In Nashville, you can obtain US dollars with a compatible debit card at an ATM or exchange foreign banknotes at Wright Foreign Currency Exchange. Bank of America also buys foreign banknotes, but only from its account holders. The best choice depends on whether your money is in a bank account or already in notes, and on the dollars left after fees and conversion.
Ways to get US dollars
| Criterion | Debit-card ATM withdrawal | Wright banknote exchange | Bank of America exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds needed | Money in your account | Foreign banknotes | Foreign banknotes |
| Eligibility | Compatible, enabled card and PIN | Accepted notes and ID | Bank of America account holder |
| Cost components | Operator fee, issuer fees, conversion | Exchange rate and transaction fee | Exchange-rate spread, no separate fee |
Cash payments use US dollars (USD). For a foreign-issued debit card, match the ATM’s network mark to your card, such as Visa/PLUS or Mastercard/Cirrus. The card must be enabled for ATM withdrawals, and you need its PIN.
Use a withdrawal for money held in your account, or a banknote service for cash you already carry. Estimate your Nashville trip costs first, then separate spending you can pay by card from the dollars you need as cash.
ATMs and card payment at BNA
At Nashville International Airport (BNA), the baggage-claim ATM is accessible before security. Arriving passengers can use it without entering the secure terminal. The other listed ATMs, in the A/B Rotunda and Concourses A, C and D, are beyond security, so they require access to those areas.
WeGo Route 18 serves the airport and lets you tap a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Discover credit or debit card, or a supported mobile wallet. You do not need a US bank account. American Express is not accepted, so use one of the supported payment methods instead.
- Route 18 adult fare
- $2 each way
- Contactless fare validity
- 2-hour pass
A supported contactless payment lets you take the bus without first withdrawing cash. If you arrive with foreign banknotes to exchange, Wright’s office is off-airport. An ATM draws money from your card account rather than converting the notes in your luggage.
ATM fees and currency conversion
An ATM operator’s surcharge and your card issuer’s charges are separate costs. Under US Regulation E, the operator must disclose its fee and amount on-screen or on paper before you are committed to paying. It can charge only after you receive that notice and choose to continue. You can cancel after seeing the screen notice.
- Your issuer may charge an ATM withdrawal or out-of-network fee, usually a fixed amount per withdrawal.
- A foreign-transaction or currency-conversion fee may apply, usually as a percentage of the transaction amount.
- A credit-card withdrawal is generally a cash advance, with a flat fee or percentage, sometimes whichever is greater, under your card’s terms.
Credit-card cash advances generally accrue interest from the transaction date, without a grace period. Their interest rate is commonly higher than the purchase rate. That makes an ATM withdrawal different from a purchase whose interest you may avoid by paying the balance in full by its due date.
If a withdrawal is declined, try another compatible machine or supported card. To compare an ATM with banknote exchange, compare net dollars received for the same total outlay, including all fees. A low commission label alone does not tell you which option leaves you with more spending money.
Do
- Read the operator’s fee notice and cancel if the charge is unsuitable.
- Choose US dollars when you want your card issuer to handle conversion.
- Use a compatible debit card whose withdrawal terms suit you.
Don’t
- Accept a surcharge without considering your issuer’s additional fees.
- Accept home-currency billing without examining the offered rate.
- Treat a credit-card withdrawal as an ordinary card purchase.
Exchanging banknotes at Wright
- Prepare currently circulating banknotes for Wright Foreign Currency Exchange and bring accepted identification.
- Call 615-275-2660 or visit the office to request a buy-rate quote and the net US dollars you would receive.
- Accept the exchange only after weighing the rate and transaction fee together.
Wright buys foreign banknotes from business and leisure travellers, including visiting non-residents. Representative accepted currencies include euros, pounds sterling, Canadian dollars, Australian dollars and Japanese yen. Bring notes rather than coins, which Wright does not accept. For unsupported cash, a compatible debit-card withdrawal is an alternative if you have funds in your account.
Bring a foreign or US passport, US driver’s licence or state-issued ID. A visiting traveller can therefore use a passport without needing US-issued identification.
- Exchange fee
- 1.5% of the exchanged value
- Minimum fee
- $3.75
The minimum fee takes a larger share of a small exchange. The buy rate also determines what your notes are worth in dollars before the charge, so ask for the final amount rather than comparing the percentage alone. A telephone quote helps you decide whether to take your notes to the office.
- Name
- Wright Foreign Currency Exchange
- Location
- 95 White Bridge Rd Ste 230, Nashville, TN 37205 Maps
- Site
- wrightforeigncurrency.com
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
- Sat 10am–4pm
- Sun Closed
- Essential fact
- A foreign-currency exchange office on White Bridge Road in Nashville.
Bank of America account-holder exchange
Bank of America’s 17th and Church Financial Center buys foreign banknotes for US dollars. You must be a Bank of America account holder to use this service. A visiting non-customer should use Wright for eligible notes or withdraw dollars with a compatible debit card instead.
The bank accepts current-circulation foreign banknotes, but not coins or Iraqi dinar notes. For Iraqi dinar banknotes, Wright is an alternative while the currency is currently in circulation. Coins cannot be exchanged through either service, so draw on account funds if you need dollars.
There is no separate customer fee per banknote-purchase transaction, but the bank earns compensation through the spread in its exchange rate. That difference between rates is a cost even without a separate commission. Compare the final dollar quote with other eligible options rather than assuming a fee-free transaction is cheapest.
Selling notes for dollars is different from ordering foreign currency for an outbound trip. Online orders require a Bank of America checking or savings account that can pay for the order. At a financial centre, relationship clients can pay cash for an outbound currency order.
- Name
- Bank of America 17th and Church Financial Center
- Location
- 1634 Church St, Nashville, TN 37203 Maps
- Site
- locators.bankofamerica.com
- Hours
- Mon–Fri 9am–5pm
- Sat 9am–2pm
- Sun Closed
- Essential fact
- A Bank of America branch on Church Street in Nashville.
Sources & fact-checking
Checks against the sources below cover: fares and charges, services, and key figures.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Regulation E; 12 CFR § 1005.16) — service
- American Express — fares and charges
- Mastercard — service
- Visa — service
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — fares and charges
- U.S. Department of State — service
- Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority — service
- WeGo Public Transit — service
- Placing A Foreign Currency Order FAQs
- Currency Converter: Foreign Exchange Rates for US Dollars
- Bank of America, N.A. — service
- Wright Foreign Currency Exchange — service
- Wright Foreign Currency Exchange — key figures
