East Hollywood Currency Services, operating as LA Currency Exchange, is a foreign currency exchange service with multiple locations across the Los Angeles metropolitan area, including Downtown LA, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Van Nuys, Glendale, and Burbank. The company advertises itself as offering the best foreign currency exchange rates in Los Angeles with real-time rate updates and a rate-matching guarantee.
LA Currency Exchange provides foreign currency buying and selling services across 15+ currencies including major pairs (EUR, GBP, JPY, CAD) and emerging market currencies (CNY, VND, THB, MXN, KRW, IQD). Customers can exchange cash without transaction fees or hidden costs. The company accepts cash and debit card payments, though debit card transactions incur a $3 fee for amounts up to $100 or a 3% fee for larger transactions. Customers are encouraged to call ahead to place orders and reserve currency, with a non-refundable security deposit option available via cash, debit, or credit card that is credited toward the final transaction.
What distinguishes LA Currency Exchange is their emphasis on competitive real-time rates, active market monitoring, and a published rate-matching promise. The company provides free parking at most locations (Van Nuys, Hollywood, Glendale, Beverly Hills via city parking, with paid metered options available). Their website features a transparent real-time currency rate table updated as of April 3, 2026, at 8:29 AM, allowing customers to pre-calculate exchange values before visiting.
The main caveat is that while cash exchanges carry no fees, the company's rates include built-in spreads (reflected in the difference between "we buy" and "we sell" rates), which is standard practice but represents their actual revenue model. Debit card payment options exist but come with notable fees. The rate-matching guarantee includes unspecified exceptions. Currency availability varies by location, making advance phone calls necessary to ensure specific currency availability.