Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Philadelphia 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.
CXI (Currency Exchange International) operates two locations: Terminal A-West near Gate A14 (daily 7am–9:30pm, phone 445-232-2483) and the A/B Connector, between the American Airlines Federal Credit Union and Minute Suites (daily 12pm–8pm). CXI exchanges more than 80 foreign currencies. Older listings reference a Travelex counter at PHL, but the airport's own knowledge base now identifies CXI as the current operator at both locations.
CXI charges a flat $10 service fee per transaction on top of its exchange-rate spread (airport employees and volunteers get the fee waived, but travelers do not). As with any airport currency counter, the effective rate runs well above the mid-market rate — fine for a small amount of emergency cash, expensive for anything more.
Bank of America operates roughly 21 ATMs spread across every terminal — A-West, A-East, B, C, D, E, and F — including in the International Arrivals Hall and near baggage claim in Terminal A-East.
PHL's ATMs dispense US dollars only; they cannot dispense foreign currency, so travelers needing foreign cash still have to use CXI. The Bank of America machines run on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks — a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges when withdrawing abroad.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for PHL
Skip CXI for anything beyond small emergency cash — the flat $10 fee plus the exchange spread adds up fast. Withdraw local currency from an ATM at your destination using a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut), or use PHL's Bank of America ATMs for dollars before you depart.
Pro Tip
The A/B Connector CXI counter keeps shorter hours (12pm–8pm) than the A-West location near Gate A14 (7am–9:30pm) — if you're on an early-morning international departure, A-West/Gate A14 is your only in-airport option for currency exchange.
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 PHL airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Philadelphia 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 PHL airport?
Bank of America operates roughly 21 ATMs spread across every terminal — A-West, A-East, B, C, D, E, and F — including in the International Arrivals Hall and near baggage claim in Terminal A-East. PHL's ATMs dispense US dollars only; they cannot dispense foreign currency, so travelers needing foreign cash still have to use CXI. The Bank of America machines run on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks — a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges when withdrawing abroad.
Which currency exchange is at PHL airport?
CXI (Currency Exchange International) operates two locations: Terminal A-West near Gate A14 (daily 7am–9:30pm, phone 445-232-2483) and the A/B Connector, between the American Airlines Federal Credit Union and Minute Suites (daily 12pm–8pm). CXI exchanges more than 80 foreign currencies. Older listings reference a Travelex counter at PHL, but the airport's own knowledge base now identifies CXI as the current operator at both locations. CXI charges a flat $10 service fee per transaction on top of its exchange-rate spread (airport employees and volunteers get the fee waived, but travelers do not). As with any airport currency counter, the effective rate runs well above the mid-market rate — fine for a small amount of emergency cash, expensive for anything more.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at PHL?
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 PHL airport · Live PHL TSA wait times
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