International credit cards are honored in Bali and in many shops, hotels and restaurants the cards accepted will be displayed in the window. Popular cards are Visa, Mastercard, Citibank and DinersClub.
Bali has a branch of Citibank located on Jl. Tueku Umar in Denpasar and foreigners living in Bali can sign up for a variety of accounts. Local banks charge 3.25% for using their cards. When you get an account at BCA bank in Bali, they will offer you a BCA Master / Visa and plain BCA card.
Mastercard charges 3% for using its card in Bali. Sometimes shops will charge 3%, (as they get charged 3%), sometimes not. If you lose your credit card while in Bali, the best strategy is contact your bank via phone ASAP. I lost my debit card last year and was able to cancel it and order a new one using online banking.
American Express is not so popular in Bali. The vendor has to wait longer to get paid (as in the US) and has to apply to be a vendor. When shopping in Bali you’ll need to use cash for most things in the street, better shops will be able to handle credit cards.
Here is a list of contact info for the main banks and credit card info in Bali.
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I prefer the old adage, “Cash speaks all languages”. I’ve said this to a number of Balinese people over the years and they have all readily agreed.
Hotels and restaurants that add on a charge for using a credit card are violating the terms of their card agreement with the card issuers. They are prohibited by such agreements from passing on the extra charges to the consumers. For me, when it’s an extra 2% or so at a low rent place, nevermind. But some middle/higher end places like adopt this practice too and that rankles a bit, but to day I haven’t complained. But if I were to spend a week or so at a place like that, I’d make it clear at the beginning that I’m not paying the extra!
Watergarden in Candidasa is a place that adds a credit card service charge and, in my opinion, at their prices, shouldn\’t. They prefer the cash I guess.
Rich
You are not quite right in your statement. In Australia Merchants are permitted to add on a charge for using a credit card. So it is obviously not so everywhere
Gary
Oz–always wanting to be different!!
But you are right, I do not know the specific situation in Indonesia. I do know that in most jurisdictions, it isn’t allowed. In Hong Kong, for example, the Amex card is particularly disliked, especially in the smaller shops, because their service charge–which is then passed on to the consumer–is higher than other cards.
Cheers, R
I thought foreign visitors are not able to open a bank account in Bali for at least the past five years — much less apply for a credit card. Did you forget to mention you have a temporary resident or work visa? Or has this law changed?