My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Ethiopia. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
Quick tip: in Addis, always use CBE main branch ATMs. They’re the only ones that regularly return foreign cards. Dashen and Awash machines in smaller towns are unreliable and will shred cards. Carry USD or euros because you can easily exchange them in hotels or bureaus. Ethiopia is not great for card usage, so always plan with cash as your main method and cards only as a backup.
I had my Monzo card swallowed by a Dashen Bank ATM in Gondar. When I asked at the branch, they said foreign cards are destroyed automatically for security. No chance of getting it back. Ethiopia is very cash-based outside the capital, so losing the card was a nightmare. Luckily, I carried USD and changed it at a hotel. If you only have one card, you’ll be stuck.
My Wise Visa was eaten by a CBE ATM on Churchill Avenue in Addis Ababa, close to the Ras Hotel. I went into the branch next morning and staff returned it after checking my ID. Took about 20 minutes. They said foreign cards jam often. If you stick to CBE ATMs at big branches in Addis, recovery is usually fine.
The main ATMs in Ethiopia are Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), Dashen Bank, and Awash Bank. If your card gets stuck, go to the nearest branch with your passport. CBE often returns foreign cards within 24 hours if you report it quickly. Dashen and Awash sometimes destroy them sooner. Call the number printed on the ATM if you see one. Ethiopia is still very cash-driven, especially outside Addis Ababa.