Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at John Glenn Columbus International Airport. Use an ATM with a no-fee card — the ATM gives you the real mid-market rate, while airport exchange booths charge 10–20% above it. On a $500 exchange, that difference is $50–100 in hidden costs.
The key rule
Airport currency exchange booths typically charge 10–20% above the mid-market rate.
On a $500 exchange, that is $50–100 in hidden fees. The ATM is almost always better — even with a bank fee. And with a no-fee card, the ATM is unambiguously better.
None confirmed as of 2026 — flycolumbus.com's official amenities listing does not include a currency exchange counter. The airport's former Travelex location is gone, consistent with Travelex's broader exit from the US and Canada in 2021.
CMH is a largely domestic airport with only limited seasonal international service (Cancun, Toronto, and Montreal starting 2026), so there isn't sustained demand for an on-site exchange counter. Even where airport currency booths exist, they typically charge 15–20% above the mid-market rate, so this is a minor loss for CMH travelers.
ATMs are near the main terminal escalators and just before the Concourse A and Concourse C security checkpoints, plus in the baggage claim area and the center of the ticketing lobby.
Standard US bank ATMs on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks; using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Charles Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges and gets a far better rate than any currency booth would.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for CMH
Withdraw cash before you arrive, or use a no-fee debit/travel card at a US bank ATM once through the terminal — CMH has no dedicated currency exchange counter, so this is the only practical on-site option.
Pro Tip
If you're arriving with only cash and need a usable card, CMH's "ReadyStation" kiosk converts cash into a prepaid Visa debit card for a flat $6 fee — not true currency exchange, but a useful workaround in a pinch.
Before you leave
Order foreign currency from your bank before departure — Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo all offer currency ordering at branches and online (3–7 business days). Rates are better than airport booths, and you avoid the airport rush entirely.
At your destination
Withdraw from a local ATM at your destination — you get the real mid-market exchange rate, minus a small network fee. A no-fee card eliminates even that. This is almost always the cheapest option.
In transit
Currency exchange at city banks or post offices in your destination country is typically far better than airport rates in both countries. Most major cities have walk-in currency exchange with rates 5–10% better than airport booths.
Is it better to exchange currency at CMH airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at John Glenn Columbus International Airport charge 10-20% above the mid-market rate. At your destination, ATMs give the real interbank rate minus a small network fee — typically saving $50-100 on a $500 exchange versus the airport booth.
Where are the ATMs at CMH airport?
ATMs are near the main terminal escalators and just before the Concourse A and Concourse C security checkpoints, plus in the baggage claim area and the center of the ticketing lobby. Standard US bank ATMs on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks; using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Charles Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges and gets a far better rate than any currency booth would.
Which currency exchange is at CMH airport?
None confirmed as of 2026 — flycolumbus.com's official amenities listing does not include a currency exchange counter. The airport's former Travelex location is gone, consistent with Travelex's broader exit from the US and Canada in 2021. CMH is a largely domestic airport with only limited seasonal international service (Cancun, Toronto, and Montreal starting 2026), so there isn't sustained demand for an on-site exchange counter. Even where airport currency booths exist, they typically charge 15–20% above the mid-market rate, so this is a minor loss for CMH travelers.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at CMH?
The Charles Schwab debit card is the top choice — it reimburses all ATM fees worldwide and charges 0% on international transactions, giving you the real mid-market exchange rate. Wise and Revolut travel cards are strong alternatives with similar 0% fee structures. Avoid using a standard bank debit card, which typically charges 1-3% foreign transaction fee plus an ATM surcharge of $3-5.
See also: Getting around CMH airport · Live CMH TSA wait times
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