearly a 12% bad exchange rate. After that, I always declined, which saves a decent amount. Bank fees from local ATMs hover around $4 to $6 per withdrawal, so it’s smart to plan larger cash pulls to lessen the pinch. Visa and Mastercard work well, but watch out for those pesky surcharges.

I was puzzled by the conversion prompt at an ATMs in Kingstown, but after asking around, I learned accepting conversion means you pay the ATM’s marked-up exchange rate, which can kill your budget fast. The fees stack up if you accept, sometimes as high as $10 per withdrawal. Declining conversion is always the safer bet, especially if you have a card with low foreign transaction fees like Revolut or Wise. The ATMs themselves often charge about $5 per withdrawal regardless.

Using ATMs in Saint Vincent, like at the Bank of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or First Caribbean International, you'll see the Accept or Decline Conversion pop-up often. If you accept, the ATM sets the exchange rate, usually overcharging with a 7-10% markup and extra fees around $5-$7. Declining lets your card issuer, like Visa or Mastercard, convert at a better rate. The catch? Even declining you pay local ATM fees. My advice: always hit decline and keep withdrawals to a minimum.