When we travel we normally pay in cash where possible. Our foreign ATM fee-free card makes this more than possible. The only challenge is when foreign ATMs charge their own fee for taking cash out. We found Chile’s ATM fees a big challenge. We’ve managed to find fee-free ATMs in many countries, Chile has been our biggest challenge to date. So much so, that here, in this, expensive country on this trip, we have resorted to using a credit card. It is, albeit a foreign currency fee-free credit card.
Using ATMs in Chile is an expensive business. But we finally found a Chile ATM with no fees. They are few and far between, but here is our guide to fee-free ATMs in Chile – and the costs of all Chilean ATMs that do charge a fee.
We include reader updates in the paragraph BELOW the table of ATM fee charges, so hop on down and find what’s the latest fees being charge (and which is NO longer charging!) – and then share with us (via the comments) what your experience is with fees and we’ll share it with our community. If you want to get these updates by email, Click Here and I’ll send them to you automatically.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION IN OUR DISCLAIMER
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Key Things to Know About Chile, ATMs, and the Chilean Peso
- The Chilean currency is the peso.
- The Spanish word for ATM is Cajero Automatico – but most people will understand if you ask for an ATM
- Chilean Peso notes come in denominations of 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, and 1,000.
- Chilean Peso coins come in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 20, and 10. There are some old and new coins in circulation. Vending machines and laundry machines will only accept new coins.
Banks with ATMs in Chile
ATMs are everywhere in Chile – if you find a bank on a map, then it’s 99% likely that it will have an ATM. However, the ATMs in Chile ALL (bar one) charge a fee for being used by international cards.
If you are a Santander customer, then you may be able to use ATMs in Chile without paying a fee, depending on the account that you hold. Our Santander account enables us to withdraw from worldwide Santander ATMs with no fee. However, when we used a Santander ATM in Chile we were charged the fee. It was refunded to us when we complained via their online help.
Using your Cash Card or ATM Card the Most Cost-Effective Way in Chile
There are two types of fees charged on the use of a foreign ATM card (whether it is credit or debit).
- The fees charged by your bank or card provider for taking cash out in a foreign currency. You have COMPLETE control over this. If your provider currently levies a charge on taking cash out of your account in a foreign currency then you should get a new account ASAP. It will save you a FORTUNE in fees.
- The fees charged by the foreign bank either because they levy a fee on non-in-country cards or because they charge a fee to non-client cards. You have a MEASURE of control over this and that’s what this article is about – how to reduce the cost of using ATMs in Chile.
ATMs in Chile and ATM Fees
The main difference between all the ATMs in Chile is the amount of fee that they charge you to take cash from their ATM. ATM fees in Chile are a flat fee regardless of how much you take out. So if you only want 10,000 pesos, then you will pay the SAME fee as if you wanted 200,000 pesos.
How to find an ATM in Chile
ATMs are everywhere in Chile. ATM’s in Chile are called “Cajero Automatico”. Or Cajero. You might see signs for Cajera too. If you’re asking for directions, then this phrase will help you.
¿Donde esta un cajero automatico?”
How to Use an ATM in Chile
Unless they are inside a bank, an airport, or a shopping mall most Chilean ATMs are in a small self-contained room (where there’s likely to be air conditioning) with a door. Using ATMs in Chile comes with some quirks. Here’s our guide to Chile ATM usage.
When you insert your card you will usually be asked for your PIN immediately.
- It is normal to leave your card in the machine for the duration of the transaction.
- Select the option for the foreign card/Foreign currency. This is usually in the bottom left of the screen.
- When you have selected this, you will be offered a language selection. As our card is from England we have always been offered English or Spanish.
- Select the amount you wish to withdraw. All Chilean ATMs limit your withdrawal to 200,000 pesos when using a foreign card.
- Always ask for a receipt.
- Always put your card and your money away, and zipped back into your wallet and bag before leaving the ATM.
Fee Comparison of The Best ATMs to Use in Chile
We keep this table of ATM fees in Chile updated when we are provided with up-to-date information (as we do with our guide to ATM fees in Colombia, Lao, Japan, and Guatemala – drop us a line if you get updates, we’d love to hear from you. Just make a note of how much you take out, what type of card (credit/debit, Visa/Mastercard/other, country of origin of the card, and where the ATM was as well as which bank it was!) – let’s try and keep Chile ATM fees for everyone down! And let’s also try and share no-fee ATM locations.
| Bank Name | Withdrawal amount for foreign cards | Fee per withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| Banco Internacional | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos (May 2023) |
| BICE | 200,000 | 4,738 pesos |
| Itau | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| Scotiabank | 200,000 | 7,000 January 2025 |
| Banco Condell | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| Banco Security | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| BBVA | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| Banco Consorcio | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| Citi | 200,000 | 5,000 pesos |
| Banco Estado | 300,000* | 5,500 pesos (May 2023) |
| Santander | 200,000 | 8,500 pesos (May 2023) |
| Banco de Chile | 200,000 | 8,500 pesos (May 2023) |
*Certain Santander Bank accounts provide fee-free ATM withdrawals. Check your terms and conditions carefully.
Reader Update: January 2025: Scotiabank charged 7000 CLP
Reader Update: April 8th, 2024 – As for today, Scotiabank in Valdivia charges 7000 clp
Reader Update: April 5th 2024: April 2024 – no fee at scotiabank!
Reader Update: April 4th 2024: Scotiabank doesn’t charge any fees. Today I withdraw 200.000 pesos from my Revolut account without any fees. In the last step you’ve the choice credit card or savings account. I used savings and paid no fees.
Reader update: January 2024: charged 7000 CLP using a Scotiabank ATM in Rancagua
Reader Update: May 2023 Zero fees on withdrawals from Scotiabank in the last 2 weeks. Used them in Santiago, Vina del mar, and Chillan. Using a German debit card.
Reader Update: May 2023 Banco International ATM charged me 5,000 (using a USAA VISA debit from the US). Other fees I checked: Banco Estado charges 5,500 / Santander charges 8,500 / Banco de Chile charges 8,500 (as of May 2023)
Reader Update: 13 Jan 2020: Banco Estado charging 5,500 pesos for 350,00 or 400,000 pesos in Pucon and San Pedro.
Reader Update: 27 Sept 2019 – Banco Estado charging 5,500 pesos for 300,000 (Citi debit card)
The only fee-free ATM withdrawals in Chile for Foreign Cards
The only Chilean ATMs with no fees for foreign cards are the ATMs provided by Banco Internacional. You can find a list of their branch locations here. Note that not all branches have ATMs. That is unless you have a Santander account, which provides for fee-free foreign ATM withdrawals from a specific Santander account. Or, of course, if you hold an account that allows you to get your ATM withdrawal fees repaid.
Note that this in December 2019 appears to charge SOME cards and not others. The UK-issued MasterCard is free, others have been charged.
Map of fee-free ATMs from Banco Internacional ATM in Santiago
You can find the map of fee-free ATMs here.
ATMS on Rapa Nui / Easter Island ATMs
If you’re traveling to Easter Island, then you’ll need to know that there are two ATMs on the Island, one is Banco Estado and the other is Banco Santander. Both are in the main town of Hanga Roa. The fees charged at Easter Island ATMS are the same as on the mainland. Many (most) restaurants accept credit cards on Rapa Nui with no extra charge and you can use your credit card at the supermarkets too.
Currency Exchanges in Chile
You’ll find currency exchanges in all major areas and even on the streets in border towns, but the exchange rate you get won’t be great, although it does make an easy option for using up “end of country cash” or making sure you have a few notes in your hand as you walk into a new country.
If you have traveled to Chile from Bolivia and need to change your Bolivian currency to Chilean DO IT ASAP. If you’ve traveled from the Uyuni Salt Flats to San Pedro, then we recommend you find someone coming INTO Bolivia and attempt to change any left-over Bolivian currency with them. If you try to change your Bolivian currency in San Pedro de Atacama you will lose approximately 30% (yes, thirty percent).
Additional Advice on Chilean ATMs and saving money in Chile
- We always travel with the XE currency converter app loaded on our smartphones, it’s a quick and easy way to understand costs in your home currency. You can download it here.
- Take a fee-free credit card with you. You can use a credit card to pay for virtually anything in Chile. Even a 1,500 peso empanada. Without fees.
- Looking to move money abroad or between currencies? We use Wise – the BEST and cheapest option – get your account here and sign up for a low fee Debit card.
Save Money on Accommodation in Chile
One of the ways you can save money on ATM fees is to pre-book and prepay your accommodation using popular sites.
Pay for Hotels and hostels in advance online
Booking and paying for your accommodation online means you’ll save the need for cash. This meant using a booking site that allowed us to pay in advance on a credit card where possible.
We used Booking to get the best deals in Chile and also to book our rooms and pay for them before we arrived.
Save on Booking Transport in Chile
Your transport between places can be an expensive drain on your cash resources. You can book transport between many locations in Chile using Bookaway. You can check all bookable routes here.
Booking Tours in Chile
Whatever tour you are taking, from wine tasting to seeing the top sights, book your adventure in advance and pay online and you’ll save on the need for cash.
If you’re traveling to other countries, then our guides to ATMs and ATM fees are here – Guatemala ATM fees, Colombia ATM fees, Laos ATM fees, and Japan ATM fees.
Travel Essentials for Chile
- Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation, and more.
- Get online immediately with an eSIM for Chile here
- Read about ATM fees in Chile here.
- Download and install a VPN BEFORE you travel to Antigua > discount coupon here
- Arriving by air? Book your airport transfer with Welcome Pickups.
- Book the best Chile tours and guides on Get Your Guide
- Book accommodation in Chile with Booking
Final Words on ATM Fees in Chile for Visitors
We hope this article on Chilean ATM costs helps with your budgeting and travel experiences in Chile. Let us know if your experience is different or if you have updates on the costs of cash withdrawals in Chile!
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using our affiliate links. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
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58 thoughts on “How to Avoid Chile ATM Fees – The ONLY fee free ATMs in Chile”
The Banco Internacional ATM on La Moneda street in Santiago centro is NO LONGER fee-free. Used it on June 3, 2019 and was charged 5.000 pesos.
Thanks! I’ve had a couple of updates (and we just used it a week before you did too!) saying that they used it and it was free, it seems to be different people getting different results at the moment!
Hi. These days are over unfortunately. I went to the banco internacional and asked for 5,000 CLP for an additional fee. 26 August 2019.
Thank you for the update! Can you tell me if you used Visa or Mastercard? (and your country) There seem to be different reports
I had a chance to try again with all the card I have. Visa and MasterCard debits and Visa credit from Canada all had 5,000 peso fee.
Hi, I’ve found yout website and thank you for your research. Today I made withdrawal in Banco Internacional ATM on La Moneda and it was without fees. I’m using my Revolut MasterCard debit card, so maybe my experience can be useful.
Yay! Thanks so much for the update! 🙂
Do you recall if Easter island park fee can be paid by card ? Nowhere online have I found clarity on this!
Hi Mark. no you cannot pay by card for the Easter Island Park fee. It’s cash only. You can pay for rental cars, accommodation and meals in some restaurants by card, but NOT the park fee 🙁
Scotia bank had no ATM fees also.
Scotiabank is a part of Global ATM alliance. If you have an account from Bank of America, Barclay, BNP, Deutsch Bank etc. ATM fee is waived.
Did you use a Starling Card to compile the list of fees? Travelling to Chile in a few days and also use a Starling MasterCard, just hoping it’s not as bad as Argentina!
Hi there – yes we use a Starling card, (and that’s what I used for the free ATM in Chile), but I also canvas other travellers and update when they respond too! Good luck and I totally know what you mean about Argentina, we used Santander in Argentina, as they refund fees if you use their ATMs!
Thanks so much, that’s some really helpful info!
Hello. I’m from Chicago and have been living and working in northerm Chile since 2018. Piñera is extremely anti-immigrant and just since Sept/Oct 2019 has created a ton of anti-immigrant laws that adversely affect expats and sometimes the casual traveler. I’ve noticed ATM changes with US cards as well, just like people have commented. Many stores – except for big ones like Unimarc, Líder (Walmart), etc. – no longer take my same exact US debit/credit card, regardless of credit or debit. Most stores, including Jumbo, don’t accept non-Chilean cards for online purchases (pandemic necessity). If you didn’t buy your mobile in Chile, you have 90 days to register your phone with the government, which requires a lot of documentation that we don’t need or keep in the US or else they block it, meaning you can no longer have a pay as you go chip after 90 days. I have temporary residency subject to a work contract and my employer can’t even do a bank transfer – the norm up here – because I can’t open a bank account. I highly recommend that anyone considering Chile for more than 30-90 days wait to see what happens when Piñera is out next year. Anyone looking for tourist travel for shorter times should really be prepared to have high ATM fees and not be able to use a debit or credit card i.e. cash. Santiago and Valpo may be easier since Santiago often forgets that the rest of Chile exists. These laws were enacted pre-pandemic – everything’s in late 2019 – making living here during-pandemic times nearly impossible. Chile has a lot to offer, including the North! yes, they’re trying to figure out how to manage the immigration surge, but these changes do make a previous expat paradise an impossible situation for expats and tourits alike. 🙁
Hi. I am travelling to South America for 6 weeks in September & October & after reading your blog I’m now considering taking out a Santander Zero credit car for use in Argentina. Are Santander ATMs quite widespread in the country? I will be in Buenos Aires, but also plan to drive around Patagonia. Also, do you know if Santander exists in Chile, Bolivia or Peru? If not, any tips on cash withdrawals in Bolivia or Peru?
We found Santander in each of the places we visited in Argentina – they have a bit of their website that you can search for ATMS. We also used them in Chile (they’re all over, including Easter Island). Peru – we didn’t get charged any ATM fees at all, haven’t quite got the post written up yet.. Bolivia also fee free for us – but be sure to get rid of any excess Bolivianos BEFORE leaving the country, you’ll lose LOTS on the exchange rate if you try and convert outside Bolivia.
Hi again Sarah. I’ve now got my Santander Zero credit card, which advertises “no foreign transaction fees” & “no cash withdrawal fees”. I’m trying to get them to confirm that the latter includes local Santander ATM fees. Reading your article it appears that you were charged an ATM withdrawal fee but you were able to get it reimbursed. Was that fairly straightforward? Also, do you have any experience in changing pounds, particularly in Argentina?
Hi there. We were charged each time we used it to take cash out (and we only ever used ATMS that had a Santander logo on them, usually in a Santander bank), but messaged them straight away via the website and were remibursed within about 10 days each time. Their message was that they had an internal issue, but there was no detail as to when this would be be resolved! We changed USD and Uruguayan Pesos in Argentina with no problems. (take ID with you), didn’t have any GBP to change at that time though (we tend to travel with USD rather than GBP)
We used our Starling Mastercard debit card in Bolivia and Peru with no problems and no fees
september 27 2019 get 300.000 chilean pesos from atm on viña del mar. using citi debit card.
sorry i forgot to include details. was on a banco estado atm and the fee was 5500 chilean pesos.
Thanks for taking the time to update us Ed – I’ve included your update in the post! Enjoy Chile
withdrew 500,000 from banco estado. got charged 5500 though.
1 Oct 2019
You were able to withdraw more than 200.000 pesos? How did that happen? OIt would be very interesting to know.
Hi Sarah, great article, I referred to it prior to arriving in Chile for my holiday from 17 Dec 19. Please update the Banco Internacional ATM Fee to 5,000CLP, they’re cheeky, maybe it was free, it isn’t any longer.
Thought I would let you know.
Thanks
Kind regards
Vicki
Hi Vicki – thanks, it seems to be dependent on which card you use as to whether its free or not. I’ll put a note in in the post
Thanks for your blog, I’ve used it in Colombia and Chile. I Have withdrawn 350,000 and 400,000 from Banco Estado in San Pedro and Pucon, charge was 5,500.
Thanks so much for the update Richard, I’ll note in the article – Sarah
Revolut prepaid card – Santander 7000 pesos fees, Scotiabank free withdrawal.
03.2020.
Just found a new way to withdraw money! Some supermarkets and shops have a ‘Vuelta’ option when you pay with a card, meaning that you pay extra the amount you want to withdraw. Totally free! Yesssss
Prepaid Revolut card worked in Homecenter and Montserrat shops for me with this option.
ooh, we like this! Anyone else tried it yet?
Whether you are charged a fee depends on the country of origin of your bank card and on the issuing bank. This notwithstanding the Banco Internacional, Scotia Bank (US /Canadian clients) as well as Banco BICE seem to be the only ones where you stand a chance of securing free withdrawals. I use BICE all the time for free with Halifax Clarity, Santander Zero, Starling, Revolut & Wise cards. I also know those cards work with Banco Internacional for free too.
Great tip – went to the International Bank in Golfo, Santiago a few days ago and there was no charge for withdrawal! Maximum was still 200,000 though.
I just withdrew from Scotia Bank along Vicuna Mackenna in Santiago and was charged 7000 CLP using a Capital One MasterCard! Must have changed or be card specific.
Very helpful full we fly in to Santiago to day from Argentina so will feed back any updates we find
I just took money from ATM Scotia in Arica – no fee.
What card did you use?? Please
Banco International confirmed as offering free free cash as of November 2022.
Would have preferred the information higher up the page.
Hi
we found that the Scotiabank ATMs do not have fees at the moment. We used the one near Plaza de Armas in Santiago
Today 23/Jan/2023 withdraw 40000CLP at ATM banco international (la moneda, Santiago. The one mentioned here) with NO FEE (with my Wise VISA card)
2 days before withdraw 150000CLP with same card at Banco de Chile with fee = 8500CLP!!!
Tested my HSBC visa card at Santander ATM it asked for a 7000CLP fee so I canceled.
I’m in Chile right now and all the banks are charging 8,000-8,500 CLP. I’ve tried them all except banco internacional.
Hi – The scenario depends almost entirely on which card you are using. To highlight banks that can have ATMs which permit free cash withdrawals is slightly (but not entirely) misleading. It is a combination of the bank and the card (which in turn depends on the card’s country of issue and the issuing bank/organisation). The banks where you are really only likely to experience free withdrawals are Banco BICE, Banco Internacional and Scotiabank – thereafter everything depends on your card. BICE and Internacional are more likely free for UK issued cards, perhaps Scotiabank for US issued cards. Just try all 3 banks with the cards you have and see which works out free/the cheapest. I just tried a card at BICE (9 Apr 23) and it charged a fee of CH$2,500 for example.
I was in Chile in October 2022. I am a UK citizen with a Santander Zero Card – which promises zero fees for ATM withdrawals. Sure enough, I withdrew money a couple of times from Banco Internacional in Santiago and paid no fee. The slight problem is that their ATM was inside the building and thus only available during banking hours. Arriving in santiago on a Sunday, and also elsewhere in Chile, I used Santiago ATM’s and each time a charge was levied by the ATM. It has taken some time to resolve that situation with Santander in the UK as they seemed determined to run it through their formal complaint process. Their conclusion was that it is Santander UK who promises not to charge me a fee for ATM withdrawals, whilst a different company, Santander International, charged me ATM fees in Chile. However they gave me £25 as a goodwill gesture – which is slightly more than the total fees I incurred – though hardly worth the bother of complaining.
As others have posted, the Banco International ATM charged me 5,000 (using a USAA VISA debit from the US). Other fees I checked: Banco Estado charges 5,500 / Santander charges 8,500 / Banco de Chile charges 8,500 (as of May 2023)
As others have posted, not charged anything on withdrawals from Scotiabank in the last 2 weeks. Used them in Santiago, vina del mar and chillan. Using a German debit card.
Now that Banco Internacional is charging 5,000 pesos, does that mean that there are now no ATMs in Chile that can be used fee-free?
It seems to be now that the only way to avoid fees is to have a Schwab card from the USA which reimburses ATM fees or a Santander card which (sometimes) offers free withdrawals.
Scotiabank doesn’t charge any fees. Today I withdraw 200.000 pesos from my Revolut account without any fees. In the last step you’ve the choice credit card or savings account. I used savings and paid no fees.
April 2024 – no fee at scotiabank!
As for today, Scotiabank in Valdivia charges 7000 clp
Travelling in January and February 2024 in Chile I was using a Dutch debetcard. Four times in different Chilean cities I did not pay a surcharge at the ScotiaBank. In La Serena, at the Banco del Estado de Chile I could get/draw CL$ 400.000, plus the unavoidable CL$ 5.500 surcharge.
Was charged CLP7000 fee when withdrawing from Scotiabank both at Plaza Egaña and at Rosario Norte this month with my Canadian Tangerine card… and that’s despite Tangerine having a no-fee agreement with Scotiabank.
Urgh. That happened to us with Santander, we went backwards and forwards with Customer Services for ages, but eventually got them to refund the fees, as one of the reasons we’d used the card was that it was fee free at the ATMs we used it in! Worth trying for a refund IMHO – let me know how you get on!
Scotiabank charging 7000 for withdrawals in Santiago
Hi Everyone.
Can anyone help me to know if the banks in Chile use an exchange rates from:
a) Their own bank
b) follow mid-market rate(that’s the one you’ll usually find on Google ).
c) Visa Calculator rate
or other?
Thank you very much, the information shared in this page has been incredibly useful.
Hi,
I’ve been in Chile for about 2 years now; mostly in Puerto Montt and Viña del Mar. In both areas I’ve tried almost BCI, Santander, Banco de Chile and Banco del Estado. Santander fee the highest at $8,500. All of them allowed a max withdrawal of $200,000 except Banco del Estado that allowed $700,000 per withdrawal w/ a $5,500 CLP fee.
Scotia bank now charging 7000clp!