Money

Currency information:

Ringgit (MYR; symbol RM) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of RM100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. The Ringgit is often referred to as the Malaysian Dollar.

Credit cards:

MasterCard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted. Diners Club is accepted at larger department stores and shopping centres and some upmarket restaurants and hotels. Credit cards are less widely accepted in rural areas – carry cash or travellers cheques as a back up.

ATM:

ATMs are found in all cities and most accept international cards from Visa, MasterCard and other major card issuers. Because of the high incidence of credit card fraud, banks may put an automatic block on your card unless you notify them first that you are travelling to Malaysia.

Travellers cheques:

Accepted by all banks, hotels and large department stores. Most major brands of travellers cheques are accepted, but travellers are advised to carry cheques in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Australian Dollars.

Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0915-1630 (some branches close at 1600 on Friday and some open on Saturdays). Banks in Kelantan and Terengganu open Sun-Thurs 0915-1630 (till 1600 on Thursday).

Currency restriction:

The import and export of local currency is limited to RM1,000 cash. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency, subject to declarations for amounts of US$10,000 or higher.

Currency exchange:

The best currency for exchange is the Pound Sterling, but US Dollars are also widely accepted. All commercial banks are authorised foreign exchange dealers; major hotels are only licensed to buy or accept foreign currency in the form of notes and traveller's cheques. It may be difficult to exchange foreign currencies outside the main tourist centres.Currency information:

Ringgit (MYR; symbol RM) = 100 sen. Notes are in denominations of RM100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 sen. The Ringgit is often referred to as the Malaysian Dollar.

Credit cards:

MasterCard, Visa and American Express are widely accepted. Diners Club is accepted at larger department stores and shopping centres and some upmarket restaurants and hotels. Credit cards are less widely accepted in rural areas – carry cash or travellers cheques as a back up.

ATM:

ATMs are found in all cities and most accept international cards from Visa, MasterCard and other major card issuers. Because of the high incidence of credit card fraud, banks may put an automatic block on your card unless you notify them first that you are travelling to Malaysia.

Travellers cheques:

Accepted by all banks, hotels and large department stores. Most major brands of travellers cheques are accepted, but travellers are advised to carry cheques in Pounds Sterling, US Dollars or Australian Dollars.

Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0915-1630 (some branches close at 1600 on Friday and some open on Saturdays). Banks in Kelantan and Terengganu open Sun-Thurs 0915-1630 (till 1600 on Thursday).

Currency restriction:

The import and export of local currency is limited to RM1,000 cash. There are no restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency, subject to declarations for amounts of US$10,000 or higher.

Currency exchange:

The best currency for exchange is the Pound Sterling, but US Dollars are also widely accepted. All commercial banks are authorised foreign exchange dealers; major hotels are only licensed to buy or accept foreign currency in the form of notes and traveller's cheques. It may be difficult to exchange foreign currencies outside the main tourist centres.