foreign currency - Banks

Does anyone know of a bank in downtown DC that carries foreign currency at reasonable exchange rates? Bank of America requires that you order it and takes 2-3 days (becides the British Pound being at 1.96 not 1.87 I wish it was).

foreign currency - Banks

I get mine from the American Express office on Connecticut Avenue. As a platinum member, I don%26#39;t have to pay a service charge. There are other services all along K Street NW, like TravelEx, but I try to avoid fees whenever possible, since the exchange rates are so close to one another.

foreign currency - Banks

Is there a pressing reason why you need the foreign currency here in the U.S., or is this in advance of traveling to another country?

In most cases, it%26#39;s a lot cheaper to get it once you arrive in the other country, either using your ATM card or exchanging dollars (at somewhere other than the airport).

I%26#39;m not sure what you consider to be ';unreasonable,'; but if you absolutely need the currency while here in the U.S. and can get away with paying a 5% premium for foreign currency like you describe (and there aren%26#39;t any additional commissions or fees), I%26#39;d say grab it. Most banks will have the advance ordering requirement for all but the smallest amounts.

if you can make do with travelers checks denominated in major foreign currencies, AAA issues them at a better rate than you%26#39;ll find at the banks (commission free to its members). They also sell ';starter kits'; (perhaps about $50?) worth of many popular foreign currencies--I don%26#39;t know if the rate will be any better than what you%26#39;re seeing elsewhere, but these are easily purchased and they have them in stock. They have a downtown office at 1133 15th St. NW.

Good luck!