🇪🇨 This is the brand hub for Banco del Pacifico. For the bigger picture on Ecuador using the US dollar and Galapagos cash, see the Ecuador Money Guide. For exact ATM districts, see the Quito ATM Guide. For card acceptance and transport, see the Quito Money Guide. Flying in? Quito (UIO) guide.
💳 Pack Small USD Bills
Ecuador uses the US dollar, so bring clean small bills for taxis, markets and the Galapagos. CEI ships pristine new-series notes if you want them.
Order USD Bills → CEI Currency ExchangeWhat Banco del Pacifico is, in one paragraph
Banco del Pacifico is a large, state-owned Ecuadorian bank, and among travelers it has a specific reputation: the lowest foreign-card ATM fee and the highest withdrawal cap in the country. Because Ecuador has used the US dollar since 2000, a del Pacifico machine does no currency exchange (a US card withdraws dollar-for-dollar with no FX markup), and its low flat fee plus high cap make it the best choice for pulling a larger amount in one go, which matters most before a Galapagos trip. It is not the widest network (Banco Pichincha is), but it is the cheapest per withdrawal.
What Banco del Pacifico charges foreign cards
| Fee component | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate / FX markup | None (Ecuador uses the US dollar) | N/A, dollar-for-dollar |
| del Pacifico operator fee (foreign card) | ~$1-2 (the lowest in Ecuador) | Banco del Pacifico |
| Per-transaction cap | The highest in Ecuador (best for a big pull) | Banco del Pacifico |
| Your home bank's FX fee | None (both sides use USD) | N/A |
| Bank of America non-network fee | Applies (no Alliance partner in Ecuador) | BoA, use a Schwab card instead |
| DCC / dollar-dispense markup | +5-10% | Always decline; there is no reason to accept it in a USD country. |
Banco del Pacifico usually has the lowest foreign-card operator fee (around $1-2) and the highest cap in Ecuador, so it is the best machine for a larger pull. No FX markup (Ecuador uses USD), and a Schwab card refunds even the small fee. No Bank of America Alliance partner in Ecuador.
Why Banco del Pacifico is the traveler's pick in Ecuador
Banco del Pacifico is the machine to look for when you need a larger withdrawal. It usually charges the lowest foreign-card operator fee in Ecuador, around $1 to $2, and offers the highest per-transaction cap, so you can pull more in a single visit for less per dollar. Combined with the fact that Ecuador uses the US dollar (no FX markup at all), a del Pacifico withdrawal is about as cheap as cash gets, and a Charles Schwab card refunds even the small fee.
This matters most before the Galapagos, where ATMs are few, expensive, and often out of cash, and the islands run on small-bill US dollars. Use a del Pacifico machine on the mainland to pull your full island budget in small notes. As always, decline any offer to charge in US dollars at a marked-up rate.
Where to find Banco del Pacifico in Ecuador
The traveler's pick
Banco del Pacifico machines usually charge the lowest foreign-card fee (~$1-2) and the highest cap in Ecuador. See the Quito ATM Guide for locations.
Malls & La Carolina
del Pacifico ATMs in the Quicentro and CCI malls and around Parque La Carolina, air-conditioned and safe for a larger pull.
Guayaquil & the coast
As a large state bank, del Pacifico has good coverage in Guayaquil and along the coast, alongside Quito and the highlands.
Airport arrivals
del Pacifico ATMs in the Quito airport arrivals area for your first, cheapest dollars off the plane. See the UIO guide.
Pull big on the mainland
Use del Pacifico's low fee and high cap to withdraw your full Galapagos budget in small bills before flying out, where island ATMs are scarce and pricey.
Use Schwab, not BoA
Ecuador has no Bank of America Alliance partner, so a BoA card pays the fee; a Schwab card refunds even del Pacifico's small fee.
Best card pairing with Banco del Pacifico
The cheapest ATM in Ecuador, Schwab refunds even that
Banco del Pacifico usually has the lowest foreign-card fee and the highest cap in Ecuador, and because Ecuador uses the US dollar there is no FX markup at all, so a del Pacifico withdrawal is about as cheap as it gets. A Charles Schwab card refunds even the small $1 to $2 fee. Use it for a larger pull before the Galapagos, pack small bills, and decline DCC.
Get the Wise Card →The go-to machine for a big withdrawal
When you need to pull a larger amount, especially before the Galapagos, Banco del Pacifico is the machine to find: the lowest foreign-card fee and the highest cap in Ecuador. One large withdrawal here beats several small ones anywhere else. A Schwab card refunds even the small fee.
Small bills for the Galapagos
The Galapagos runs on small US-dollar notes and has few, pricey ATMs. Use a del Pacifico machine on the mainland to withdraw your island budget in $1, $5 and $10 bills before flying out, and decline DCC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Banco del Pacifico the best ATM in Ecuador?
Lowest foreign-card fee (~$1-2) and highest cap in Ecuador, so it is best for a larger pull. No FX (USD country), and a Schwab card refunds even that. Ideal before the Galapagos.
Does Banco del Pacifico charge foreign cards a fee?
Yes, but the lowest in Ecuador (~$1-2 flat), and no FX (USD country). Best for a big pull; a Schwab card refunds it. Decline DCC.
What is Banco del Pacifico?
A large state-owned Ecuadorian bank, known to travelers for the lowest ATM fee and highest cap in the country. Not the widest network (Pichincha is), but the cheapest per pull.
Is Banco del Pacifico a Bank of America Alliance partner?
No BoA Alliance partner in Ecuador. But del Pacifico's fee is the lowest, and a Schwab card refunds it, making the withdrawal effectively free.
Will my US card work at Banco del Pacifico ATMs?
Yes, with a Visa, Mastercard, Plus or Cirrus logo; dispenses US dollars. Use it for big pulls (high cap, low fee); withdraw for the Galapagos on the mainland.
The cheapest ATM in Ecuador
Banco del Pacifico: lowest fee (~$1-2) and highest cap in Ecuador. No FX (USD country); a Schwab card refunds even that. Best for a big pull before the Galapagos.
Get the Wise Card →