Having access to your money is always important, including when you are on vacation.  Credit cards can be handy, but many businesses in New Orleans, especially small businesses, those places locals love to frequent and tourists want to know about, only take cash.  Don’t carry too much dinero in your pocket, but be ready with small bills to tip street performers, to pay for snoballs, and to pay for street car rides.

Banks

If you do your banking at Capital One, Whitney National Bank, Omni, Regions, or Chase, you will easily find your bank’s branches in New Orleans.  You can also find branches here for Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company, Wells Fargo, and other financial institutions.  There are no branches of Bank of America or Wachovia in the region.

ATMs are plentiful, especially in the French Quarter.  There is a Chase ATM at 240 Royal St., a Whitney ATM at 116 Bourbon St., another at 420 Chartres St., and a Capital One ATM at 137 Royal St.  You can always find a Chase ATM inside any Walgreens drug store, and many bars and businesses in the French Quarter operate ATMs as well.

Credit Unions

If you are a member of a credit union that belongs to the CU Service Center Network, then you can do your banking here just like you would at home, free of charge in almost all cases.  To find participating CU Service Centers around the world click here.  Type in zip code 70116 to find locations in the New Orleans area.

One of the most convenient and friendliest locations, a branch of the Greater New Orleans Federal Credit Union, can be found inside The Shops at Canal Place, which is located on Canal St. by the river.  Hope Community Credit Union (HCCU), located at 1726 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. is another conveniently located credit union available to you.  HCCU is located in the historic Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. corridor, a place that has much to offer both locals and visitors. 

Other

If you need to cash a check, exchange currency, wire money via Western Union, or get dollar bills for tipping, then go to Harrah’s Casino , especially if it is after hours or you don’t have local access to your bank or credit union.  There are other Western Union locations inside Casa Angelo at 212 Magazine St. and inside Unique Grocery at 127 Royal St.  Money orders can be purchased at the latter two locations.