How much do ATM withdrawals cost?
ATM withdrawals using your ARQ cards (except the Metal card) have a 1% fee, which applies to all withdrawals, whether they are local or international, and regardless of the amount. If you are a Prestige subscriber and choose to withdraw from the Metal credit card, you will incur a 3% fee.
Note that the banks which own the ATMs may charge additional fees. These fees may vary depending on the bank and the location of the ATM. Pay attention to the information on the ATM screen to understand the applicable fees.
Want to withdraw without the ARQ fees?
Our subscription plans allow customers to enjoy fee-free withdrawals from any ATM, whether local or international, using any of the ARQ cards except for the Metal card (which always incurs a 3% fee).
As a Premium member, you can enjoy fee-free withdrawals of up to 500 USDc
As a Prestige member, you can enjoy fee-free withdrawals of up to 700 USDc
After exceeding this threshold, a 1% fee will apply to additional withdrawals
Important note: this waives the ARQ fee, but not any additional ATM fees.
International ATM Withdrawals: How to Avoid Surprise Fees
Traveling and managing your global wealth should be an effortless experience. However, when using ATMs abroad, especially at airports or high-traffic tourist spots, it’s common to encounter third-party fees that may inflate your withdrawal costs without your knowledge.
If you ever check your app and notice a withdrawal was significantly more expensive than expected, it is not an ARQ charge. Instead, you have likely run into a mechanism used by foreign ATM operators known as Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC).
What is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)?
When you insert your ARQ card into an international ATM (such as Euronet networks, widely found in European airports), the machine detects that your card operates in USD. At that point, the screen will present a prompt that seems helpful: “Would you like to be billed in your home currency (USD) or the local currency (e.g., Euros or Pounds)?”
If you choose to be billed in your home currency (USD), you are accepting DCC, which triggers the following:
Exchange Rates: The ATM operator applies its own retail conversion rate, which typically includes a heavy markup compared to the real mid-market rate.
Hidden Markups: The operator adds processing fees for the conversion service. Ultimately, instead of requesting the exact foreign currency amount from ARQ, the ATM bills a much higher USD amount and keeps the difference as profit.
The Golden Rule: Always Choose Local Currency
Whenever you use an international ATM or pay at a foreign point-of-sale terminal, the screen will give you a choice between your home currency and the local currency. Select the local currency of the country you are in (Euros, Pounds, etc.) and choose "Decline Conversion" if prompted.
By choosing the local currency, the foreign ATM is forced to request the exact cash amount you hold in your hands directly from ARQ. Then, ARQ processes that request using the real, interbank exchange rate, protecting your balance from predatory third-party markups.