Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Richmond 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. RIC's official airport-services page lists only a Truist bank ATM — no Travelex counter or dedicated currency-exchange kiosk is confirmed anywhere in the terminal.
Some third-party travel-blog sites claim a Travelex counter exists at RIC, but this is not confirmed by the airport's own services page and should be treated as unverified. Plan on arriving without pre-purchased foreign cash or using an ATM instead — airport exchange counters, where they exist, typically charge 15–20% above the mid-market rate anyway.
A Truist bank ATM is on the upper terminal level near ticketing; additional ATMs are located throughout the terminal building, including near baggage claim.
Specific ATM networks aren't published by the airport, but standard Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus compatibility is typical for U.S. airport ATMs. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges if withdrawing for an international connection.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for RIC
Withdraw cash from the Truist ATM (or another terminal ATM) rather than looking for an exchange counter — RIC has no confirmed on-site currency-exchange service, so an ATM withdrawal with a no-fee card is the only practical same-day option.
Pro Tip
RIC's only current international-adjacent routes are Breeze Airways' seasonal Cancún flight (roughly January–March) and JetBlue's daily San Juan, Puerto Rico flight (a U.S. territory, so no currency exchange is needed for that route). If you need pesos for Cancún, arrange them through your bank before you fly or withdraw on arrival in Mexico, since RIC has nothing on-site.
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 RIC airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at Richmond 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 RIC airport?
A Truist bank ATM is on the upper terminal level near ticketing; additional ATMs are located throughout the terminal building, including near baggage claim. Specific ATM networks aren't published by the airport, but standard Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus compatibility is typical for U.S. airport ATMs. Using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges if withdrawing for an international connection.
Which currency exchange is at RIC airport?
None. RIC's official airport-services page lists only a Truist bank ATM — no Travelex counter or dedicated currency-exchange kiosk is confirmed anywhere in the terminal. Some third-party travel-blog sites claim a Travelex counter exists at RIC, but this is not confirmed by the airport's own services page and should be treated as unverified. Plan on arriving without pre-purchased foreign cash or using an ATM instead — airport exchange counters, where they exist, typically charge 15–20% above the mid-market rate anyway.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at RIC?
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 RIC airport · Live RIC TSA wait times
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