Currency Exchange, ATM and Credit Cards

Knowing the best and most economical ways to convert money while in Delhi is beneficial to any traveler. This page will assist you in making these decisions.

India Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)

To find the current exchange rate, please visit our Currency Exchange Link

Points to Know:

  • Travelers checks and credit cards are widely accepted in India
  • For credit card transactions in India, all issuers, except Capital One, charge foreign transaction fee in the range of 2-3%. Capital One has no foreign transaction fee.
  • For ATM transactions in India, all ATM card issuers except HSBC’s World Premier MC, charge foreign ATM transaction fee. For Bank of America, there is no transaction fee if you use any one of their Global ATM Alliance partners like Barclays, BNP Paribas, China Construction Bank, Deutsche Bank, Santander Serfin, Scotiabank and Westpac.
  • Visit http://www.cbec.gov.in/travellers.htm for declaration of foreign currency before customs officer at Delhi airport
  • Indian Currency is called the Indian Rupee. It is available in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 & 1. One rupee equals 100 paise.

 

Exchange Rates:

For real-time exchange rates, visit http://delhispecial.entryindia.com/currency_exchange_rate.

Here you can also compare the rates available from different banks such as SBI, HDFC, RBI, etc.

 

Currency Exchangers and ATM facilities:

At the AIRPORT (arrival section)

  • Currency Exchange: There are two centers at the airport where you can exchange currency
    • Thomas Cook: +91-11-2565-2021; Charges commission
    • State Bank of India: Doesn’t charge any commission
  • ATM: By ICICI Bank

In DELHI NCR

  • Currency Exchange: foreign currency can be exchanged at many places in Delhi, like banks, hotels, government-run tourism offices and more.
    • Banks: Not all the branches of a bank exchange currency. You can call the bank specific numbers below to find a branch that does and also to locate their ATM machines.
      • ICICI Bank: 1-800-22-8181
      • State Bank of India (SBI): +91-11-2340-7121
      • Citibank: +91-124-254-2484
      • AXIS: 1-860-425-8888
      • ABN AMRO: +91-124-4108472
      • Kotak Mahindra: +91-11-6600-6022
      • Punjab National Bank (PNB): +91-124-234-0000
      • American Express: +91-124-280-1800
      • HSBC: +91-11-2373-8989
      • HDFC: +91-11-4151-4332

    For comprehensive list of Banks, visit http://goidirectory.nic.in/bankfin.htm 

    •  Non-Banking Financial Institutions
      • Thomas Cook: +91-11-2374-7404
      • Western Union: 1-800-425-1851
      • Money Gram: +91-98717-01695
    • Delhi Tourism Foreign Exchange Office by DTTDC (there are no extra encashment charges)
      • Connaught Place: +91-11-2373-0416
      • Sansad Marg: +91-11-2340-6202/48
    • Private Listings: (Location operating independently under license from American Express)
      • Ashlin Travels: Chanakya Puri, +91-11-2688-2727
      • Caair Travels: Barakhamba Road, +91-11-4151-1905
      • Eternity Travel and Tour: Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, +91-11-2337-8541
      • Interline Travel: Bhikaji Cama Place, +91-11-2616-6091

 

Transferring Money While in Delhi:

The best way to transfer money to yourself while in Delhi is to open a Quick Remit account with SBI or with HDFC Bank. The account can be connected to your bank account in USA. Then you can send money from your bank account to yourself any where in India using Internet. It will reach you in three or four days.

Credit Card and ATM Transaction Fees:
The following two tables show transaction fees charged by banks when you use their credit cards and when you take cash out using their ATM cards in a foreign country.

Credit card foreign transaction fee (updated 6/8/2009)
IssuerIssuer feeMaster and Visa feeTotal fee
American Express2.7% n/a2.7%
Bank of America2%1%3%
Barclaycard/Juniper Between 1% and 2%1%Between 2% and 3%
Capital OnenoneNoneNone
Citi2%1%3%
Discover2%n/a2%
HSBC*2%1%3%
Chase2%1%3%
US Bancorp 2% 1% 3%
USAA (available only to members of the military and their immediate families) none 1%1%
Wells Fargo 2% 1%3%

Table 1 (Source: www.creditcards.com)

Foreign ATM transaction fees
IssuerForeign ATM cost
Bank of AmericaNone at Global ATM Alliance ATMs/$5 plus 1 percent currency conversion fee at nonGlobal ATM Alliance ATMs
CitiCitibank ATMs: $0 plus a 3 percent currency conversion fee/nonCitibank ATMs: $1.50 plus a 3 percent currency conversion fee
HSBC1 percent for ATM withdrawal
Chase$3 plus 3 percent currency conversion fee
USAA$0 plus 1 percent currency conversion fee
Wells Fargo$5 withdrawal fee


Table 2 (Source: www.creditcards.com)

*HSBC's Premier World MasterCard has no foreign transaction fee.