Moroccans living abroad (MREs) may incur additional costs when using their bank cards in Morocco, primarily due to the conversion from euros or other foreign currencies to Moroccan dirhams. Banks often apply a commission on each transaction, a margin on the exchange rate, or fixed fees, which can vary significantly depending on the card type and issuing bank.
According to financial experts, these fees can include a foreign transaction fee (typically 1-3% of the transaction amount), a currency conversion markup (often 2-4% above the interbank rate), and possible ATM withdrawal charges. Some banks also charge a flat fee per transaction, which can be particularly costly for small purchases.
To minimize these costs, MREs are advised to compare bank policies before traveling, consider using multi-currency cards or fintech solutions that offer lower exchange rate margins, and withdraw larger amounts less frequently to reduce the impact of fixed fees. The Moroccan central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) does not regulate these specific fees, leaving them to individual bank policies.
