The official currency is the West African CFA Franc (XOF), which is divided into 100 centimes. Only currency issued by the Bank of West African States (Banque des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) is considered valid. There are ATMs in Dakar, but banking facilities are limited in the rest of the country. Credit cards are only accepted by major establishments catering to the tourist trade, with American Express being the most widely accepted; commission is charged. Travellers cheques can be cashed in Dakar.
