Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at St. Louis Lambert 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.
No dedicated currency-exchange kiosk. A U.S. Bank branch on the lower level of Terminal 1, near the C Gates security checkpoint, offers currency exchange, Monday–Friday 8am–5pm ((314) 429-1248).
This is a limited-hours retail bank branch, not a travel-focused exchange counter — it's closed evenings and weekends, and currency exchange is offered primarily to existing U.S. Bank customers. Call ahead to confirm same-day availability of the currency you need; any airport exchange typically carries a real markup over the mid-market rate.
U.S. Bank ATMs at the Terminal 1 branch near the C Gates checkpoint, plus additional ATMs distributed through Terminal 1 (Concourses A and C) and Terminal 2 (Concourse E).
STL does not publish exact ATM network affiliations; U.S. Bank ATMs typically run on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks. Using a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for STL
Withdraw cash from a U.S. Bank ATM with a no-fee debit card rather than relying on the Terminal 1 currency exchange counter, which keeps limited weekday-only hours and prioritizes existing bank customers.
Pro Tip
STL's only currency exchange option is a weekday bank branch, not a dedicated travel kiosk — if you're arriving on a weekend or evening international flight (STL runs seasonal international service to Cancun, Toronto, and Punta Cana, cleared through the Terminal 2/Concourse E customs facility), exchange currency before you fly or plan to use an ATM instead.
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 STL airport or at my destination?
Almost always at your destination. Airport exchange booths at St. Louis Lambert 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 STL airport?
U.S. Bank ATMs at the Terminal 1 branch near the C Gates checkpoint, plus additional ATMs distributed through Terminal 1 (Concourses A and C) and Terminal 2 (Concourse E). STL does not publish exact ATM network affiliations; U.S. Bank ATMs typically run on the Visa/Plus and Mastercard/Cirrus networks. Using a Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut debit card avoids foreign transaction fees and ATM surcharges.
Which currency exchange is at STL airport?
No dedicated currency-exchange kiosk. A U.S. Bank branch on the lower level of Terminal 1, near the C Gates security checkpoint, offers currency exchange, Monday–Friday 8am–5pm ((314) 429-1248). This is a limited-hours retail bank branch, not a travel-focused exchange counter — it's closed evenings and weekends, and currency exchange is offered primarily to existing U.S. Bank customers. Call ahead to confirm same-day availability of the currency you need; any airport exchange typically carries a real markup over the mid-market rate.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at STL?
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 STL airport · Live STL TSA wait times
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