Money & Banks

Money

The local currency in Albania is Albanian LEK (ALL). While the most used foreign currency is Euro and US Dollar.  There are several banks operating in Albania and many ATM and currency exchange offices and money transfer offices. If you need any help with transaction or money exchange here is a list of banks in Tirana. Cash is mostly used in Albania, though an increasing number of shops and restaurants are using POS.

Banks & ATMs

Most commercial banks have ATMs across Albania that can be used with international debit and credit cards. Usually ATMs are not hard to find. Visa and MasterCard are mostly accepted. Diners Club and American Express are not generally accepted.
Some of the major banks in Albania are:

  • Alpha Bank – Albania
  • Banka Kombetare Tregtare (BKT)
  • Credins Bank (CB)
  • Credit Agricole Albania
  • Credit Bank of Albania (CBA)
  • First Investment Bank, Albania (FIB)
  • International Commercial Bank (ICB)
  • Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania (formerly American Bank of Albania)
  • National Bank of Greece (Tirana Branch) (NBG)
  • Procredit Bank (PCB) (commercial bank/microfinancing)
  • Raiffeisen Albania
  • Société Générale Albania (SGAL)
  • Tirana Bank (TB) (part of Piraeus Bank)
  • Union Bank (Albania) (UB)
  • United Bank of Albania (UBA)
  • Veneto Banka Albania (formerly Italian Development Bank)

Changing money & exchange rates

Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks. The most frequent currencies are Euro, US Dollar and Swiss Franc.  To see approximate exchange rate please visit www.xe.com

Bringing money to Albania

If you are traveling to or from Albania, you will need to declare to Albanian Customs any amount of cash exceeding 10,000 Euro or the equivalent in another currency