The official currency of Hungary is the forint (HUF). Common paper bills are the 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 and 500 forint bills. The coins come in 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5.
Most banks require a valid residence permit and an address card to open a bank account. However, some banks allow foreigners to open an account with just the presentation of a passport.
You will be charged a fee to open the account and you will also have to pay to get a bank card and for account management services. Banks are usually open on weekdays from 8 am until 4-5 pm, they are not open on Saturdays except some branches in shopping malls/centres.
Credit Cards, Debit Cards and Cheques
All the most popular credit, debit and charge cards (AMEX, Euro/Mastercard and VISA) can be used in banks and in ATM’s to withdraw Forints, and to pay bills in hotels, restaurants and shops. Look for the signs displayed at the entrance showing which cards are accepted.
ATMs
Currency exchange machines and ATMs operate 24 hours a day in Budapest. Major credit cards are accepted.
Traveller's Cheques
There is usually a commission for cashing traveller's cheques at banks and you can use your bank or credit card to get cash at post offices. Please note that stores usually will not accept traveller’s cheques.
Major Bank Headquarters in Budapest
(please find local branches on their websites)
- MKB Bank www.mkb.hu
- CIB Bank www.cib.hu
- Citibank www.citibank.hu
- Commerzbank www.commerzbank.hu
- Deutsche Bank www.db.hu
- Erste Bank www.erstebank.hu
- K&H Bankwww.khb.hu
- OTP Bank www.otpbank.hu
- Raiffeisen Bank www.raiffeisen.hu
- Unicredit Bank www.unicredit.hu