Do Foreign Debit Cards Work in Indian ATMs?

Indians use rupees as money. They come in denominations of 2000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and coins. Each note has clear mentioning of the value of the note in English and Hindi. If you are planning to visit India for a vacation, you ought to learn about the cash system. With demonetization and insecurity, it is better to carry virtual cash than actual paper money. This includes travel cards, debit cards, credit cards and so on.

Debit cards and credit cards are very commonly used in India. Thus, you can always find an ATM closer to you. Even if you are planning to buy things or get a service, you can swipe your card at the counter, in most of the shops. However, keep in mind that your bank at your place would obviously charge you for the service of using your card in international destination.

New Currency of India 

Check Your Card

If your credit or debit card is meant to be used domestically, you cannot use them in any of the ATMs in the country. To find whether your card can be used in India, talk to your bank representative. Also, learn about the transaction fee for foreign use and other details.

For more details about the currency : INR – Introduction To The Indian Currency

Cost Of Withdrawing

India has ATMs in almost all destinations. Even many semi-rural regions are enjoying ATM services. Most of the ATMs in the country accepts international debit and credit cards to give out cash. However, it is recommended to be used only during emergency. (Source : https://www.ausbt.com.au/why-you-should-never-pay-in-australian-dollars-overseas). Do you know why? Say, you are planning to take cash advance from your credit card. The interest rate will be 16.99% to 25.99% based on your country, type of account and type of bank. Apart from that, 3% - 5% is take as transaction fee. Some banks take $10 or 3%, whichever is higher. If you were choosing debit cards, you would be charged a specific transaction fee without the interest. It varies with the bank and type of card you hold.

If you want to stick with modernized cities during your vacation to avail ATM services, here are the top packages to pick.

  1. 4 Days - Delhi Agra Jaipur
  2. 15 Days – North India with Beaches

Type of ATMs to Use

You need an ATM, which will accept international cards. The best way to do so is to look for logo of AMEX, Mastercard or VISA in the ATM. If you are from EU country, look out for Cirrus, Maestro or PLUS logo for debit card usage and Visa or Mastercard logo for credit card.

Foreign Cards Also Read : What Do I Need To Travel To India?

Which ATMs Accepts International Transaction

Top bank ATMs, which allow international transaction are :

  1. HDFC Bank
  2. HSBC Bank
  3. IDBI bank
  4. ICICI bank
  5. Citibank India

To be safe, it is better to download apps, which will help you locate International Card-accepting ATMs near you.

Also Read : Top Things That First-Time Indian Visitors Should Know

Withdrawal Limit For Cards

In most of the ATMs, the maximum withdrawal amount per day in INR 10,000 and INR 25,000 per week. It changes from country to country and also from bank to bank.

Verdict

With the calculation of exchange rate of rupees and the rocket-speed charges for international usage, it is always better to choose to buy a credit card from an Indian bank, if you are planning to stay for a while in India. For shorter visits, choose cards with zero transaction fee for international transaction. Also, try to pre-book all amenities while you are at home.

India Travel Guide :