For exchange purposes, by far the most useful and efficient chain of banks is the
BMCE
(Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur). There is at least one BMCE in all major cities and they are dotted about in smaller towns. They handle cash or travellers' cheques with the minimum of hassle (though they do charge the standard 10.70dh for changing the latter), and give cash advances on VISA and Mastercard, as well as currency exchange.
The
Banque Credit du Maroc
(BCM) also handles VISA and Mastercard, as do the generally efficient
Citibank
, and larger branches of the
Banque Populaire
. Most other banks don't tend to have facilities for credit card transactions, despite the stickers in their windows, though they will exchange cash and travellers' cheques. In the far south, you may find that Banque Populaire and BMCE are your only choices.
Standard banking hours
for most of the year are Monday to Thursday 8.15am-11.30am and 2.15pm-4.30pm, Friday 8.15am-11.15am and 2.45pm-4.45pm. Some branches of WAFA Bank are open an hour later, until 5.30pm (5.45 on Friday). In summer (usually 15 June - 30 September), banks open from 8am to 2pm, and during Ramadan from 9am to 2pm. In major resorts there is usually one or more bank that keeps extended hours on bureau de change transactions to meet tourist demand, and BMCE often has a separate bureau de change open longer hours and at weekends. In some places you may find travel agents with exchange facilities, and most large hotels will also change money for nonresidents out of banking hours.
In most
exchange transactions
at banks, customers fill in forms at one desk, then join a second queue for the cashier. You'll usually need to show your passport as proof of identity. Cheque/cash transactions usually get dealt with in 10 to 15 minutes, but it's wise to allow up to an hour if you need to draw cash on a credit card. Obviously, if you can change money at a hotel or travel agent, or a bureau de change, the whole procedure will be quicker and easier.
ATMs
(cashpoints/cash dispensers) are to be found outside more and more banks in the bigger towns, and accept major systems, though be warned; they can be unreliable and occasionally swallow cards.
