Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by SandyB, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 15:22 (7 days ago)
What banks will exchange US dollars for pesos? A friend needs this but is not a member of any local banks.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Talley Ho
, Playa la Ropa, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 15:54 (7 days ago) @ SandyB
Good luck. SOME banks will, with proper identification. Otherwise, go to the airport and they will totally screw you on the rate. Banco Azteca will, maybe, exchange but the rate will stink. Not an easy thing to do.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Timmac
, Steilacoom, WA, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 17:12 (7 days ago) @ Talley Ho
Just use a debit card at an ATM. You will get a slightly better rate (as long as you remember to decline the offered rate.)
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Padrino
, Rosarito/Zihuatanejo, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 20:55 (6 days ago) @ Timmac
Just use a debit card at an ATM. You will get a slightly better rate (as long as you remember to decline the offered rate.)
The fees for the ATM machines vary widely. As of the writing, the Inbursa ATM seems to have the lowest fee at MXN$22 pesos. (It is downtown across from Los Braseros Restaurant.) Also, Schwab's brokerage firm has a bank that will reimburse you the ATM fees for any machine globally. (Upon hearing this from this forum, I was very skeptical at first and called Schwab to confirm. Turns out it is true as of this writing.) Mostly, I use my BBVA account for no-fee ATM withdrawals at their ATM machines which can be found everywhere in Mexico. However, in the rare instance when I do tap my Schwab account, I always use the Inbursa ATM machine. Don't want to give them any reason to reconsider their generous offer. (In fact, I am a bit reticent to promote their accounts. If too many individuals take advantage of the system, the cost to them may become onerous and they might change their minds.)
And as the Good Doctor recommends, be sure to decline their "convenience" exchange rate. It is similar to the financial violation you will be subject to at the tourist kiosks at the airports and the tourist locations.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Timmac
, Steilacoom, WA, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 21:53 (6 days ago) @ Padrino
My local regional bank reimburses ATM fees worldwide, with a limit of $25 a month. I think it’s fairly common.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Little Guy
, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 17:15 (7 days ago) @ Talley Ho
I am a permanent resident and I have had an account at Banorte for at least 20 years. Two or three years ago I ended up with a few hundred US dollars in cash. When I tried to exchange them for pesos the documentation was like trying to buy a car on credit.
I have ScotiaBank accounts in Canada. I opened them online. I thought it would make sense to have a ScotiaBank account here to make things easy. When I went to open the account with the help of a friend, we started at about 8:30 a.m., before the bank officially opened, and finished at about 4:00 p.m.
The friend has been on the account. When we tried to simply remove them as signatory on the account we were told we could not do that. We would have to open a new account providing all of the documentation anew, then transfer all of the money from the existing account to the new account, then close the existing account. There goes another day.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Talley Ho
, Playa la Ropa, Thursday, February 05, 2026, 21:40 (6 days ago) @ Little Guy
THAT'S why, after being here 9 years full time, we still don't have a need to have an account in Mexico. Just has kept life simple!!!! You have our sympathy.
Exchange USD for Pesos in Zihua banks?
by Anita
, Montana, USA, Friday, February 06, 2026, 11:06 (6 days ago) @ SandyB
Our last trip, this past July the issues were still going on with Intercam where we have an account.
We went to Banco Azteca which is at the back of the Elektra stores. At the time they were exchanging both USD and CAD. Slightly lower rate, and limited daily amount for us of $300 USD per person, per day.
Hope that helps, enjoy your visit!

