Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Timor-Leste that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
Man there isnt any free atm here.All - whether its BNCTL or Mandiri or BNU - have 5 dollar fee and 500 dollar limit. My Visa card worked without any hassles. But don’t count on ATMs outside major towns; cash is still king in rural areas here.
Timor-Leste ATMs, especially Banco Nacional de Timor-Leste and Mandiri are pretty foreign card friendly. Withdrawal fees were nearly $5 each time I took cash. The transaction limits seemed enough for regular travel expenses, near $500. Hostels like Alola Esperança in Dili advise always withdrawing from bank ATMs inside branches for safety and lesser fees.
I used my Mastercard at ATM machines in Timor-Leste, mostly BNU bank and BNCTL. No free atms here - all charge 5 us dollars. Daily withdrawal limits seemed to be around $500 to $600. Many smaller towns hardly have any ATMs, so if you’re planning to explore the countryside, make sure to stock up on cash while you’re in Dili or Baucau.
When I was in Dili, Mandiri and Bank and Banco Nacional de Timor-Leste (BNCTL) ATMs worked well with my Visa debit card. both charged 5 dollar fee. Daily withdrawal limits are about $500, which is enough for most travelers. I wouldn’t rely on ATMs outside Dili though because they can be scarce or unstable.