{"id":41938,"date":"2026-09-12T10:49:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-12T08:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/povnomad.com\/?p=41938"},"modified":"2026-09-12T10:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-09-12T08:49:45","slug":"atm-fees-bali","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/povnomad.com\/en\/atm-fees-bali\/","title":{"rendered":"ATM Fees on Bali: Why the “5 Percent BCA Fee” Is a Misunderstanding"},"content":{"rendered":"

One figure circulates about Bali that is simply wrong: that BCA machines charge 5 percent. They do not. BCA charges foreign cards no fee at all<\/strong> \u2014 the 5 percent arises somewhere entirely different, and you decide whether to pay it. Understanding that difference saves more on a Bali trip than choosing the right bank does.<\/p>\n

The fee-free machines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bank<\/th>\nFee<\/th>\nMax per withdrawal<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
BCA<\/strong><\/td>\nRp 0<\/td>\nRp 1.25 \u2013 2.5 m<\/td>\ndecline conversion \u00b7 an “Rp 100,000” sticker means a higher limit \u00b7 daily cap Rp 15 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Danamon<\/strong><\/td>\nRp 0<\/td>\nRp 1 \u2013 2 m<\/td>\nlimit depends on ATM cash<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UOB<\/strong><\/td>\nRp 0<\/td>\nRp 1.5 m<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maybank<\/strong><\/td>\nRp 0 for certain cards<\/td>\nRp 1.5 \u2013 3 m<\/td>\nother card types are charged<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Common Wealth<\/td>\nRp 0 or 20,000<\/td>\nup to card limit<\/td>\ndepends on card type<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BTN<\/td>\nRp 0 or 30,000<\/td>\nRp 2.5 m<\/td>\ndepends on card type<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
HSBC<\/td>\nRp 0 or 30,000<\/td>\nRp 3 m<\/td>\ndepends on card type<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BNI<\/td>\nRp 0 or 100,000<\/td>\nRp 2.5 m<\/td>\ndepends on the machine’s location<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As of 12 September 2026, from the POVNOMAD fee dataset (ATM Fee Saver, as of 1 September 2026), not individually cross-checked per bank. Independent guides consistently name BCA, BNI and Maybank as good options, though some also list Mandiri as fee-free, which contradicts our data (see below). The figure shown on the ATM screen is what applies.<\/small><\/p>\n

BCA and Danamon are the two most dependable addresses.<\/strong> Both charge nothing regardless of card type per our data, whereas at BNI, BTN, HSBC and Common Wealth the fee depends on your card or the location.<\/p>\n

Where the “5 percent BCA fee” actually comes from<\/h2>\n

The number is not invented, just misattributed. Like almost all Indonesian machines, BCA ATMs offer to bill you in your home currency at their own exchange rate. Our dataset puts that markup at 5 to 10 percent<\/strong> for BCA and 5 percent for Mandiri.<\/p>\n

That is not an ATM fee but a currency conversion markup. The crucial difference: a fee you have to pay, a conversion you can decline.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On screen you will see something like “With conversion” against “Without conversion”, or “Decline conversion”. Always take the option without<\/em> conversion, settling in rupiah. Your own bank then converts at the Visa or Mastercard rate, which is considerably better. The full explanation is in With or without conversion?<\/a> \u2014 the ATM screens are reproduced there.<\/p>\n

Once you understand that, you genuinely do withdraw free on Bali. Accept it and you pay roughly \u20ac8 to \u20ac16 too much on a 2.5 million rupiah withdrawal \u2014 and then go and write in a forum that BCA charges 5 percent.<\/p>\n

The machines that do charge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bank<\/th>\nFee<\/th>\nMax per withdrawal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
BRI<\/td>\nRp 30,000<\/td>\nRp 1 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mandiri<\/td>\nRp 50,000<\/td>\nRp 1.25 \u2013 2.5 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BTPN<\/td>\nRp 50,000 or 100,000<\/td>\nRp 1.25 \u2013 2.5 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Permata Bank<\/td>\nRp 65,000<\/td>\nRp 3 m (daily cap Rp 10 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CIMB<\/strong><\/td>\n6.5 %<\/strong>, minimum Rp 75,000<\/td>\nRp 3 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As of 12 September 2026, source as above. Divergence from the second source:<\/strong> several guides list Mandiri as fee-free or very cheap; our dataset says Rp 50,000. We cannot resolve the contradiction \u2014 check the screen.<\/small><\/p>\n

CIMB is the only operator charging a percentage and therefore the most expensive on larger amounts: 6.5 percent of three million rupiah is about 195,000, while BCA takes nothing.<\/p>\n

The sticker on the machine tells you the limit<\/h2>\n

A detail that helps in practice and appears almost nowhere: Indonesian machines often carry a sticker showing a note denomination, and it tells you how much you can take out.<\/p>\n