Banks & ATMs in Bhutan

You may locate ATM booths of the main Bhutanese banks, including the Bank of Bhutan, Druk PNB Bank, and Bhutan National Bank, all across the country's major towns. These ATM machines accept withdrawals from major credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. It should be mentioned that Bhutan does not use digital chips in its ATMs. Instead, magnetic strips are employed, which some international banks might not allow for withdrawals. Additionally, occasionally the Bhutanese government suspends foreign ATM transactions for a short period of time in order to combat fraud or scams.

Travelers can exchange currency at the Paro Airport's foreign exchange counter and at Bank of Bhutan locations in significant cities including Paro and Thimphu. The availability of ATMs and banking services decreases dramatically when you enter outlying areas. Many of the foreign exchange services offered by hotels are only available to exchange US dollars, while some hotels do provide other currency options. Therefore, before visiting Bhutan's rural, it is usually essential to conduct banking in Paro or Thimphu and to bring local cash.

In recent years, credit card use in Bhutan has received widespread acceptance. The majority of the larger hotels and significant handicraft shops now accept some foreign credit cards, such as Visa and MasterCard, with the exception of several areas of central and eastern Bhutan. However, an additional fee of up to 5% of your operation will be added to the credit card transaction.