Central America - any fees for using a US credit card in Panama?

So I know they use the dollar, but will any of the major credit card companies (AMEX, Citi, Chase, BoA) try to charge you a "foreign transaction fee" for using your American credit card in Panama?

I know Panama is more of a "cash economy" than the US, but I'd like to reduce the amount of cash I need to travel with by relying on credit cards where possible (and where the merchant won't tack on his or her own 5% fee!).

Thanks.

Just got back. Using my BofA ATM and my Chase CC, neither had additional fees. Neither did my American Express card.

Just got back. Using my BofA ATM and my Chase CC, neither had additional fees. Neither did my American Express card.

Thanks. I'll charge away. :)

A dollar should be a dollar. Unless, of course, it's a dollar run through a credit card company. ;)

Not always true. Some times you do get the charge, and other times you don't. (I THINK it depends on where the company has there credit card machines route through...)

As always, AMEX and Capital One (or cards that specifically don't have FTF.)

Not always true. Some times you do get the charge, and other times you don't. (I THINK it depends on where the company has there credit card machines route through...)

As always, AMEX and Capital One (or cards that specifically don't have FTF.)

Yeah, I seemed to get charged a foreign transaction fee, even though, obviously, the transaction was in dollars.

I remember Citi charging me, and I kind of think AMEX did, too.

Banco Popular didn't charge me, Citi did.

The business might charge you a fee to use a credit card. Small places frequently do in order to offset the high fees they are charged by their credit-card processors.

BA, Chase Card says no fees, will be in Panama in Oct, got hit in JA citi card.

AMEX and Capital One never will.

(A few new cards on the table are coming out with no FTF.) But unless your card is one of those, and even though its in USD, you will always be charged.

My Canadian-issued Amex card is my best friend when I travel outside the country (which is almost weekly). It calculates the foreign currency into CAD without any fees.

I would imagine US-issued cards also come with no foreign transaction fees.

My Canadian-issued Amex card is my best friend when I travel outside the country (which is almost weekly). It calculates the foreign currency into CAD without any fees.

I would imagine US-issued cards also come with no foreign transaction fees.

AMEX doesn't charge FTF no matter where it's from.

They are charging you a small currency conversion fee. But, if your card is US based, you won't have this happen in Panama because its already in USD.