The 11 best places to exchange money in Vancouver

We called ahead before driving 30 min to his shop to exchange currency. He gave myself and when my friend called he gave the same rate. When we got to the store, the rate was lower. Not good service. Will stay with the banks for exchange or vbc

I got the absolute BEST exchange rate here, so I'm not sure why someone would go somewhere else to exchange their currency. Good customer service. This is THE BEST place in Vancouver for currency exchange as you get the best rates here, better than anywhere else. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 5 stars!

Been coming here for years & recommending it to all my friends. You won’t find better rates in Vancouver. Such a pleasant experience each and every time! More than rates, customer service is beyond exceptional.

Been coming here for years. Switched from a certain well known Bullion place and never looked back. The owner works so hard and he's so friendly, always a pleasure going in. He's very quick and efficient too, I'm in and out of the door, not stuck in a long line. Best rates in the city. He's a hidden gem!

Great friendly same day service. Grest rates. I exchanged for yen and NZ. Everywhere else I looked would have coated me 10 to 30 bucks more to exchange. Would recommend.

Best place for currency exchange in all of Vancouver by far! I wouldn’t go anywhere else. It’s an Honest, fair, kindly run business with the best rates around.

First time traveling to canada. The guy behind the counter was very polite and professional. Did not cost me anything to trade my US cash for Canadian!

My point is that you're lacking in transparency.  There's nowhere on your website disclosing your $2 fee.  If you say this isn't a commission, what is it then?  A service charge?  Your sign says no commission, no service charge.  This is false advertising. While you may tell this to the clients before exchanging, some people go to your exchange from far away. Everyone charges a fee?  Not VBCE, at least.  It isn't a norm in Vancouver to charge such fees for small transactions.  It's your business decision, I get it, but please stop your false advertising. No one works for free?  No, you don't, so that's why your sell and buy rates are different. Update 3/15/25 I was told they now charge $2 for any transactions under $100. There's no mention of this on their website, the sign outside today still says no commissions. I hate such false advertising and poor rates after paying the $2 commission, I'll take my business to VBCE. Update 2/12/25 The best currency exchange in terms of inventory of major and minor currencies and rates (better than VBCE, for example), I'm happy that I happen to live nearby. It has been in business at least for a decade. It's great they have a website with up to date rates, and honor that 99% of the time, the 1% of the time was probably due to the sudden fluctuation during the business hours, has been both advantageous and disadvantageous for me, so more than fair. A decade ago, they used to accept Interac, I hope they start that again.

I checked their website and then called customer service, where a live person confirmed the posted rate. When I arrived in person, I was given a different, higher rate. Rather than honouring what was quoted, the owner was belligerent and dismissive, treating me as if I were haggling over the price of a pizza. I won’t be returning. That was an easy decision.

Incompetent staff who turned down legitimate precious metals. Faulty equipment as well. I sold the same precious metals to a high-end dealer. Staff were also loud and rude. Worst business ever, never come here if you want to buy real precious metals or sell some. Terrible name and branding too, clueless.

Wasted my time. I checked their website before coming and it said they accept debit and e-transfer. Well, found out upon showing up that it's cash only.

Came in to check out jewelry, but I didn't have cash on hand. Being a younger male wearing track suit and on a scooter im used to discrimination to the extent of having police phoned on me. But there was none of that BS here. So the next day I came back and dropped $1815 on a ring. Rare a2a

Great exchange rate. Remember to call ahead of time to let them know you have such and such amount to exchange. No line up and quick service.

Really good Forex rates, better than the bank by a lot. Quick service.

Friendly and prompt service - I went on weekday morning so no line up. Despite the exchange rate might not be the best in town, I still convert my money there as they accept debit card and save me a trip to line up at the bank for cash. Overall quite pleasant experiences with my few visits.

Recently exchanged a large sum during a tumultuous market week and Kenny B. in the Vancouver office was simply perfect. He responded quickly and politely — very patient with my questions and emails as this was the larger sum I’ve exchanged. Highly highly recommend.

Working with Kevin here. Always outstanding prompt service. Way more enjoyable to work with than typical banks and of course you get a better rate.

I have been a customer for many years and always had a good experience. I visited the downtown location recently and I cannot express my gratitude to the people who work there. Exceptional service. There was a discrepancy on the exchange and the manager delt with it in such a professional and honest way and solved it within minutes. The level of customer service has increased over years un like other places. Highly recommend, great rates, excellent service.

Vancouver Bullion & Currency Exchange (VBCE) is my top choice for both currency exchange and precious metals. Their website shows real-time pricing that updates constantly and is easy to follow. The staff are always helpful and professional. Service is fast and efficient. If there’s a lineup, it moves quickly thanks to a clear counter display that tells you which desk is available. It works smoothly in proper English, unlike other systems that can be buggy or confusing. VBCE also stands out for its communication. Whether I call or email, they always respond quickly and professionally. I know several others who use their services and recommend them just as strongly. One feature I’d love to see is a dashboard for tracking silver and gold prices alongside your purchases. It would make it easier to calculate gains or monitor trends. I’ve made a basic version myself, but having an official tool from VBCE would be a great addition. A reliable and well-run service I definitely recommend.

This is my go to place for currency exchange: they have excellent rates and a great service. And recently I had an extremely pleasant experience with Kevin Yadav who helped me with my case in a timely and professional manner.

I've been dealing with Fayyaz J. at VBCE on and off for over ten years. Although I suspect my needs are quite minor compared to other clients, I've always received excellent service. Fayyaz is prompt, friendly, and professional, and has always made an effort to get me the best possible exchange rate. VBCE was recommended to me by a friend, and I, in turn, am glad to recommend them, too, as a professional, fast, and safe way to make currency transactions. Thank you!

I’ve been working with Mr. Majid for quite a while and I honestly couldn’t be happier. He always takes care of everything super quickly, with great attention to detail, and he’s amazingly responsive whenever I reach out. On top of that, he’s very trustworthy and easy to deal with. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable exchange service!

I had an excellent experience at Vancouver Money Exchange. The staff were very professional, friendly, and helpful, and the service was quick and easy. I would definitely recommend Vancouver Money Exchange to anyone looking for reliable and trustworthy service.

The absolute best rate in the whole neighborhood. They are very professional yet warm, generous and respectful. Their negotiation process was smooth and collaborative that for the first experience was really great. I will be permanent customer. Highly recommended.

I’m really impressed with the service here! The staff was professional, patient, and made the entire process super smooth. They offered one of the best exchange rates I could find in the area, and there were no surprise fees. The location is convenient, and I didn’t have to wait long at all. Definitely a trustworthy place if you’re looking to exchange currency with confidence. I’ll be coming back next time!

Their service is fast and professional. Their rates are the best and they are trustworthy. The location is convenient but since I relocated I am doing the exchange remotely with them. Definitely suggested.

Really friendly and trustable . Vancouver Currency Exchange is very fast to money transfer. Mr. Jafarpour is always welcoming and very fair.

Professional and decent place to do any money exchange, Maj was great with all the transactions i had, he was so patient and very reasonable rate that they gives me!

A total ripoff. I'll never set foot in this place again. I've used it previously when it was convenient but my last transaction was ridiculous -- a 17% exchange rate on CDN dollar to dong. I should've cancelled it right there. Even if I'm getting the bad airport rate on arrival it's 3 to 4 times better than this. Charlie's on Granville is the way to go even if it's a little less convenient.

Worst customer service they are reluctant to answer questions and on top of that they’re making problems by saying that all your money has stain on it or blah blah blah. They’re not helpful at all. Don’t go there. Don’t waste your time go somewhere else. These guys are absolutely terrible doing business with.

Fairly happy about my exchanges here. But found it strange that they seem to request your job and phone number depending on the exchange amount. While I understand they ask for ID as mentioned in their FAQ for higher exchange amounts, this additional requested information is not noted anywhere and they don’t say why.

Today I exchanged 300 CAD to KRW (South Korean won), the going rate is 1 CAD to 993 KRW and I was given 932. It’s a real rip off, that’s more than 6 percent difference. I have been a regular customer probably will have to find another place

They charged receiver a 1% of the amount . Which is against policy of western union . Never go again.fraudulent!!! Very very upset with their service .

Great one I exchange au$100 and got ca$90 better than bank ca$87

Fast, efficient, cheaper than an overseas ATM. They only accepts debit, not credit.

My father sends us money through Western Union and we usually pick it up in cash. This time, the transfer was under my brother’s name. The employee took advantage of him and unfairly deducted about $65. When my brother told me, I personally went to the branch during my break and made it clear to the employee that what they were doing was illegal. Just a month ago, they had already deducted around $30 from me, which was far too much. I told them I would report this and left.Afterwards, I specifically asked my brother to go back and request the transaction receipt. When he did, the employee suddenly refunded $30, but at the same time insulted him by saying: Don’t come here again! This is clear fraud and exploitation. They are unfairly taking money from people who trust them! Absolutely unprofessional and dishonest behavior. Avoid this location at all costs!

I never write reviews, but this was the worst service and experience I've ever had. I was there, and the employee who helped me (I don't know if he was an employee or the owner), was extremely rude to me. I wanted to send money to Brazil (moneries), and he wanted me to ask the person to pick it up at a store, not send it to their bank. I told him that wasn't an option because I always sent money to that bank. So, he refused to do the service with no reason. My advice is: don't use this place; it was the worst customer service EVER!!

I don’t usually write reviews, but the service at this place was truly unacceptable. I had a terrible experience trying to receive money. This is the only place where I’ve been charged a fee to receive money through Western Union, which shouldn’t happen (fees are typically applied when sending, not receiving). On top of that, they don’t inform you about the fee until they’re handing you the money, which shows a complete lack of transparency. Customer service was awful. They treat you like you're asking for a favor, with a very bad attitude and zero professionalism. In the middle of my transaction, the man started helping someone else. His English is hard to understand, and he gets upset if you don’t speak his language. Honestly, avoid this place. There are much better options for any kind of international money transfer.

It’s a scam, in order to get my money ( my family send me money and they payed before the fees) I have to pay 5 dollars more for the “service” and the receipt didn’t show this “fee” extra. Don’t go there!

I just had a truly unacceptable experience exchanging cash here. I walked in with $400USD and $370CAD to exchange for pesos. When the employee counted my Canadian cash his count was initially off by $100. Upon recounting it was the proper amount. He exchanged both bundles of cash and immediately I knew something was wrong because I had looked into the exchange rates that morning, and this was thousands of pesos off. I asked for a breakdown of the exchange for each bundle and was simply told it would be shown on my receipt. I took the cash and walked out and examined my receipt - sure enough an even $100 was missing from each amount of cash I had given him. I went back in and confronted him about the mistake, he was apologetic and issued me the almost 3000 pesos that he had shorted me, along with a new receipt. I truly feel that he saw what he thought was a naive young woman, and that he was testing my reaction with the miscount (I’m always very polite, didn’t have a reaction) and tried to get away with skimming $100CAD and $100USD of my cash. I’m honestly furious and am considering making a complaint to the OBSI, as this was very obviously no honest mistake, this is someone that is trained in counting currency and these were not large amounts of cash. I’ve used this currency exchange almost every time I’ve travelled and will certainly never be using them again.

The guy running this place makes up surcharges without official disclosure, saying bogus stuff like “I’m out of cash, I’ll use my own money so that will be $20 extra”. That’s straight up deceptive and borderline scam behavior. Not surprised to see all the other comments mentioning similar experiences. Avoid this place

Unappreciative staff with poor customer service skills. Lots of other money exchange options in Vancouver go get good service from.

If you're an international student, temporary resident, or tourist, do yourself a favor and avoid this branch. The staff was extremely hostile to me. I have legal status, I’m an international student, and I went there to send money to my home country—money I earned before moving here and brought with me to cover my living expenses. I also work and pay taxes in Canada. They asked me unnecessary personal questions, and even told me how many days I had left on my SIN number—something completely unrelated to the transaction. In the end, they didn’t offer any real solution. They said I could only transfer small quantities at a time and would have to come back multiple times over several weeks. I went to another branch, and the experience was completely different. No unnecessary questions, and they processed my transfer quickly and efficiently. It turns out that larger transfers can be done easily, proving that the restrictions I was given at this location were arbitrary. It feels like they deliberately refused to help me. Worse, I saw them treat another non-permanent resident even worse. A man next to me was trying to make a deposit, and instead of explaining anything with patience or clarity, they shouted at him, demanding to know where his money came from. He clearly needed more help understanding English, but instead of assisting him, they just made the situation more stressful. I wanted to step in and help, but by that point, I already felt so unwelcome and dehumanized by the staff that I just couldn’t take it, it feel that if I pursue the conversation any further I was going to cry.

I would like to express my dissatisfaction with the service I’ve received from an employee named Chris. On several occasions, he has been rude, displayed an arrogant attitude, and provided poor customer service. This is disappointing, especially because when I first opened my account, the staff was very kind and professional, which made me appreciate this branch. Unfortunately, every time I have to deal with Chris, it feels like he’s doing me a favor rather than simply doing his job and offering the level of service that should be expected. Today, I had a very uncomfortable experience. I went to deposit money at the machine, but it wasn’t working, so I approached the front desk for assistance. I hadn’t realized it was already 5:00 PM and that the branch was closing, as I have another account with BMO and the Burrard branch I usually visit closes at 6:00 PM. A very kind employee had started helping me when Chris approached and spoke to me in an extremely rude manner, telling me that next time I should “do them a favor” and not come in when they are closing. I understand that I came at closing time and I apologized for that, but his tone and attitude were completely inappropriate and unprofessional. His approach could have been much more respectful. I even said I could return the next day, and he replied, “Up to you,” in a very sarcastic and dismissive way. He also told me no bank in Canada closes at 6:00 PM, which is simply untrue, as I’ve experienced otherwise with BMO. What upset me is not the request to avoid coming at closing time—that’s reasonable—but the way it was communicated. His attitude was unnecessarily rude, and unfortunately, this is not the first time I’ve felt mistreated by him. He consistently comes across as unprofessional and disrespectful.

The service provider chris is really great here. We have been assisted by him for couple of times being friendly, polite and in professional manner. He has been really helpful. Thanks Chris

Very poor experience since joining Scotiabank specifically at this branch. All the staff are unwilling to simply say, "I don't know the answer," and instead lie and give false directions, advice, and instructions. I have wasted so many hours dealing with them, and no one takes ownership or accountability. Their advisors are all useless. It's unfortunate because they are all nice people but perhaps lack training. At this point, I don't see the point in paying for banking services when the customer service is this poor. I'll most likely be taking my money and business to an online bank or another bank in yaletown

I recently met with Sheida Hosseini to deposit funds into my FHSA and clearly mentioned that I intended to withdraw the money the next day. Unfortunately, she failed to inform me that FHSA withdrawals require an appointment with an advisor, proper paperwork, and a specific process. As a result, I had to visit four different branches just to find someone available to assist me. The lack of guidance caused unnecessary stress, time, and frustration. Very disappointed with how this was handled — clear communication from a financial advisor is essential, especially when dealing with investment accounts.

I went into this bank and no customers were in it. I wanted a quotation on a rate & nothing more. The person at the counter went to the person in the office to give the info. The person in the office did not come out to greet me or take my question. The person from the counter came out to relay the answer to me. Simple question asked at Royal bank and CIBC next door that gave me my answer. Scotia bank to lazy and ignorant. They need customer service help. What a insult! Pitiful

Idin Chavosh is the BEST ADVISOR ever. I recently had the pleasure of working with Idin Chavosh to open a new bank account and apply for a credit card. I’ve dealt with several bank advisors since coming to Canada, but Idin was by far the best I’ve met. As someone who is new to the country and currently working here as a foreigner, I had many concerns and questions—but Idin was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and thoughtful throughout the entire process. He took the time to understand my situation and made sure I received the best possible outcome. His professionalism and genuine willingness to help truly stood out. I highly recommend Idin to anyone looking for reliable and outstanding financial advice in Canada.

I just wanted to share that this bank provides excellent service, unlike many others. I needed assistance, and Nooshin Ansari went above and beyond to help me. I was really impressed because, in many other CIBC branches, the reception staff often show zero interest in helping their clients. A huge thank you to Nooshin Ansari—she absolutely deserves five stars!

Very bad customer service. I went to get stamped bank statements for last 3 months, they told me to pay $5 dollars for it and if I want it free i should go to my own branch. Ridiculously charging money for something that has always been free and also when you are paying monthly bank charges. Moreover, the person on the counter spoke rudely. Very disappointing experience as a loyal cibc customer for last 7 years.

awful experience here, told not to turn the radio up because that’s “illegal” while I watched a rich lady ask elementary questions and get elementary answers, and another woman who had no idea where the line started… because they don’t organize it… then I was told to stop “yelling at their clients” and that I would have a note put on my file for being “aggressive” ~ jokes on her because due to not having served me at all, a paying CIBC client for over 9 years, she didn’t even have a name to me. CIBC preferred to make rich people richer than serve working people, these are apparently called “advising branches” and have phone chargers and ABMs but no actual teller, just arrogant finance graduates to tell you to get lost

Exceptional Customer Service! I want to give a big shoutout to Amanpreet Kaur at CIBC for her outstanding support and professionalism. After being passed around with no clear resolution, Amanpreet was the only one who took full responsibility and genuinely worked to help me. She resolved my issue promptly and made the entire experience stress-free. Her dedication and willingness to go the extra mile truly stood out. CIBC is lucky to have her on the team. Thank you, Amanpreet!

I have been waiting for more than a month to get my credit card because of errors made by banking representative while filling out my address. Despite several emails, escalation or calls, my issue remains unresolved. Why open accounts in places with no accountability?

My wife and myself opened an account at this branch, and we got excellent service from Yazdan - he was very patient and answered all of out questions and helped us a lot. After few days our Credit cards was ready for pickup. We came to pick them up, and Sam greeted us and welcomed us to her cabinet. Sam started explaining us all that is related to the cards - and since we are new to Canada, she sat with us about half an hour and gave us tips regarding how to get things done. We enjoyed the conversation with her very much as she is truly nice person with great sense of humor. After we were done, it turned out she was the manager.... We had no idea, we just had a nice and helpful conversation like people should. I don't know what the future will bring, but until now, the experience with this branch was beyond expectations - I hope it will continue this way.

Wow... I've never seen such excellent customer service. This branch's essence has been intertwined with teamwork. Last Monday, I contacted the branch to inquire about the mortgage requirements. They responded quickly and went above and beyond my expectations. Yazdan and the branch manager offered me some tips on how to acquire a better mortgage rate.

Daron and the team at Olympia have been an enormous help to us. They offer the best rates I have found and respond 24/7. The entire process with them was professional and I have continued to use their service when purchasing currency. I feel like I have been able to grow a great relationship with Daron and and I have trust in Olympia as a company. Highly recommend

Work with Daron from Olympia for almost two years now and am very impressed. The company and the service is excellent. I like using the trading platform, and the response from the company is always quick and professional. They can trade a large variety of currencies, and I can do this from my phone, computer, or by calling in. I would never use my bank, or another brokerage firm, the relationship, the service, and the rates I get, are far better.

I have been dealing with Daron Rusjan at Olympia Trust on and off since 2012. As a minor player in cross-border transactions, I'm not overly confident and familiar with the process but with Daron's help, any uneasiness I have felt during my transactions has been quickly abated. Daron, along with his team, allow me to rest easy knowing my money is safe and sound and will arrive at its destination intact and on time. My advice when sending money across the US border: don't be seduced by flashy new players in the exchange arena that are getting a lot of press. Instead, stick with a tried and true company like Olympia Trust. You'll have peace of mind knowing your money is secure and you're getting the best rates!

Daren was able to get me out with a complex situation regarding my condo purchase in Mexico. He worked relentlessly to ensure everything came together. I would absolutely recommend him to anyone.

The TEAM at Olympia Trust is always ready to help no questions asked. They take the time to ensure that your needs are met and it is done in a timely fashion. Friendly, well informed staff will always provide you with good advice and the best options that are available to you the customer. I recommend them highly I would not go anywhere else.

After 30 years of buying commodities and always having to use USD, I have to admit the ability to exchange money in Vancouver was horrible. Until i discovered the team at Olympia Trust. They handle each transaction with professional ease and I am always assured of the best exchange rate and service in Canada. I use them for multiple currencies and other services such as wire transfers and such. So anyone using a bank for these types of transactions are living in the dark ages. Come out of the cave and experience financial freedom from the best in the business, Olympia Trust Foreign Exchange

Olympia has made foreign exchange easy for me. They were quick to respond to my calls and extremely helpful at guiding a newbie through the process. Recommended to me by a friend and I would enthusiastically recommend as well.

Amazing selection of household items. They have the most adorable and comfortable selection of slippers and towel sets for both men and woman. The owners are amazing people and are one of the friendliest folks I know at Crystal mall.

Nice small shop run by a couple. Great small items to gift and for home use. Good for kids school preparation and for summer holidays too. Some of the items are very good priced. Got a vacuum cup from there friends loved it on the xmas party as a gift 🎁.

Very friendly. They had genuine interest in helping me. And great assortment of items

Super cute!

Good stuff

(Translated by Google) Nice grocery store (Original) 不錯的雜貨店