Foreign currency exchange in Salt Lake City

If you’re planning a foreign trip, you’ll need to work out how to get your travel money to pay for things while you’re away. Don’t waste your precious vacation searching for currency exchange services - get everything sorted in advance so you can kick back and relax while you’re away.

This guide walks through some travel money tips, a few Salt Lake City locations you can visit to get your foreign cash, and also introduces Wise.

Wise is a non-bank specialist service which offers multi-currency accounts and cards you can use for global spending with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%¹.

Keep these tips in mind when exchanging currency in Salt Lake City and all over the country

Make your money go further during your trip, with these top tips to make sure you get a good deal.

1. Get to know the different exchange rates

No matter where you’re heading, the exchange rate you get matters. Get stuck with a bad rate and your dollars won’t buy as much travel money - so your trip costs more in the end.

Use a currency converter tool online or in an app to keep an eye on the rate for your specific currency.

2. Be careful not to be ripped off

You’ll need to shop around to find the best currency exchange option for your needs. Bear in mind that many providers add an extra tricky fee into the exchange rate they use for converting USD to foreign currencies.

This is hard to see, and can mean you pay more than you expect for your travel cash.

This charge - called a markup - is particularly common where an exchange service states they charge no commission, so you’ll need to compare both the fee and the exchange rate of any bank or exchange service you’re considering, to make sure you don’t get ripped off.

3. Avoid exchanging currency in airport and hotels

Exchanging your currency at the airport on departure, or your hotel on arrival is tempting - but you’ll pay a high overall cost for the convenience.

Airport and hotel currency exchange services often have pretty high fees and poor exchange rates as they cater to a captive market.

Heading into the city before you leave - or in your destination - will usually mean your money goes further.

But what if you need to exchange currency in the airport?

Salt Lake City airport does not have any currency exchange service available². If you find yourself at the airport without the travel money you need, your best bet is to use your debit card to make a cash withdrawal as soon as you arrive at your destination.

Get organized in advance and order a handy Wise card and your withdrawal may even be free* - with the mid-market rate and low currency conversion charge¹.

*Note that ATM operators may have their own fees, keep that in mind when making a transaction

4. Be aware of ATM fees

Using your card in an ATM abroad is a safe and easy option. It can also mean you get a decent exchange rate, particularly if you’re using a specialist travel card.

However, you’ll need to double check your bank or card account terms and conditions carefully to make sure there are no surprise charges. It’s common to find a foreign transaction fee added to every withdrawal, for example, which can push up the cost by around 3%.

Add in cash advance and interest fees for using a credit card, and any charge the ATM operator levies, and you could be severely out of pocket.

5. Always choose to be charged in the local currency

One final tip - if someone asks you if you’d prefer to pay in USD instead of the currency in your destination, just say no.

This is a sign of dynamic currency conversion - which is an expensive headache for travelers all over the world. Pay in the local currency to get the best available exchange rate, and the lowest fees - and to avoid hidden or unexpected charges.

Skip cash exchange: take a Wise card with you

Say goodbye to overcomplicated currency exchange.

Wise can help you get a better deal on currency conversion in over 40 currencies, with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees.

Open a personal Wise account online or in the Wise app, and order a linked debit card for a one-time fee to spend and withdraw money in 150+ countries.

There’s no fee to spend any currency you hold, and no foreign transaction fee to worry about.

Use your account when you travel or shop online in foreign currencies, send payments in 70+ currencies, and get your own local bank details in 9 currencies.

Get a Wise account
in minutes

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees

In person foreign currency exchange in Salt Lake City

You can choose to collect your foreign currency in Salt Lake City in person, or have it delivered to your home through a company like CXI®³.

A few banks offer currency services, which is the easiest option as long as you have a bit of time. In some cases you can only use a bank’s travel money service if you already have an account with them, and in other situations you’ll need to order your currency in advance - so it’s important to check the service details before you pick which bank to use.

Here are a couple of places you may want to take a look at:

Bank of America®

Bank of America customers can order foreign currency in a branch or financial center⁴.

Bear in mind that you’ll usually need to have a Bank of America account to take advantage of this service - and the availability of currencies may vary based on the specific location you decide to visit.

Wells Fargo®

You can order foreign currency cash from Wells Fargo⁶ - but it’s important to note that branches don’t keep foreign currency cash in stock, and so you’ll need to wait a couple of days to collect more common currencies - and up to 7 days for less commonly requested currencies.

The good news is that there are plenty of branches to pick from, so at least collecting your travel money shouldn’t be too tricky.

Zions Bank®

Zions Bank has multiple locations in Salt Lake City and in other areas of Utah, and lets customers buy and sell 80+ foreign currencies conveniently with competitive rates⁷.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular Zions Bank locations - you’ll be able to get a full listing on the Zions Bank website.

Buying your travel money in person shouldn’t be too tricky - but it does mean spending time standing in line in a bank or currency exchange service. Instead, why not ditch travel cash entirely and use Wise instead.

Open an account online or in-app conveniently, order a Wise card and use it to pay with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees. You’ll still be able to make cash withdrawals when you arrive if you need to - so you can still get Wise’s great rates and low fees, for those odd occasions when only cash will do.