Banks

Business hours in Budapest
Commercial banks are open Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 4pm and some of the banks are open on Saturdays as well. All banks are closed on Sundays. Automatic currency exchange machines and automatic teller machines are available.

Information:
TOURINFORM, Phone: (36)-1-438-8080.

Cheques, Credit Cards, Savings Account Books
Most currency exchange offices also cash in fixed-amount traveller's cheques, Eurocheques and made out bank cheques. Cheques may only be cashed in personally, upon presentation of the travel document. Eurocheques made out in Forints may only be cashed in or used to pay for services (hotels, restaurants, department stores, shops) up to the guaranteed limit of 35,000 HUF per cheque.

Units accepting Eurocheques display the EC sign at the entrance. Up to 3 Eurocheques may be cashed in at a time. The exchange offices do not charge a handling fee or commission.

The most frequently used credit cards - AMEX, Diners Club, En Route, Euro/Mastercard, JCB, VISA - can be applied to draw money in the banks, from ATMs and to pay accounts in hotels, restaurants and shops.

Signs at the door indicate the places where the relevant cards are accepted.

Information on the addresses of banks and automatic exchanges accepting the various credit cards may be obtained from:

TOURINFORM, Phone: (36)-1-438-8080.

POSTAL CHEQUES (money orders) may be cashed in at Postabank branches (243 points throughout the country).

Currency
The unit of currency is Forint (Ft).
US $1= approx. 290 Ft (January 2001).
For up-to-date currency exchange rates check http://www.travlang.com/money/.

Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Forints
Banknotes: 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000 Forints
Coins and Banknotes can be found on the site of the Hungarian National Bank.