Phnom Penh ATM Withdrawal Tips 2026: Avoid Fees with Travel Cards

Planning to grab some US dollars with my travel card in Phnom Penh, I ran into a common traveler's frustration: searching online for current information was a nightmare! Most results were outdated, often two years old or more, filled with generic AI-generated fluff. It felt like a wild goose chase just to find reliable advice for 2026.

Here's the scoop: travel cards like Travel Wallet (or Wise, Revolut, etc.) aren't always fee-free in Cambodia. You'll need to calculate how to use your money efficiently to minimize those extra charges.

PPCBANK

My first attempt was at PPCBANK.

Most ATMs in Cambodia operate similarly. This one even offered Korean, but for our global audience, let's stick to English. For a 6-digit PIN, if your card uses a 4-digit PIN, simply add '00' to the end (e.g., if your PIN is 1234, enter 123400).

You'll see options like 'Savings Account' or 'Current Account'. 'Savings Account' usually works best for travel cards. Next, be absolutely sure to select USD, not KHR (Cambodian Riel). Withdrawing in KHR will hit you with double conversion fees, essentially throwing your money away. Always choose USD!

At PPCBANK, the ATM fee was $5. Ouch, every dollar counts!

I tried to withdraw $400 but it failed. While I can't be 100% certain of the reason, two possibilities come to mind. First, ATMs can surprisingly run out of cash, especially in less busy locations. Second, it's highly likely that the maximum withdrawal limit at this specific machine was capped at $300. Thinking it was the former, I decided to try another bank's ATM.

Next, I headed to a well-known spot on the Phnom Penh Riverside: the building housing Pizza 4P's and Starbucks. You'll find ATMs conveniently located on the ground floor.

There were two machines: BRED BANK on the left and ACLEDA BANK on the right. I started with BRED BANK.

Insert your card first, then select 'Cash Withdrawal'.

Choose 'Current Account' and then 'USD'.

This ATM had a slightly higher fee of $6. I attempted to pull out $400 here too, but it also failed. It seems that many ATMs have recently reduced their maximum withdrawal limits. It's confusing when the options still show amounts like $500 or $800, but they're often not available!

Finally, I tried the third bank, ACLEDA Bank, with a plan to withdraw $300.

Insert your card, select 'Cash Withdrawal', then choose 'USD'.

The fee here was $5, and this time, the $300 withdrawal was successful! It turns out the previous failures were indeed due to maximum withdrawal limits, not empty machines. With some cash in hand and a remaining balance on my travel card, I was set to use the card for larger purchases and cash for smaller transactions.

However, here's a crucial tip: $100 bills are incredibly difficult to use at most local restaurants or cafes. While $20 bills are generally fine, I found absolutely no place willing to accept $50 or $100 bills for small purchases. Instead of withdrawing in neat $100 increments, try withdrawing odd amounts like $190; this often gives you smaller denominations, like $90 in smaller bills.

It's often best to find a money changer to break down larger bills like a $100 into Cambodian Riel (KHR) if you need smaller denominations, as they typically won't exchange a $100 bill for smaller USD bills. I'll be sharing a future post on where to find reliable money changers and how to calculate the best exchange rates for converting USD to KHR.

Navigating cash in a new country can be tricky, but a little planning goes a long way!