Money & travel
Skip the exchange booth at Northwest Arkansas National 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 exchange booths at this airport
None — XNA has no currency exchange counter or kiosk. XNA is a domestic-only airport with no scheduled nonstop international routes (connections to international destinations like Cancun currently require a stopover at a larger US hub). This means your in-airport options are limited to ATMs — which is actually a better outcome, since you automatically get the real mid-market exchange rate.
Arvest Bank operates the ATMs in XNA's main terminal, near the ticket counters and post-security concourse areas.
Arvest Bank is the on-site ATM operator. As with any airport ATM, using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges if you're withdrawing cash ahead of an international connection elsewhere.
Best cards for ATM use abroad
Recommended for XNA
Handle currency exchange needs before arriving at XNA or after landing at your international connection point — there's no exchange service on-site, and the vast majority of XNA passengers only need US dollars.
Pro Tip
XNA serves no nonstop international flights, so essentially every passenger only needs US dollars; if you're connecting internationally via a codeshare partner through a larger hub, plan to exchange currency there 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 XNA airport or at my destination?
At your destination. Northwest Arkansas National Airport primarily serves domestic routes and has no dedicated exchange booths. Withdraw from an ATM at your destination using a no-fee card (Charles Schwab, Wise, or Revolut) for the best possible rate.
Where are the ATMs at XNA airport?
Arvest Bank operates the ATMs in XNA's main terminal, near the ticket counters and post-security concourse areas. Arvest Bank is the on-site ATM operator. As with any airport ATM, using a no-foreign-transaction-fee debit card (Schwab, Wise, Revolut) avoids surcharges if you're withdrawing cash ahead of an international connection elsewhere.
Which currency exchange is at XNA airport?
Northwest Arkansas National Airport does not have dedicated currency exchange booths. It primarily serves domestic routes. For foreign currency, use an ATM with a no-fee card and exchange at the real mid-market rate.
What is the best card to use for foreign currency at XNA?
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 XNA airport · Live XNA TSA wait times
Know exactly when to leave for the airport
The Leave-By Time calculator folds the live XNA 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 →