Banks & Exchange Services in Santiago

Unlike other South American countries, Chile rarely accepts U.S. dollars. (The exception is larger hotels, where prices are often quoted only in dollars.) Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted everywhere in Santiago's most touristy areas.

You can exchange money in many places in the city. Banks in Santiago are usually open weekdays 9-4, and casas de cambio (currency-exchange offices) are open weekdays 9-7 and Saturday 9-3. They normally cluster together; in Providencia, for example, along Pedro de Valdivia, just before La Costanera, there are three or four.

Automatic teller machines dispense only Chilean pesos. To use an ATM issued by a foreign bank, select the "foreign client" option from the menu. Santander Santiago, with the most ATMs in town, has instructions in English, as do most other ATMs, and is linked to both the Plus and Cirrus systems. ATMs in a few banks are linked only to Cirrus. There are two ATMs on the second floor of the airport, as well as in the train and bus stations.

Banks

American Express (Av. Andrés Bello 2711, Las Condes. 2/350-6955.) Santander Santiago (Estado 171, Santiago Centro. 600/320-3000.)