DBS eSavings Acct -- Change $ Here or use China ATM?

[kobz]

Hey all, going to China for CNY, and I want to know if I should exchange SGD to RMB here in Sg at one of the inexpensive money exchange places, or if it's cheaper to wait and use my card to withdraw RMB in China, which I assume is possible.

Are there ATM fees? What about the exchange rate? Should all Chinese banks be the same?

Ty!

[Transition]

Its always wise to change money in singapore first before going over. Atm really is just a back out plan if you finish using your money.


Changing money in singapore - you only have to deal with the exchange rate. I think chinatown does have rates

Withdraw money overseas from atm - you have to pay a transaction fee which i dont know how much and the exchange rate provided by their bank. Bank always give the worst rates.

So change here in singapore

[Brah]

In Thailand it was 150b per transaction.

[zzm9980]

I travel all over and almost always just rely on going to the ATM once I land. If you have a pretty wide-spread bank like HSBC or Citibank (I use Citi) you can find their ATMs in nearly all places and not pay a fee, just nominal conversion. It won't be as good of a rate as say Raffles Place Arcade, but unless you're brining such high values that customs will raise an eye brow it really shouldn't matter (unless a few hours of your time and transit fees are worth ~1%?). The only time I change money first is if I know I'm landing in an airport without an ATM, or there is a good chance it will be broken. (Pretty much India any airport outside of Bangalore IME)