• Unlike in some neighbouring countries, large banks in Belarus still run kept multi-currency ATMs and cash-in machines that accept USD, EUR and RUB notes and either credit the BYN equivalent to your account or hand out BYN on the spot.
• It's a convenient no-counter option: 24/7, no queues, no need to talk to a teller. Especially useful outside bank hours or on weekends.
• The ATM rate is usually close to the bank's board rate, sometimes slightly worse — a small margin is built in.
• Not every ATM supports currency exchange. The cash-in/cash-out machines are run by large banks: Belarusbank, Belinvestbank, Belagroprombank, BPS-Sberbank, Priorbank and others.
• The widget below shows counter rates. The ATM rate is usually close, but always check the exact figure on the machine's screen before confirming the transaction.

Below is a practical breakdown: what these ATMs can do, how to use them, what the limits are and what to do if the machine eats a note.

What a multi-currency ATM is and why it works in Belarus

A multi-currency ATM is a machine that can accept cash in different currencies (USD, EUR, RUB, BYN) and/or dispense them. Many large Belarusian banks have kept a network of such machines — a legacy of the country's active FX turnover.

In neighbouring countries — Russia, for example — multi-currency ATMs all but disappeared after 2022. In Belarus they're still running, one of the country's practical quirks for travellers and locals alike.

What you can do at an ATM

Typical FX operations through a cash-in/cash-out ATM:

• Deposit USD/EUR/RUB into your FX account. You feed in the note, the ATM checks it and credits your account.
• Deposit USD/EUR/RUB with conversion to BYN on a BYN account. The exchange happens in one machine, in one step.
• Cash withdrawal of USD/EUR/RUB from an FX account. If you have an FX account, you can withdraw cash at an ATM that supports the relevant currency.
• Withdraw BYN with conversion from an FX account. Debited from the USD account, paid out in BYN.

The exact functionality depends on the machine. Not every ATM does everything.

How to find an ATM that supports exchange

• ATM maps on bank websites. Belarusbank, Belinvestbank, Priorbank and others publish maps of their machines with functions listed. Look for the "multi-currency" or "cash-in USD/EUR/RUB" tag.
• The bank's mobile app. Most apps have an ATM map with a filter by function.
• On the machine itself. Before the transaction, the ATM will show the available currencies in its menu.

How to use it: step by step

1. Find a suitable ATM. Use the map in the app or on the bank's website.
2. Insert your card (or authenticate via NFC). Enter your PIN.
3. Select "Cash deposit".
4. Choose the currency you're depositing. USD, EUR, RUB or BYN.
5. Select the destination account. If you want to exchange, pick the BYN account (or the "with conversion" option). If you're just depositing to an FX account, pick the matching FX account.
6. Feed the note (or the stack of notes) into the slot. The ATM will check each one.
7. Confirm the transaction. The screen will show the amount, the rate (if there's a conversion) and the total.
8. Take the receipt. Always a good habit.

If something looks off at the confirmation stage, the transaction is cancelled and the ATM returns the notes. This works reliably at the major banks.

Compare rates right now

The widget shows the counter rate. The ATM rate is usually close, sometimes worse by 0.01–0.03 BYN per unit of currency. The ATM displays the exact rate before you confirm — you can decline if it doesn't suit you.

What the limits are

Typical limits at major Belarusian bank ATMs:

• Per transaction — usually 2,000–4,000 BYN equivalent. For larger sums you'll need several transactions.
• Per day per card — anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 BYN, depending on the bank.
• Minimum amount — usually from 1 unit of currency (1 USD, say), but it's more convenient to work with stacks from 50 USD/EUR.

Exact limits are in your card terms or available from the bank.

When the ATM is the best option

• Counters are closed. Late evening, weekends, early morning.
• You want to skip the queue. At lunchtime or after work, queues can build at the counters.
• You just want to deposit without exchanging. The ATM is the fastest route.
• You'd rather not deal with a teller. A simple transaction with no questions or checks (your ID is already linked to the card).
• The amount isn't very large. A few hundred USD/EUR/RUB is perfect for an ATM.

When the ATM is not the best option

• A very large amount (from 5,000 USD). At the counter you can negotiate an individual rate; at the ATM you can't.
• Old or damaged notes. The ATM may refuse them. The counter is more flexible.
• Non-standard denominations. A 2 USD note or some smaller denominations — the ATM may not recognise them.
• When you want to check the rate in advance and wait. At the counter you can wait; at the ATM you can't.

Comparison table: counter exchange vs ATM

What to do if the ATM "eats" a note

A rare but possible scenario. The procedure:

1. Don't walk away from the ATM. If there's a support number on the machine, call right away.
2. Photograph the screen and the machine. It helps with your claim.
3. Keep the receipt if one was printed.
4. Contact the bank that owns the machine. That's the bank whose logo appears on the ATM.
5. File a claim for an incomplete transaction. The bank reconciles the machine (usually within a few business days), and if your money really is stuck inside, it will be credited.

ATM workflow

1. Find a machine with the right functionality via the bank's map.
2. Bring the bank's card. Without a card, ATM exchange doesn't work (a handful of cardless machines exist, but they're rare).
3. Come during the building's opening hours if the ATM isn't outdoors. Inside the bank is safer.
4. Run the transaction. Check the rate on the screen before confirming.
5. Take the receipt.

Frequently asked questions

Do all ATMs in Belarus support currency exchange?

No. Multi-currency cash-in machines are run by the large banks — Belarusbank, Belinvestbank, Belagroprombank, BPS-Sberbank, Priorbank and others. Smaller banks may not have them.

Is the ATM rate the same as at the counter?

Usually close, sometimes slightly worse. The exact rate is shown on the ATM screen before confirmation.

Can I exchange old dollars at an ATM?

Older series (pre-1996) often won't be accepted — the ATM lacks the sensors to verify them. The counter gives better odds.

What are the ATM exchange limits?

On average 2,000–4,000 BYN equivalent per transaction. Exact limits are in your card terms.

Can I use an ATM without a Belarusian bank card?

In most cases you need the card of the bank whose ATM it is. With a Mir card from Russia or an international Visa/Mastercard you can do standard transactions (withdrawal, payment), but currency exchange usually goes through the card of the bank that owns the machine.

What if the ATM doesn't work with my currency?

Try another machine. The ATM maps in the bank's app show which currencies each machine supports.

Which is better: counter or ATM?

For small and mid-range amounts (up to 1,000 USD/EUR) the ATM is more convenient. For a large amount (from 5,000) go to the counter, where an individual rate is possible.

Where do I check current rates before going to an ATM?

In the widget at the start of the article. The counter rate is the baseline; the ATM rate is usually close.