Money & Currency
The currency of Suriname is the Surinamese Dollar, abbreviated as SRD. 1 Surinamese Dollar (SRD) is equal to 100 cents. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 SRD. Some shops and restaurants in the city center, especially those frequented by foreign visitors, accept US dollars and/or Euros. Foreign currency can be exchanged at local banks or at one of the many exchange offices, known as “cambio.” Most foreign visitors withdraw money from ATMs for small SRD expenses, such as in a restaurant, taxi, or supermarket (it may be useful to check with your bank before departure if you have a sufficiently high daily limit for foreign ATM withdrawals). Tours and hotels are usually priced in foreign currency (EUR or USD) rather than SRD. For these relatively larger expenses, it is best to pay by bank transfer, cash, or credit card.
Orange Travel offers the option to transfer money to a Dutch or American bank account.
The different banks in Suriname will collaborate on electronic payment options for their customers in the near future. The intention is for the company BNETS to provide electronic payment options for these banks. Card users will then be able to use most ATMs and POS machines without thinking twice. Until then, the different banks still have their own ATMs and POS devices. Below is an overview from BNETS of the current ATM and POS possibilities per bank:
ATM (Automated Teller Machine)
Various banks in Suriname have placed ATMs across the country (especially in the developed coastal area) where you can withdraw money (Surinamese dollars, SRD) with your foreign debit card or credit card with the Cirrus, MasterCard, and/or Maestro logo. This is done at the interbank exchange rate. Starting from July 2021, the ATMs of the main Surinamese banks have been taken over by Cashpnt. Cashpnt is recognizable by its red/gray color and is a service offered by the company BNETS. Since July 2022, all ATMs of the main banks have been replaced by Cashpnt. Most ATMs have a maximum withdrawal limit of SRD 5,000 and a maximum of three withdrawals per day.
POS (Point Of Sale)
With your foreign debit card (equipped with the Cirrus, MasterCard, and/or Maestro logo), you can make somewhat limited payments at a Point Of Sale (POS) compared to withdrawing money from ATMs. POS machines are mainly found in shops and restaurants in the developed coastal area. The use of POS machines is very limited in the interior.
Credit Card
It is very rare to be able to pay with your credit card. If the option exists (especially at hotels, tour operators, and restaurants popular with tourists), there are often additional bank charges that can go up to 5%.
Crypto
It is very rare to be able to pay with your cryptocurrency. Orange Travel offers options to pay for its services with crypto. Inquire about this with the Orange Travel sales staff.
