Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Norfolk 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. Norfolk International Airport's own FAQ confirms there is no currency exchange counter anywhere in the terminal.
Even at airports that do have exchange kiosks, they typically charge 15-20% above the mid-market rate — ORF travelers should not count on converting cash at the airport at all and should plan ahead instead.
Truist-branded ATMs (Truist is the rebranded former BB&T) are located throughout the terminal, including the Main Terminal lobby/baggage-claim level and on both Concourse A and Concourse B.
ORF's ATMs run on the Truist network; expect a standard out-of-network withdrawal fee unless you bank with Truist. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) minimizes cost for travelers arriving on ORF's new international route.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for ORF
Since ORF has no on-site exchange, arrange foreign currency before you fly: order through Travelex online for home delivery, use a AAA membership office, or visit Currency Exchange International at MacArthur Center in downtown Norfolk (300 Monticello Ave, Level 1, Mon-Sat 11am-7pm, Sun 12pm-6pm, 757-216-3500). On arrival, withdrawing from a Truist ATM with a no-fee debit card is the simplest option.
Pro Tip
ORF only regained scheduled international service in January 2026 (Breeze Airways to Cancun, via the new International Arrivals Facility that opened that February) and still has zero in-terminal currency exchange — sort out currency needs before you travel rather than expecting to convert cash on either end of the trip.
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 ORF airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Norfolk 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 ORF airport?
Truist-branded ATMs (Truist is the rebranded former BB&T) are located throughout the terminal, including the Main Terminal lobby/baggage-claim level and on both Concourse A and Concourse B. ORF's ATMs run on the Truist network; expect a standard out-of-network withdrawal fee unless you bank with Truist. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) minimizes cost for travelers arriving on ORF's new international route.
Which currency exchange is at ORF airport?
None. Norfolk International Airport's own FAQ confirms there is no currency exchange counter anywhere in the terminal. Even at airports that do have exchange kiosks, they typically charge 15-20% above the mid-market rate — ORF travelers should not count on converting cash at the airport at all and should plan ahead instead.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at ORF?
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 ORF airport · Live ORF TSA wait times
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