Where Can I Find ATMs in Peru?
It’s normally easy to find an ATM in any large city in Peru, especially if you’re in the city center. The city’s main square, or Plaza de Armas, is normally a good place to start. If you don’t find an ATM around the square itself, then there should be one on an adjacent street. Also keep an eye out for any banks, as most have ATMs inside (such as shown in the main image above). If your Spanish is up to it, then of course you can always ask a local for directions to the nearest cajero automático.
While most mid-sized towns will have an ATM or two, some smaller towns — and especially villages — might not have any at all. Before heading out to any village or rural community, always make sure you’ve got enough cash on you for the trip (and some extra for emergencies).
Large shopping malls and some pharmacies also contain ATMs. If you’re flying into Lima, you’ll find ATMs inside Lima Airport.
Most ATMs are open 24 hours a day.
What Cards do Peruvian ATMs Accept?
ATMs in Peru typically accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Visa, however, still seems to be the most common in Peru.
Make sure you clear your card(s) for use abroad or you may find they don’t work or quickly become blocked due to anti-fraud measures or other protective services used by your bank. If your card does become blocked, you should be able to unblock it fairly quickly by calling your bank back home.
Some ATMs will refuse to give you money for other reasons, so don’t panic if your withdrawal is refused. The machine might be out of money or the local network could be down temporarily. Try again later; if the problem persists, call your bank.
Is There a Daily or Monthly Withdrawal Limit?
Peruvian ATMs place a limit on the amount of cash you can withdraw in one go. This limit is sometimes frustratingly low, at around S/ 400, while other ATMs will let you take out S/ 1,000 or more (but these seem increasingly rare). These limits also apply when withdrawing dollars. Some banks decrease the withdrawal amount at night, typically from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Daily total withdrawal limits are also in place, so while you should be able to withdraw S/ 700 a few times in one day, for example, don’t be surprised if you hit a wall eventually. Scotiabank has a daily limit of $800 or its equivalent in soles
In the second half of 2017, BCP really started messing with foreign card holders by introducing a monthly withdrawal limit of S/700. That, quite frankly, is ridiculous. I contacted the bank and asked for some explanation for this, but they were unwilling to give me more information, apart from saying that the restriction will be in place for six months. It seems totally crazy, but that’s the deal.
Other daily withdrawal limits might be in place with your bank back home, so check with them before traveling.
Are There ATM Fees in Peru?
ATM fees in Peru used to be minimal, but they’ve increased significantly since around mid-2017, from what I can tell. Banks in Peru seem to be changing their policies all the time, which doesn’t help when it comes to giving precise info about these fees (see comments section below to get an idea of the confusion this causes everyone). But you can now expect to pay between $4 and $10 US for each withdrawal (depending on the bank), which is no fun at all.
Using Xoom or Azimo to Send Money to Peru
One alternative is to avoid the ATMs altogether and use a money transfer service like Xoom (from the USA) or Azimo (from most of Europe). This way, you can transfer money directly from your bank account to your nearest Interbank in Peru, where you can collect it in dollars (which you can either exchange for soles in the bank, or with street money changers, who normally offer better exchange rates). You’ll probably find that this is a cheaper and more transparent method of getting your money in Peru, and it’s a fairly straightforward process, too.
ATM Fees from Your Bank Back Home
You also need to take your own bank into consideration, as it might well charge you for using an ATM abroad, and this can be in excess of $10 for each withdrawal. For example, my bank in the UK, Barclays, does charge a fee for withdrawing money abroad:
“You can use your debit card abroad to buy things or withdraw cash from ATMs wherever you see the VISA sign. There are fees for withdrawing cash abroad but there is no cash withdrawal fee for withdrawing funds from cash machines belonging to one of our Global ATM Alliance partners.”
So if you are being charged withdrawal fees in Peru, they might be coming from your bank and the bank in Peru (another reason to use Xoom or Azimo). Check this with your bank before you travel, and double check the fees after your first withdrawal. It’s always handy to have online banking set up so you can easily check your balance, and any fees you may be incurring, from Peru.
What Currencies Can I Withdraw and in What Denominations?
Some ATMs will let you withdraw both Peruvian soles and US dollars. If they are capable of dispensing dollars, it should say so somewhere on the machine.
When you withdraw Peruvian soles, you’ll normally received S/ 100 notes, which can be annoying considering the occasional problems with using large notes in Peru. If you’re lucky, the machine will sometimes give you S/ 50 notes, sometimes even a few S/ 20 notes.
When you withdraw US$, you’ll typically receive $20 notes.
Are Peruvian ATMs Hard to Use if I Don’t Speak Spanish?
In a word: no. As far as I’m aware, every ATM in Peru — or at least the vast majority — has an English-language option. This option should appear once you’ve entered your card and pin.
Is it Safe to Use ATMs in Peru?
Whenever possible, use an ATM located inside a bank to greatly reduce the risk of snatch theft. You should be fine withdrawing money from an ATM outside on the street, but you do need to be more cautious, especially at night. It’s always best to withdraw money during the day when there are a few people around (not too many, ideally, but neither should you be totally alone).
Once you’ve received your money, make sure to place it in a secure pocket with a zip or other fastener — somewhere that pickpockets won’t easily invade.
As is now common across the globe, you also need to watch out for any suspicious-looking devices placed on or around the ATM, especially on the card slot. If you see anything dubious, it’s always best to use a different machine.
The ATM Gave Me Fake Money! What the Hell??
I’ve heard stories of people receiving fake money from legitimate ATMs in Peru. Whether this is true, and whether it still happens, I cannot say for sure. But I’ve withdraw money from ATMs all across the country over the last eight or so years, and I’ve never received a fake note. The likelihood of receiving counterfeit money from a Peruvian ATM is therefore very, very low — if even possible.
All photos by Tony Dunnell.
My way around this…use Western Union to send yourself money. For $11 US, I can send up to $5K to myself–and receive it in dollars or Soles. Set up an account with Western Union and simply send yourself money.
Hello, Does any one have any updated (today is 31 Mar 2020) information from this copy & paste of April, 2019??
Scotia Bank – S/. 20 fee and S/. 400 maximum withdrawal
BCP – Zero fee and S/. 700 maximum withdrawal
Here’s my experience with a couple of ATMs in Peru during my April, 2019 visit.
Scotia Bank – S/. 20 fee and S/. 400 maximum withdrawal
BCP – Zero fee and S/. 700 maximum withdrawal
I used a Barclaycard platinum Visa travel card that charges no ATM or foreign currency transaction fees. Also, no interest is charged for any cash withdrawals providing everything is paid off in full during the next billing cycle. UKers might want to look into getting this card especially for travelling overseas as it definitely beats using a debit card and getting stung by all those fees. The Halifax Clarity MasterCard is a good equivalent but charges interest on cash withdrawals immediately.
Thanks for the info Ian. Cheers, Tony.
Hi Micky,
Can you please tell me the maximum amount you can withdraw from Banco de la Nacion? And do you withdraw soles or dollars? thank you!
Hi Rad. I’m not too sure what the max withdrawal is for Banco de la Nacion right now. S/ 700 maybe? I think you might as well just withdraw soles, as the exchange rate for dollars through the bank probably won’t be great (not terrible, but not ideal). But it’s best to check with the bank to be sure. Thanks, Tony.
Currently in Peru and the only ATMs I’ve found that don’t charge a fee are the Bank de la Nacion/RedBank ATMs. Every other ATM charges 20-25 soles per transaction.
Hi Tony,
I appreciate all the useful information folks are sharing here but need clarification on something. I noticed on https://www.tripsavvy.com/using-atms-in-peru-1619885 you wrote “Most ATMs in Peru do not charge you a transaction fee”. As that website was last updated on 02/16/19, is that the latest information I should be going with? If most ATMs in Peru really don’t charge transaction fees then that would be very good news but it does seem to contradict what folks are saying on this website.
Hi Ian. That’s a website I used to write for a few years back when it was called About.com, and the info is out of date. It looks like they’re updating the date without updating the content, so best to get your info from New Peruvian! But as I mention in the article above, the banks seem to be changing their fees — or having them then not having them — in fairly random fashion, so anything could change at any time. Thanks, Tony.
Visited Lima and Cuzco in August 2019 (frech info).
I have a US bank account from Bank of America. They are part of a global network with Scotiabank so zero fees to withdraw from their ATMs but I was charged 3% for each ATM withdrawal at Scotiabank. My son is there studying for 6 months and only has a Chase card. Huge though Chase is they have no similar agreement so I’m currently trawling around trying to find the best option to suggest to him….
By they way the max withdrawal offered at Scotabank ATMs in August 2019 was S/400…
hope this helps… Regardless of your country and bank, if you google around enough about your own bank & Peru ATMs you’ll find the info somewhere. in the case of Bank of America they had it listed on their own web site.
Update 1. Son withdrew from BCP ATM with Chase visa debit card. Max available was S/ 700 and fee was S/ 13.50…waiting to see what Chase charges on their side, but expecting $5 and 3%….
He’s going to try Banco de la Nacion (MultiRed) next time…then I’ll give another update
Thanks for the info Mark, much appreciated. Tony.
It seems BCP has quit using their stupid once-per-month limit. Hopefully it won’t come back ever again!
Ah, that’s good to know! Thanks for the info. Tony.
Do banks charge the same ATM fees regardless of the ATM’s location? Would Scotiabank’s ATM (or any other bank’s ATM for that matter), charge the same fees at, say, Lima airport as it would in the city centre? I’m particularly interested to learn if there are certain ATM fee hotspots such as airports or whether fees are always the same.
Hi Ian. As far as I know, the ATM’s location shouldn’t make any difference. Thanks, Tony.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for this really helpful article! I’m arriving in Lima then immediately hitting the smaller cities (Paracas, Huacachina, and Nazca). I’m only going to be in Lima (Miraflores) between 3am-6am. Do you recommend that I withdraw all the soles at the airport, or will there be a more reasonable option later on in smaller cities? My guide claims that there are no money exchange places in Paracas and Huacachina, and probably bad rates in Nazca.
Also, I have a Bank of America card (same network as Scotiabank.) Do you know if ATM fees will be charged?
Hi Stella. I’m honestly not sure about your Bank of America card. Best to email them directly to ask about that, as the fees are kind of crazy in Peru right now. As for withdrawing money, I’m sure you’ll find ATMs in Paracas and Nazca (I think Huacachina has one, but it’s often out of cash, so best not to rely on that). So if you just want to use your card to withdraw soles from an ATM, you should be fine in those two cities. There are also a bunch of ATMs inside Lima Airport, including BCP, BBVA and Scotiabank. So it’s probably a good idea to withdraw some soles at the airport just in case (more here: https://www.lima-airport.com/eng/for-passengers/shopping-food-and-services/banks-atms-and-money-exchange). If you want to exchange dollars, then you can probably do that in hotels in Paracas and Nazca, but the exchange rate won’t be great. I don’t know if they have street money changers there. Hope that helps! Tony.
Bcp limit is still in place people..
Just arrived for a 6 month stay renting and BCP is the only ATM in the town I am staying in (though there are other banks about 10 kms away) – and, yes, it is still a “once a month” withdrawal limit. BVVA appears to allow more withdrawals, but since last year they have reduced the daily limit to 400 soles (from 500) and there is an 18 sole charge with every transaction (on top of my already not inconsiderate UK charges for taking money abroad! I am hoping that my landlord will take PayPal payments for rent, otherwise it will be a juggling act to get enough cash together for the next 6 months!
Hi Dave. Thanks for the info. Yeah, it’s a particularly messed up situation if you’re in a town with only one or two ATMs. And a withdrawal fee of S/18 on top of UK charges is truly annoying. I feel your pain! Cheers, Tony.
You can send yourself money in bulk, typically up to $2999, using Xoom. Have that deposited into your Peruvian account and the draw on it normally. Or pick it up in cash at Interbank. Fees are minimal as compared to the ATM fees you’d get for withdrawing that much.
Western Union is an option, but recently started throwing up problems with sending money to Peru. Not recommended.
Hi Chris. I was actually just thinking about including similar info in the article. I’m from the UK and can’t use Xoom to transfer to Peru, but I am about to use Azimo, which I hear is good. And, like you say, minimal fees (collection at Interbank). Thanks for the info, I’ll update the article today or tomorrow. Tony.
Interesting read – the BCP one withdrawal per month farce is still in place as I’ve just discovered today having been limited to a 200 soles withdrawal yesterday and I’m in a small town with one ATM. The general lower limits issue smacks to me of banks profiteering and the overall situation doesn’t do Peru’s reputation any favours.
If you live in the US, you can get a bank account (“investor checking”) with debit card through Charles Schwab. They do not charge for foreign withdrawals, and they also refund any fees the bank charges you, so you don’t have to shop local fees. It’s worked well for me in several different countries.
Hello, I want to also let you know my experience. It used to be the case that I was able to pick up money without any fees at Scotiabank, BBVA, BCP …. using my German credit card from Deutsche Bank. Now every transaction costs between 18 and 20 Soles for using the ATM of the respective owner bank. My banks in Germany are definitely not charging me any fees! In the past I was able to use my German Deutsche Bank debit card to pick up money without fees at Scotiabank as they are in a global alliance. Now I am being charged 20 Soles for using their ATM. Moreover, I can only pick up 400 Soles at a time, that is ridiculous because you are still being charged between 18 and 20 Soles for each transaction no matter what amount you pick up. Is there any bank that gives you a higher limit? Of course you could use BCP (700 soles), but they only allow one transaction per month. This is not making life easier in Peru.
Hi Ruediger. The situation right now is crazy, with low withdrawal limits and high fees. I hate dealing with banks generally, but trying to get any sensible info from them about any of this is maddening. I have a Peruvian account, which obviously makes things easier for me, but for anyone using foreign cards here right now it’s a huge pain in the ass. Hopefully at least some of the banks will make things easier soon. Apparently the BCP one withdrawal a month thing is temporary. Let’s hope. I can’t really be of much help right now, but hopefully someone will come up with a better solution soon. Thanks for your comment. Tony.
Hello,
Just an update to my previous post. I have been able to withdraw a maximum of 300usd at a time for a 5.50usd fee from BBVA Continental in Cusco. Much better that two 160usd withdrawals at 5.90usd each from Scotiabank in Cusco. If anyone finds better in Cusco, please comment here. Thank you!
Thanks for the update Rad, much appreciated.
I always use my bank of america debit card on Scotiabank atm machine and never charge nothing. zero fees. I am peruvian and work abroad from time to time so I not even bring cash anymore cause i can use this ATM. Hope it can be helpfull
I just want to clarify. I have a (Canadian) Scotiabank debit card, which I like to use in Lima’s Scotiabank ATM. Will I be charged any fee? What is the exchange rate (same as credit card exchange rate)? Thanks for your help.
Hi Amy. Logic would say that you wouldn’t be charged anything, or at least not much, using a Scotiabank card in a Scotiabank ATM in Peru. But you should probably contact your bank and ask them for a concrete answer (or check your statements), as the ATMs in Peru seem to be going crazy right now. Thanks, Tony.
Hello,
I noticed that as of the middle of Dec, 2017, Scotiabank atm has only allowed $160usd maximum withdrawal at a time with of fee of $5.90usd per withdrawal and it did allow me two consecutive withdrawals. That’s $320usd paying 11.80usd, which is an outrageous fee. Does anyone out there know of any other bank that allows more to be withdrawn per time at a lower fee?? Please let me know. Thank you.
On BCP I can withdraw S./700 without fees but was hit with the stupid one time per month limit.
Tried MultiRed now and could withdraw S./400 without fees (at least there was no note on the screen and nothing on the receipt). I only pay the MasterCard excange rate and no fees (but the card is too good for the clients so my bank will cancel it next year).
Thanks Tomas. The BCP one-time withdrawal per month is the most ridiculous thing any of these banks have implemented. I’ll be surprised if that lasts, but who knows…. Cheers, Tony.
Dear Tony,
The last comments are right. Most Peruviana bank have recently (weeks) changed their policies on ATM fees. I never was charged in the last 10 years (except by Global Net), now all charge, and they mention It also on the receipt you get. Some ATMs say because the bank is not the owner of the ATM (Scotiabank). Looks bullshit, because the ATM was at Scotiabank.
Only way out at the moment is looking for the lowest ATM fee and the highest amount you can withdraw at the time. Would love to learn about a transfer through an internetbank. Now I use BanBif (in Lima). Cheers.
Thanks for the info, Jero. Much appreciated.
If you give your card to a teller inside the bank, than you could withdraw a larger amount in one transaction. I believe it was the daily limit of $500 but the fees were similar to withdrawing the money from an ATM. Who knows what now with the banks and PPK in trouble. The Peruvian currency will be weaker.
The best place to exchange currency is by getting it out of an ATM that gives dollars or soles, or a small business that changes money. Find a business that has the rate displayed, so you know what they offer and don’t have to ask. They will also stamp their bills so that you can return them if any are counterfeit. It is confusing with a different currency so take your time and count your change. The color of the Peruvian 20s and 50s is similar, don’t confuse them.
I just heard of someone who uses a German internet bank to withdraw money in Peru from ATMs free of charge. So you need an Internet bank that issues you a card, and also transfers money to Peru, hopefully free of charge. Which ones are best?
Scotty, thank you for reminding us to use Scotiabank inside teller person to withdraw money since they are within the ATM Alliance and Scotiabank says their daily limit is 500 USD. Too bad they are charging a fee at Scotiabank too, that makes it seem they are breaking their Alliance pledge.
I am really interested in using Xoom since it seems straight forward and the fee is competitive, although I’m also reading people comment that they are rwally picky due to Peru being a money laundering oasis and they may cancel your transfer for no apparent reason, even after presenting documented proof.
I’ve been using Azimo to transfer money from the UK to Interbank and it’s been fine so far. I can’t use Xoom from the UK but most people I’ve heard from says it works pretty well.
I have been in Lima over a year using Scotia ATM withdrawals from my USA bank account. The max withdrawal was $160 or 600s with a fee on the recent of $1.50. The fees were from Scotia Bank, not my American bank. Just recently the Scotia Bank fee increased to $5.00? each withdrawal.
Hi Scotty. Thanks for the info. I heard about Scotia raising its fees in the last few days, but wasn’t sure if it was true. All the banks seem to be screwing with us right now! I mean, more than usual…. Thanks again, Tony.
As of December (I’d bet the first of the month) Scotiabank is charging S./20 fee for each withdrawal. Previously it was either free or very insignificant. That’s on top of whatever your US bank charges you. For years I used Scotia because they had the lowest fee, now it’s the highest. They also reduced the withdrawal limit. Prior to 2016 it was about S./1000 I think. Then they dropped it to S./500 in 2016, with a S./1500 daily limit. Now they have dropped it to only S./400 and I think the daily limit is S./1200. With the current increase in fees, that’s Scotiabank hitting you for over $6 per withdrawal; if you want to take out the maximum, that’s a hit of $18. We are switching to moving money via Xoom to an Interbank account, and then withdrawing from that. But it’s hella inconvenient.
Hi, Tony
My friends came back from Peru last month.
They could get only p. sol 300 and paid p. 18 sol fees from ATM each time.
I guess there is some limitations now.
I am going to there Nov 15- Jan 27.
So do you think the best way is bring some cashes to avoid bank fees?
If I take some U$ with me, can I use it without changing to p. sol?
Sorry my broken English.
DJ
Hi DJ. Could your friends only get S/.300 out per month, or each time they went to the ATM? Either way, that’s surprising. I’m sure some ATMs still let you take out more than that, although BCP is definitely limiting withdrawals to one per month. The whole situation seems to be getting much tougher for people with foreign cards. Bringing US$ isn’t ideal, especially for a two month trip. But I guess it’s worth bringing some for your first week or two, which will give you time to find an ATM with larger withdrawal amounts. You’ll still have to pay a withdrawal fee (which, again, might be coming from your bank and/or the bank in Peru), but if you can find an ATM that allows withdrawals of S/700 or S/800, then that’s not so bad. I’m still trying to get more info about all this, but it’s not easy.
You can read more about using US$ in Peru here:
http://newperuvian.com/using-us-dollars-in-peru/
I would definitely recommend to bring as much USD as possible. Some hotels and tourist places charge directly in USD, and you pay more if you pay in soles. Seriously!! I assume it’s because of history that they don’t trust their own money..
Many places (but not all) charge more if paying with a credit card. Always ask!
Exchange rates USD/Soles are surprisingly good if you search a little. Especially in Lima.
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your useful post. I’m currently in Puno. I tried to withdrew cash from ATM with my visa debit cards (I tried two different ones) yesterday but found out all banks charge a fee of p$18 (Scotia Bank even charges p$20). This is so different from what you said here.
Do you have any idea what’s going on?
Cheers
Fred
Hi Fred. When you say “p$18”, what currency are you referring to? And are you sure those fees aren’t coming from your bank back home? It’s possible that Peruvian banks might be charging higher fees now (previously, my biggest withdrawal fees were coming from my bank in the UK, the Peruvian fees were none or minimal). I’ll contact some of the banks and ask them what the deal is. Will update article ASAP. Thanks.
Hi Tony,
P$18 means 18 Peruvian Soles. Apologise for the confusion. I’m pretty sure it’s NOT from my bank because it’s been printed on the receipt.
Cheers,
Fred
Interesting. If it’s printed on the receipt then I imagine it must be from the bank here in Peru. I tried contacting BCP but they are unwilling to comment on fees applied when using a foreign debit card, even though it’s with their own ATMs. Which is a standard response from banks here — if it involves a foreign card, they say you have to talk with your own bank back home. So a continual loop of non-answers. I’ll try to find out more… Thanks for the info, and hopefully you’ll find a bank with lower fees. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Hi Tony,
We are an extended stay residence of Peru and over the last month or two it is becoming increasingly difficult to get Sol from the local banks. The latest iteration of the problem is that the ATM’s for Banko de Creditio and Scotia Bank are that you can only get 800.00 sol (B.C.P.) or 500.00 sol (Scotia Bank) in any given month. As I’m sure, even in Peru, you know that 330.00 or $500.00 a month just won’t get it. When we question either bank they say the problem is with our credit union in the U.S. and our credit union says the problem is with the banks here. I’m at wits end here. It appears that there is a concerted effort to restrict Dollar or Sol transactions from the U.S. To Peru. As this is our only source of income we are really hurting. Help Help. Thanks in advance. By the way we are running into other gringos having the same problem.
Hi Jim. There was a recent discussion about this in an expat forum, regarding BCP restricting foreign ATM cards to one withdrawal a month. I contacted BCP and they told me that for the next six months they are restricting foreign ATM card withdrawals to soles only, with only one withdrawal per month. I asked for more information but they said they couldn’t give me any. It seems totally unreasonable and ridiculous, so I can understand your frustration. I haven’t heard of any such restrictions with Scotia Bank. And you should be able to make withdrawals from ATMs at some other banks. Sorry, but I can’t really offer much more advice than that. Please let me know if you have more problems or find any solutions. Thanks, Tony.
It’s utterly beyond belief that BCP is restricting to only one withdrawal per month. I’m going to complain to VISA, as it cannot possibly be in line with VISA’s regulations that banks prohibit VISA customers to use VISA cards. It’s even more frustrating, that in Peru many restaurants and shops in Peru only takes cash, and many who actually take VISA adds additional (quite high) fees. And that’s when the machine actually works. It regularly happens that a restaurant or hotel can only accept cash because the machines don’t work for whatever reason.
Currently our solution is to use BBVA, which allows us to take out 300 USD at a time for a 5 USD fee. Then walk to the exchange agent, some of which offers ridiculous good exchange rates (especially in Lima). But it’s seriously annoying that we can’t just use BCP!
I agree, it is ridiculous. Let us know if you get a constructive response from VISA. Thanks.
Hi Tony,
First time I hear ATms in Peru are not charging foreign cards! It seems they charges charging between 5 and $10. SCotiabank was not charging in the past, but it seems they changed their policy recently and thy are now charging you S.40 except if your bank is part of the Global Alliance. May be were you speaking only for local Peruvian cards. I’m preparing a trip to Peru so please let me know if you have any clues on Fees or not fees! Thank you!
Hi Manon. You will rack up fees withdrawing money from ATMs in Peru. But as noted in the article, these fees are probably coming from your bank at home. For years I used my Visa debit card from the UK to withdraw money here in Peru, and the fees were coming from my bank (so it’s best to ask your bank before you travel about fees). But some ATMs in Peru, like GlobalNet, will charge an additional fee for using them. As for daily limits, I can withdraw far more than $100 per day using my UK visa debit card. I can’t remember the exact amount, but it’s S/ 800 at the very least. Thanks, Tony.
Has anyone had an experience with being charged $5 US dollars just to check your balance? I was not prompted beforehand that there would be a fee. 🙁
Hi Sonya. I’ve never come across that. It seems crazy to be charged $5 just to check your balance. Do you remember which ATM you were using?
If you have bank of America you dont get charge in the US or peru you have to use only Scotiabank in order to be free of charges you can take out 160 dollars each time and I think 800 dollars total per day . If is a debit checking card no fee but if you use savings account you can take out6 times after that they will charge you 10 dollars fee per each transaction.