Last updated on 30 October 2026
Albanian banks charge foreign cards 500 to 900 lek (about €5.50 to €9.91) per ATM withdrawal, and none of the ten banks in our dataset is free for an ordinary Visa or Mastercard. Credins Bank and ABI Bank are at the low end with 500 to 600 lek, Raiffeisen at the top with 900. Every bank allows up to 75,000 lek (€825.72) per withdrawal. As of 29 October 2026, fees from our dataset of 1 September 2026.
Because the fee is a flat amount, the size of each withdrawal decides what you pay, more than the choice of bank. A POVNOMAD Albania eSIM from €2.90 keeps your banking app online for the approval at the machine.
All ten banks at a glance
| Bank | Fee per withdrawal | in euros | Max per withdrawal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABI Bank ✓✓ | 500 lek, 800 for some card types | €5.50 / €8.81 | 75,000 lek | fee depends on card type |
| Credins Bank ✓✓ | 600 lek | €6.61 | 75,000 lek | 0 lek only for specific partner cards |
| Union Bank | 650 lek (disputed, see below) | €7.16 | 75,000 lek | |
| BKT ✓ | 700 lek | €7.71 | 75,000 lek | |
| Tirana Bank ✓ | 700 lek | €7.71 | 75,000 lek | |
| Intesa Sanpaolo ✓ | 700 lek, €5 for a withdrawal in euros | €7.71 | 75,000 lek | extra charge on some foreign cards, see below |
| ProCredit ✓ | 700 lek, €5 for euros up to €500 | €7.71 | 75,000 lek | Mastercard only |
| OTP Bank ✓ | 800 or 2,100 lek | €8.81 / €23.12 | 75,000 lek | by card type and issuing country |
| Fibank ✓ | 800 lek | €8.81 | 75,000 lek | decline the conversion |
| Raiffeisen ✓ | 900 lek | €9.91 | 75,000 lek | decline the conversion |
As of 29 October 2026. ✓✓ = confirmed by two independent sources · ✓ = single source so far (POVNOMAD fee dataset based on ATM Fee Saver, as of 1 September 2026). Second source for ABI Bank and Credins Bank: explorertom.com, 16 January 2026. Converted at the Bank of Albania official rate for 29 October 2026 (€1 = 90.83 lek). The figure shown on the ATM screen is what applies.
Is there a fee-free ATM in Albania?
Not for ordinary foreign cards. Our dataset lists Credins Bank at 0 lek only for specific card partnerships; most foreign cards pay 600 lek. The independent guide we checked reaches the same result: it names no Albanian bank that still pays out to foreign cards free of charge, and it says Credins used to.
Where the sources disagree
- Union Bank: our dataset says 650 lek. The second source gives 500 lek for Visa and 250 lek plus 2.5 percent for Mastercard. We cannot resolve that, so the row is marked disputed.
- Intesa Sanpaolo: our dataset notes an extra percentage charge on some foreign cards on top of the 700 lek. We found no second source for it, so we give no figure.
The calculation that matters
A flat fee hurts small withdrawals. Here is what 600 lek (Credins) and 900 lek (Raiffeisen) mean in percent:
| You withdraw | in euros | 600 lek fee | 900 lek fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 lek | €110.10 | 6.0 % | 9.0 % |
| 20,000 lek | €220.19 | 3.0 % | 4.5 % |
| 40,000 lek | €440.38 | 1.5 % | 2.3 % |
| 75,000 lek (maximum) | €825.72 | 0.8 % | 1.2 % |
Four withdrawals of 10,000 lek at Raiffeisen cost 3,600 lek, about €39.63. One withdrawal of 40,000 lek at Credins costs 600 lek, €6.61. If you know roughly how much cash you need for the trip, take it out in one or two goes at a cheaper bank.
Lek or euros: which should you take out?
Albania’s currency is the lek. Some machines also pay out euros: our dataset lists €5 per euro withdrawal at Intesa Sanpaolo and at ProCredit, there for up to €500. That is useful if you continue to Kosovo or Montenegro, which both use the euro. For spending in Albania, take lek.
The bigger trap is the conversion offer on the screen. If the machine offers to charge your card in euros at a “guaranteed rate”, decline and choose lek. Albania’s Competition Commission looked at ATM fees in Sarandë in 2025 and found low transparency, fees for foreign cardholders that differ from bank to bank, and mark-ups in this dynamic currency conversion. In Decision No. 1193 of 26 June 2025 it asked the Bank of Albania to review them (Competition Authority, press release).
The Bank of Albania followed with draft rules in February 2026: machines would have to show the mark-up against its official rate before you confirm (Balkanweb, 4 February 2026). We found no date on which the rules take effect. Until then, the decline button is your protection. How it is labelled on different screens is in With or without conversion?
Which machines should you avoid?
The Competition Commission named a second problem: ATM networks that banks subcontract to other operators. The independent guide we checked advises against the blue and yellow Euronet machines in tourist areas, which it describes as the most expensive. We have no fee figures for them. Use a machine at a bank branch, and read the fee on the screen before you confirm.
What your own bank adds
The lek amounts above are the Albanian operator’s charge and apply whoever issued your card. Your own bank may add a foreign currency fee, because the lek is not the euro, and a charge for withdrawals outside the European Economic Area, because Albania is outside it.
Those are the two numbers to look up in your bank’s fee schedule before you go. We name no individual issuer’s terms; they change often, and only your bank can confirm them.
Why you want a signal at the machine
Many banks require approval through a push notification in their app for withdrawals abroad. With no data connection the card is declined, and in Albania every failed attempt at a machine can cost you time at the next one. A POVNOMAD Albania eSIM costs €2.90 for 1 GB over 7 days or €6.90 for 3 GB over 15 days, installed at home, with validity starting on first contact in Albania.
Whether a local SIM or an eSIM suits your trip better is in our Albania SIM card guide, the full price comparison in the Albania eSIM provider comparison. Heading on to Kosovo? There, six of seven banks charge a flat €5, as our guide to ATM fees in Kosovo shows.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to withdraw cash in Albania?
Between 500 and 900 lek per withdrawal at the ten banks in our dataset, about €5.50 to €9.91. Credins Bank charges 600 lek, BKT and Tirana Bank 700, Raiffeisen 900. OTP Bank charges up to 2,100 lek for some cards. Fees as of 1 September 2026, euro amounts at the Bank of Albania rate of 29 October 2026.
Which bank in Albania has no ATM fee?
None for ordinary foreign cards. Credins Bank charges 0 lek only for specific partner cards and 600 lek for most others. The lowest fees in our dataset are 500 lek at ABI Bank, for some card types, and 600 lek at Credins, both confirmed by a second source.
How much can I withdraw at once in Albania?
Up to 75,000 lek, about €825.72, at every bank in our dataset. Because the fee is flat, one withdrawal of 40,000 lek at 600 lek costs 1.5 percent, while ten withdrawals of 4,000 lek would cost 15 percent. Fees as of 1 September 2026.
Should I withdraw lek or euros in Albania?
Lek for spending in Albania. Intesa Sanpaolo and ProCredit also pay out euros for a €5 fee, per our dataset, which helps if you continue to Kosovo or Montenegro. Always decline a conversion offered on the screen and choose to be charged in lek.
What should I press at an Albanian ATM?
Decline the conversion and choose lek. Albania’s Competition Commission found mark-ups in dynamic currency conversion at Albanian ATMs in its Decision No. 1193 of 26 June 2025. Check the fee shown on screen before you confirm.
Why does the Albanian ATM charge so much for a small amount?
Because the fee is flat. 900 lek on a 10,000-lek withdrawal is 9 percent, on 75,000 lek it is 1.2 percent. Withdraw fewer, larger amounts at a cheaper bank such as Credins (600 lek) to keep the share low. As of 29 October 2026.
Will my debit card work in Albania?
Yes, if it carries Visa, Mastercard or Maestro and your bank has enabled withdrawals outside the EU. ProCredit machines accept Mastercard only, per our dataset. Check in your online banking before you travel that international use is switched on.
How do I know if the fees on this page are still current?
The bank fees come from our dataset of 1 September 2026, the exchange rate from the Bank of Albania on 29 October 2026. Each row shows whether a second source confirms it. Banks change fees without notice, so the amount on the ATM screen is what counts.
This guide is also available in German. As of 29 October 2026. Bank fees from the POVNOMAD fee dataset (ATM Fee Saver, 1 September 2026), second source explorertom.com (16 January 2026), exchange rate of the Bank of Albania for 29 October 2026. Fees may change at any time.
