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Yes, although as with many countries, it\u2019s not as widely accepted as Visa<\/strong> and Mastercard<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\nMastercard research recently ranked Romania as the fifth biggest in Europe for the proportion of card payments made via contactless. In the first eight months of 2018, around two out of three Mastercard payments were completed contactlessly. This was a 139% increase year-on-year, so it\u2019s safe to say you can expect to make contactless payments during your stay in Romania.<\/p>
Is it safe to use my credit card in Romania?<\/h3>
Romania was well-known for ATM scams a few years ago. Due to the number of card skimming incidents and ATMs that had been tampered with, bank fraud teams tend to be a lot more careful when transactions in Romania are registered.<\/p>
For this reason, it\u2019s important to ensure your bank is aware you\u2019re travelling there, or it might block payments for security reasons.<\/p>
In order to stay safe when using your bank card in Romania:<\/p>
- Use an ATM within a bank.<\/strong> If for some reason the ATM eats your card, you\u2019ll be able to quickly retrieve it. Also, ATMs within banks are less likely to be tampered with. Should you use one outside a bank, check for devices attached to the reader and cash return slot.<\/li>
- Consider taking an additional credit card.<\/strong> You can use your primary card for payments and keep your back-up card in your hotel room safety deposit box. That way, you\u2019ll never be left without money.<\/li>
- Keep your card in sight.<\/strong> It\u2019s better to be safe than sorry. Don\u2019t let your card out of your sight.<\/li><\/ul>
How to prepare before travelling to Romania<\/h3>- Get a credit card without foreign transaction fees.<\/strong> If you travel often, avoiding the 3% foreign transaction fee can save you a lot of money. Consider getting a travel credit card to avoid the foreign transaction fees.<\/li>
- Opt for a Mastercard or Visa.<\/strong> They\u2019re the most widely accepted cards across the globe and Romania is no exception, though you still can\u2019t use your American Express card in some locations. There are also enough ATMs around if you want to withdraw cash with these cards as well.<\/li>
- Carry a back-up card.<\/strong> Try to always carry a second card when travelling abroad, given you don\u2019t know what could happen to your primary card.<\/li>
- Get some cash. <\/strong>You should be able to exchange pounds for lei before your trip. Some major hotels may accept euros, but lei is the only currency that most retailers will accept. If you want to make a cash withdrawal in Romania, keep in mind that credit cards have additional fees while most debit cards don\u2019t.<\/li>
- Inform your bank you\u2019re travelling to Romania. <\/strong>If you don\u2019t let your bank know ahead of time when you\u2019ll be away and where you\u2019ll be, it may block your card if it suspects the charges are fraudulent.<\/li>
- Make a note of your bank\u2019s phone number.<\/strong> If you lose your card or have payment issues, you\u2019ll be able to call the bank to resolve it.<\/li><\/ol>
Bottom line<\/h3>
If you travel to Romania, you can safely use your credit card to make payments and withdraw cash. You\u2019ll just have to be careful to not incur unnecessary fees. With a decent travel credit card, you\u2019ll avoid paying foreign transaction fees. By simply declining the DCC when offered, you\u2019ll also avoid a poor exchange rate or commission.<\/p>
Compare cards with fee-free currency conversion in Romania<\/h3>Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first<\/div>