Page 434 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

432 SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Banking and Currency machine slot so you can’t retrieve
your card. While you alert the
Banks and bureau de change are plentiful in South Africa. Cash bank officials inside, the fraudster
can be obtained upon arrival, as facilities at international un-jams the slot and withdraws
money from your account. It is
airports stay open to meet all arriving flights. Even small towns
better to wait outside at the ATM
have at least one bank that will make foreign transactions.
while a companion goes for help.
ATMs are everywhere and generally offer the best rate of All ATMs display a 24-hour
exchange when drawing cash from home bank accounts. There emergency telephone number
are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that may to call in the event of any
be brought into the country, but there are limits to the amount problems with your card.
of any currency that may be taken out of South Africa.
Credit Cards
as the V&A Waterfront in Cape Most businesses accept all
Town and Sandton City in major credit cards. Keep your
Johannesburg, bureau de card in sight when making a
change have the same opening payment, especially in restau-
hours as the shops; often until rants, to reduce the risk of it
9pm and also open on Sundays being “cloned”. Informal traders
and public holidays. At the do not usually accept credit
international airports they have cards. Not all petrol stations take
A row of Standard Bank ATMs extended hours to serve all credit cards, but most of the
arrivals. Again, branch locations larger ones have ATMs – it is
Banks and Bureau can be found on the websites. advisable to check before filling
de Change
up. Find out what charges your
South Africa’s main banks are bank will levy for use of your
ABSA, First National Bank ATMs credit card in South Africa.
(FNB), Nedbank and Standard Automatic teller machines (ATMs)
Bank. They are found even in are widely distributed in the cities
the smallest towns and all have and towns. Cash withdrawals, Currency Cards
foreign exchange services. up to a set limit per day per card, Most currency or travel money
Passports must always be can be made with debit, credit cards are Visa or MasterCard
presented when changing and currency cards. The cards linked. They can be pre-loaded
money. Branch addresses can most widely used in South Africa (and topped up) with a number
be found on the websites. are Visa and MasterCard. ATMs of currencies, and used in South
Banking hours are from 9am to may run out of notes at the Africa just like a debit card to pay
3:30pm on weekdays, and from weekend, especially if there is a
9am to 11:30am on Saturdays. public holiday on the Monday, so DIRECTORY
Banks are closed on public make sure you draw money
holidays. You can also change early. If you find the daily limit Banks and Bureau
cash in bureau de change such inadequate, you can always draw de Change
as those run by Master Currency, more from a bank (remembering
Travelex and Bidvest Bank, to take your passport along), but ABSA
which have branches at the it’s best to avoid carrying too ∑ absa.co.za.
main airports and large shopping much cash with you.
malls in the cities. Commission is Avoid drawing money while Bidvest Bank
charged for exchanging cash, on your own, or at deserted ATMs ∑ bidvestbank.co.za
but as branches are usually after-hours, and decline all
clustered together it is easy to unsolicited offers of “help”. ATM First National Bank (FNB)
compare the rates offered. In fraud is common: a fraudster ∑ fnb.co.za
the larger shopping malls such may, for example, jam the Master Currency
∑ mastercurrency.co.za
Nedbank
∑ nedbank.co.za.
Standard Bank
∑ standardbank.co.za
Travelex
Tel 011 486 2145.
∑ travelex.co.za
Bureau de change at OR Tambo international airport, Johannesburg