Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Pittsburgh 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.
First National Bank (FNB) operates a Digital Banking Center on the new terminal's Departure Level with a foreign currency exchange dispenser for instant access to cash before departure. Currency Exchange International (CXI) also runs a walk-up counter on the Landside Transit Level, buying and selling 80+ foreign currencies.
Like virtually all on-airport currency services, PIT's FNB dispenser and CXI counter are priced for convenience, not value — expect a meaningfully worse rate (commonly 10-15%+ above mid-market) than a fee-free ATM withdrawal. Fine for a small emergency amount, not for exchanging a large sum.
Citizens Bank, PNC Bank, and FNB ATMs are on the Landside Transit Level near the currency exchange counter and at Baggage Claim near the Hertz counter. Citizens Bank and PNC Bank ATMs are also at the start of Concourse D and in Concourse A near the Military and Family Courtesy Center.
ATMs run on the standard Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, and STAR networks. A no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) used at any of these ATMs beats both the CXI counter and the FNB currency dispenser on rate.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for PIT
Withdraw from a Citizens Bank, PNC, or FNB ATM with a no-fee debit card rather than using the FNB currency dispenser or the CXI exchange counter — both are convenient but cost noticeably more than an ATM withdrawal.
Pro Tip
PIT's international departures (British Airways to London Heathrow, Aer Lingus to Dublin starting 2026, seasonal Icelandair to Reykjavik, seasonal American Airlines flights to Cancun/Punta Cana, and service to Toronto) are limited compared with major hubs, so on-site currency services are modest. For anything beyond emergency cash, exchange or withdraw before you fly, or just use a fee-free card at your destination.
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 PIT airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Pittsburgh 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 PIT airport?
Citizens Bank, PNC Bank, and FNB ATMs are on the Landside Transit Level near the currency exchange counter and at Baggage Claim near the Hertz counter. Citizens Bank and PNC Bank ATMs are also at the start of Concourse D and in Concourse A near the Military and Family Courtesy Center. ATMs run on the standard Visa/Plus, Mastercard/Cirrus, and STAR networks. A no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) used at any of these ATMs beats both the CXI counter and the FNB currency dispenser on rate.
Which currency exchange is at PIT airport?
First National Bank (FNB) operates a Digital Banking Center on the new terminal's Departure Level with a foreign currency exchange dispenser for instant access to cash before departure. Currency Exchange International (CXI) also runs a walk-up counter on the Landside Transit Level, buying and selling 80+ foreign currencies. Like virtually all on-airport currency services, PIT's FNB dispenser and CXI counter are priced for convenience, not value — expect a meaningfully worse rate (commonly 10-15%+ above mid-market) than a fee-free ATM withdrawal. Fine for a small emergency amount, not for exchanging a large sum.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at PIT?
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 PIT airport · Live PIT TSA wait times
Know exactly when to leave for the airport
The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live PIT TSA wait, real-time drive time from your door, and gate-walk distance into one exact time to leave home — no guesswork.
Calculate my Leave-By Time →