My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Mali. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
If this happens in Mali, your only decent chance is Ecobank in Bamako. Other banks rarely return cards. Always carry CFA francs or USD, since rural areas don’t take cards at all. Use ATMs during weekday banking hours and only at big branches. Keep at least two cards and don’t risk weekend withdrawals, since you won’t find staff to help.
I had my Monzo swallowed by a BOA ATM in Mopti. When I checked, staff told me all foreign cards are automatically destroyed for security. I had to cancel mine and use cash for the rest of the trip. Mali is very cash-heavy, especially outside Bamako, so losing a card was tough. Always bring extra cash or USD to exchange.
My Wise card was taken by an Ecobank ATM in Bamako near the Azalai Hotel Salam. I went to the branch first thing the next morning, and they returned it after confirming my passport. The staff were polite and seemed used to it. If you use big branches in Bamako, recovery is possible. Smaller-town ATMs, less so.
In Mali, ATMs are run mainly by Banque Malienne de Solidarité (BMS), Ecobank, and Bank of Africa. If your card is swallowed, go to the branch with your passport. Ecobank in Bamako sometimes returns foreign cards if you act quickly. Others, like BOA, often destroy them automatically. Call the hotline shown on the ATM right away. Mali is very cash-driven, so have CFA francs in hand while you sort it out.