When you’re planning a trip to Albania, one of the first things you realize is that figuring out how to withdraw money in Albania can be… tricky. ATM fees in Albania are basically unavoidable, and if you don’t know what you’re doing, those little charges from ATMs in Albania can quickly add up.
This Albanian currency – Lek (ALL) guide is here to help you dodge the worst of the pain and show you exactly which banks have the lowest Albania ATM fees. Think of it as a personal heads-up from someone who’s been there a long time — because no one wants to pay high fees to access their own cash.
If you find this Albania money guide helpful, feel free to share with other travelers, as this topic covers everyone coming to Albania on a trip.
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Albanian Currency: What You Need To Know (Lek – A Closed Currency)
Albanian Lek (ALL) is a closed currency. What does this mean exactly? Outside of Albania, the Lek notes that you might possess will become worthless. It’s almost impossible to exchange or buy Albanian Lek outside of Albania (maybe with some exceptions such as the border areas).
Albania Lek Is Queen (aka “cash is king” here)
The saying is “cash is king” but here in Albania, we have some ancient, powerful queens, so let’s go with my new saying. Regardless of the phrase, the concept remains true even in our modern age.
Most businesses operate on a cash basis or strongly lean towards accepting cash over card. There are many reasons for this, though they aren’t so relevant to explain.
Euro Is Princess
If lek is the queen in Albania, Euro is the princess. Although the roles used to be reversed, Lek has become significantly stronger in the past few years, which has led to a switch in money preferences.
Now locals prefer to be paid in Lek as it is stronger. Many people still deal closely in Euro, but using it for small transactions won’t be to your benefit. Say you eat a restaurant and find out they don’t take cards and you only have a 50 euro note, you might lose 1-3 euros as they won’t give you such a good rate.
By giving them euros, you put the burden on the business owner to go and exchange, and usually, you pay 1 euro per 100 euros to exchange. Moral of the story, in an emergency is it’s fine, but better to exchange Euro for yourself in a bigger amount and spend Lek since you’ll get more for your money.
Related:
- Best Basic Albanian Words To Know
- 13 Best Museums In Albania That You Can’t Miss
- 5-Day North Albania Road Trip Itinerary
- How To Spend 10 Days In Albania
Avoiding Albania ATM Fees (For US Citizens, Americans)
Although it isn’t fair, US citizens / Americans have a significant advantage with our vast access to premium banks and credit cards. One such advantage that I want to highlight is opening a Schwab brokerage account (which entitles you to a Schwab Debit Card).
The Schwab debit card gives ATM rebates, which means they refund the withdrawal fee that the bank / atm charges you. This doesn’t cover other fees though. Make sure to read the terms and conditions! This card has saved me so much since I pay large sums (like for rent) in cash and I have started investing with the brokerage account too.
Though you shouldn’t use it for ATM withdrawals in Albania, I’d recommend using the Capital One travel credit card to earn rewards when paying with card is available – like big super markets, large hotels, and some gas / petrol stations.
Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee either. Your credit score doesn’t have to be super high to be accepted (like most other free travel credit cards!).
Avoiding Albania ATM Fees (For Europeans)
A short tip for those residents of EU countries within the Eurozone, or those with easy access to Euro currency – As far as I know, there is no such debit card like Schwab available in Europe.
The best option is to withdraw Euro from an ATM or bank in your home country and then bring it with you to exchange to Lek. I use the online bank N26, which is pretty modern and gives two free ATM withdrawals per month in the Eurozone.
Of course, make sure to observe the cash limits when entering the country though. Like I said previously, it is usually 1 euro to exchange about 100 euro to Lek, so normally this will be better than the typical Abania ATM fee 600 Lek.
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Albania ATM Withdrawal Fees
Understanding Albania ATM fees is essential for tourists and travelers to avoid paying extra when withdrawing money in Albania. At this point, every Albanian ATM has withdrawal fees.
It isn’t possible to find ATMs in Albania without fees. If you see old information floating around, then yes, Credins Bank ATM used to not have withdrawal fees, but this changed a while back. Now they charge 600 Lek.
- ATMs in Albania generally charge a fixed fee for withdrawals (foreign cards especially). Typical fees are ALL 500–800 per transaction for foreign cardholders.
- There is also often a fee for currency conversion (“dynamic currency conversion”) if you accept the rate offered at the ATM; declining that option will significantly reduce costs.
- Domestic cards used at the issuing bank’s ATM may have no fee or much lower fee. Always check your bank’s terms.
3 Best ATMs in Albania With Lower Fees
If you want to withdraw money in Albania with the lowest fees, these banks consistently have the cheapest ATMs in Albania.
| Bank | Approx. Fee / Notable Detail |
| Union Bank | ALL 500 (Visa) or ~ ALL 250 + 2.5% (Mastercard) for foreign cards. Very often cited as one of the cheapest in Tirana. |
| ABI Bank | ALL 500 flat fee. Slightly more limited but among the cheaper options. |
| OTP Bank | ALL 500 as well. Frequently appears in lists of cheaper ATMs. |
Which Banks Have The Most ATMs? Top 3 Albanian Banks By ATM Locations
Knowing which banks have the most ATMs in Albania can save you from being stranded without cash outside major cities. There are 1,000-1,060 ATMs in Albania. In Tirana alone, there are around 586 ATMs.This means 50% of Albania’s ATMs are in the capital.
A 2023 census showed 389,323 inhabitants for Tirana city, while the broader Municipality of Tirana showed a population of 919,511. Since the city is close to 1 million plus more for tourists, this amount can be justified.
All this to say, it’s important to remember that when you travel outside of cities, you won’t find ATMs. It’s always good to have backup cash in hand, and to withdraw when you have the chance.
| Rank | Bank | Number of ATMs |
| 1 | OTP Bank Albania | 188 ATMs |
| 2 | Raiffeisen Bank Albania | 180-186 ATMs |
| 3 | National Commercial Bank (BKT) | 114 ATMs |
Albania ATM Withdrawal Limits
Before using ATMs in Albania, it’s important to understand the typical withdrawal limits per transaction for foreign cards.
| Bank | Typical Fee | Max per Transaction | Notes |
| BKT (National Commercial Bank) | ALL 700–800 | 75,000 ALL (€710) | Largest bank, ATMs everywhere; fees higher but max limit is the best. |
| Raiffeisen Bank | ALL 700–800 | 70,000 ALL (€660) | Huge network across Albania; reliable for coverage outside big cities. |
| OTP Bank | ALL 500 | 70,000 ALL (€660) | One of the largest networks; lower fee than BKT/Raiffeisen. |
| Credins Bank | ALL 500–600 | 50,000 ALL (€470) or 500€/500$ (if foreign-currency card) | Good coverage, especially in medium towns. |
| Union Bank | ALL 500 | 40,000–50,000 ALL (€380–470) | Among the cheapest fees, but fewer ATMs outside cities. |
| ABI Bank | ALL 500 | 40,000–50,000 ALL (€380–470) | Low fee but limited ATM coverage. |
Paying Rent in Cash: Since monthly rent is often €200–500, you may need to make several withdrawals.
Batch Your Withdrawals: Take out the daily maximum (ALL 70k–75k) rather than lots of small withdrawals. This way you pay fewer fixed fees.
Use Larger Banks in Small Towns: If you’re outside Tirana/Shkodër/Durrës, your best bet is usually Raiffeisen or BKT.
Backup Card: ATMs in Albania sometimes reject cards randomly. Always carry a second debit card.
Key Takeaways For Withdrawing Money In Albania
For tourists and long-term travelers in Albania, understanding ATM withdrawal limits can make daily life smoother — especially if you need to pay rent or other big expenses in cash. Most Albanian banks set daily withdrawal limits between 40,000–120,000 ALL, depending on the bank and whether you’re using a local or foreign card.
While card payments are growing in Albania, cash is still king, so knowing how much you can withdraw from ATMs will save you hassle. If you’re planning an extended stay, it’s worth checking which bank ATMs work best with your card and what fees apply.
My Trip Recommendations
- Rent a car in Tirana – It’s the best way to see Albania, especially if you’re short on time
- Compare hotels and apartment prices all in one place on Trivago – the most convenient way to get a good deal
- Prefer hostels? Find the best ones on Hostelworld – especially with the new Linkups
- Find discounted flight deals with Skyscanner if you’re flying to Albania
- Get a quote for affordable & flexible insurance travel insurance coverage
- Budget option – free accommodation through volunteering with Worldpackers – get $10 off