How Do I use ATMs in Bali? – Withdrawing Money in Bali

This may seem like a pretty straight forward question.  After all, aren’t all ATMs created equal?  You insert your Debit card, follow the prompts on the screen and try to obtain money, right? In Bali the process is not always this straightforward. Don’t worry, though, we’ll show you how to use the ATMs to withdraw money in Bali.

The good thing is, every ATM will give you the option for English.  Therefore, following the screen prompts are similar to any ATM you would use in your home country, in order to obtain money in Bali. 

However, remember I just mentioned you “try” to obtain money?  You “try” because, at times, ATMs can run out of money in Bali, chew up your card, not return it, or any other host of possible problems.  The more likely reason you will have a problem is because the ATM may reject your card, and give you an error, thereby not allowing you to withdraw money.  

The problem in this instance is with the ATM, not your debit card.  Also, more than likely, it is NOT because the bank has put a block on your card for fraud.  I have received errors numerous times when trying to obtain money from the ATMs in Bali. My friends have also visited Bali and encountered the same problem.  If you contact the bank to inquire if they blocked your card, for fraudulent reasons, the answer will probably be “No”.  In fact, often times, they will not even see any record of a transaction attempt.  Which means the problem is the ATM.

TIP: Remember to contact your bank and let them know you will be traveling so they do not “block” your cards.  Many banks have the option to do this online.

There are various reasons why the ATM is giving you a problem.  Usually, the problem is the ATM doesn’t like what kind of debit card you are using.  Visa debit cards tend to have more problems than MasterCard debit cards, here in Bali.  Often going to a different ATM will solve this problem and you will be able to make a withdrawal with no problem. 

Withdrawing Money at a Bali ATM

When using the ATMs in Bali to withdraw money follow these steps:

1. Insert Debit, or Credit, Card
2. Choose English
3. Enter Card PIN –> Press “ENTER” (I recommend covering your hand while doing so.)
4. Choose “SAVING”, “CHECKING”, or “CREDIT”
5. Choose “WITHDRAWAL”
6. Enter amount to withdraw –> Press “CORRECT” (most major bank ATMs will allow up to 2.5 million rupiah).  
7. Money will dispense, and a receipt of the transaction will be given. 
8. After money is dispensed, if you want to make an additional transaction, and obtain more money, press “CANCEL”.  It is the button on the upper right side of the keypad.  This will allow you to make another transaction without having to retrieve your card and start process all over.
9. When transaction is complete press “EXIT” and your debit card will be returned to you.

TIP:  In some countries the ATMs will give you your debit card back before dispensing your money.  In Bali the ATMs dispense your money FIRST and then you have to “EXIT” the transaction in order to receive your debit card back.  REMEMBER to take your debit card!  Many have fallen victim to losing their debit card because they forgot it in the machine.

Watch this video on how to use the ATMs in Bali to withdraw money. 👇

Types of ATMs in Bali

Also, there are two types of ATMs in Bali.  There are cash and non-cash ATMs.  The ATM that will dispense cash is usually marked with “Tarikan Tunai”, which means “Cash Withdrawal”.  Non-cash ATMs are usually marked with the words “Non-Tunai”, or “Non-Cash”.  The locals with use these ATMs to transfer money and pay bills.  So, make sure you are using the correct ATM when trying to withdraw money.

Read my other article on How to Spot an Unsafe ATM and Check for Skimmers Using Your Phone.

What Are the Best ATMs to Use in Bali?

There are many ATMs you can use while traveling in Bali.  The most common ATMs from large banks you will find are: 

• BCA (Bank Central Asia)
• BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia)
• BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia)
• Mandiri Bank

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There are other foreign bank brand ATMs you will find in Bali.  However, I would stick to the large Indonesian brand banks listed above.  This is because these ATMs can be found attached to the banks, which often have security, or they have well maintained stand-alone ATM centers.  I personally, prefer to use Mandiri ATMs simply because I know I can withdraw money without any fees (I will explain this is a minute).  However, the other banks listed above are all good as well.

The ATMs will give you 50,000 or 100,000 rupiah notes.  Make sure you look for ATMs that will give you 100,000 rupiah (largest bill used in Indonesia).  The ATM will indicate this somewhere on the machine.  Trust me, you will want to do this if you don’t want to carry ridiculously large stacks of cash.  To put this in perspective, 1 million rupiah (10 of the 100,000 rupiah notes) is equivalent to roughly $70 USD.  In order to have a couple hundred dollars in your pocket requires a stack of money, so use ATMs that give you 100,000 rupiah notes.

TIP: Some banks such as Mandiri and BNI have security guards at their ATMs located at the bank. This gives a little more peace of mind the ATMs haven’t been tampered with.

Most of the ATMs that offer 100,000 rupiah notes will allow you to withdraw between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 rupiah in one transaction, (approximately $118.29 to $177.44 USD*).  If you would like to obtain more money, simply complete another transaction.  Your card issuing bank will allow you to do this up to the daily maximum withdrawal limit.

*According to the current exchange rate.

Should I Use a Convenience Store ATM in Bali?

I would avoid using convenience store ATMs.  There is no shortage of convenience stores in Bali, like Circle K, Indomaret and Alpha Mart.  Most of them all have ATMs located inside.  However, if at all possible, I would avoid using them for the following reasons:

1. The ATMs are probably independently owned so they will have higher fees attached to them.
2. Most convenience store ATMs only dispense 50,000 rupiah notes.
3. Many convenience stores are open 24 hours with no security.  It makes the possibility of tampering with an ATM to install skimmers, or micro cameras to try and capture your PIN more likely.
4. Many convenience stores are hangouts for other people.  Many people will sit outside the stores, smoke and use the store’s WiFi.  If you need to use the ATM late at night this could open yourself up to be taken advantage of, especially if you have been drinking, or are tired.

Fee Free ATMs to Withdraw Money in Bali

I mentioned before you can use the ATMs without having any fees.  Some of the larger banks in the United States now offer accounts with no foreign transaction fees when using your debit card at ATMs.  They also offer some nice security features to help prevent fraudulent transactions and card skimming.  

I wrote another article on the Best Debit Cards to Use in Bali that is more in depth.  Following these tips will definitely ensure you can withdraw money for free and prevent fraud. 

TIP: Banks close during public holiday.  Here in Bali, locals will withdraw large amounts of money from the ATMs before holidays.  This results in many ATMs not having any money.  If you are traveling during a major worldwide holiday take this into consideration before leaving your hotel without cash.