Many people who plan to travel to Morocco often struggle with a question: should they bring enough US dollars or euros to exchange for dirhams locally, or should they bring their bank cards and withdraw cash directly from ATMs? In fact, withdrawing cash from ATMs in Morocco is already very convenient. As long as you are properly prepared, you don’t need to carry a lot of cash at all. It is both convenient and safe! We have introduced the precautions and tips for withdrawing cash from ATMs in Morocco in detail, making your trip easier and worry-free.
Visa, Msatercard, American Express, Discover, JCB and UnionPay credit and debit cards can all be used to withdraw cash from ATMs in Morocco, with Visa and Mastercard being the most widely accepted. UnionPay cards can be used to withdraw cash from ATTIJIRIWAFA BANK ATMs, but BMCE Bank only accepts non-chip cards. If you normally use American Express, it is recommended to bring another card or enough cash, as it may be difficult to find an ATM to withdraw cash.
When using an ATM in Morocco, a four-digit PIN is generally required. Therefore, chip cards from Europe, the UK or Australia are usually accepted. However, if your primary card is a US magnetic stripe card that does not normally require a PIN, you will need to apply for a PIN from your bank before traveling. UnionPay cards require a six-digit PIN.
Generally speaking, the maximum amount of cash withdrawal from a Moroccan ATM in a single transaction is about 2,000 Moroccan Dirhams (about 200 US dollars). If you need more cash, you may need to make multiple transactions, or even use different ATMs, because banks may limit multiple transactions on the same card for fraud prevention purposes.
If your bank in your home country has a daily withdrawal limit, this will limit the amount you can withdraw from a Moroccan ATM.
Some bank ATMs in Morocco charge a certain fee for each withdrawal, including:
Use the exchange rate set by the other bank, and add additional fees, mainly depending on the rules of the issuing bank. If the exchange fee is high, it is usually more cost-effective to choose to pay in local currency.
There is no currency conversion fee for using China UnionPay cards or using the UnionPay network for consumption or withdrawal abroad. The local currency transaction amount will be directly converted into RMB at the market exchange rate.
Issuing bank handling fee: Please consult the issuing bank for the specific fee rate.
Morocco ATM acceptance agency service fee: Some ATMs will charge a withdrawal fee, which is charged by local banks in Morocco and has nothing to do with UnionPay and the issuing bank.
Tips: Using UnionPay debit cards to withdraw cash at Attijiriwafa Bank's ATMs has relatively low handling fees.
Take Attijiriwafa Bank's ATM as an example of using UnionPay cards to withdraw cash:
Note: Many ATMs do not have UnionPay logos on the outside, but there are on the ATM page.
1. Insert your UnionPay debit card. It should be either a magnetic stripe card or a combination of magnetic stripe and chip. Pure chip cards may not work.
2. Select English.
3. Enter your 6-digit password
4. Select the first button on the right side of the screen labeled "Withdrawal.".
5. Select the first button on the left side of the screen labeled "Universal".
6. Choose the amount you wish to withdraw. If the preset amounts are not suitable, select "Other Amount" in the bottom-right corner and enter the amount you wish to withdraw.
7. On the next screen, you will see two icons: one with a printer (for printing a receipt) and another with a green leaf (for no receipt). Choose one based on your preference.
8. Retrieve your card.
Unlike ATMs in China, Moroccan ATMs return your card before dispensing cash. Always remember to take your card first!
9. ATM dispenses cash. Withdrawals can result in denominations of 100, 200, or a mix of both.
ATMs are usually available in towns and cities in Morocco, but may be more difficult to find in more remote areas. You can search for ATMs of these banks on the map:
Attijariwafa Bank ATM
BMCE Bank ATM
Société Générale
BMCI ATM
CIH ATM
When banks are busy, ATMs may run out of cash. It's recommended to carry some cash with you as a backup in case of emergency.
Click here to explore more travel guides in Morocco: Travel Inspirations.
Planning to travel to Morocco? You can refer to these itineraries for inspirations:
3-Day Sahara Adventure: Marrakech to Fes via Ait Benhaddou & Merzouga Desert
5-Day Journey through Northern Morocco: A Blend of History and Culture
7-Day Morocco Adventure: A Custom Journey from Marrakech
13-Day Moroccan Odyssey: A Custom Journey from Casablanca
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