I was using an ATM near my hostel in Gambia, & it took my card & never gave it back. No error message, just gone. Has anyone had this happen? Whats the fastest way to get it back? Any advice on who to call or what to do next?
I had my Revolut Mastercard taken by a GTBank ATM in Serrekunda on a Saturday evening. When I went to the branch on Monday, they said the card had already been destroyed for security. I had to cancel and rely on my backup Monzo. Gambia is extremely cash-based, so I struggled for a couple of days. My advice: never use ATMs outside of weekday hours, always carry a second card, and keep some USD or dalasi handy as a safety net.
My Wise Visa was swallowed by an Ecobank ATM in Banjul. I went to the branch the next day, and after verifying my ID, they returned it within an hour. The staff explained that ATMs often retain foreign cards if the connection times out. I was relieved I didn’t have to cancel. Friends also told me Trust Bank in Serrekunda handles these cases fairly well. As long as you act quickly and go during working hours, you can sometimes recover your card here.
In Gambia, ATMs are mainly operated by Ecobank, Trust Bank, and GTBank. If your card is captured, go straight to the branch with your passport. Ecobank and Trust Bank sometimes release foreign cards if you act fast, but many banks destroy them after 24-48 hours. Call the hotline on the ATM immediately. Since Gambia is cash-heavy, always carry dalasi or USD as backup, and freeze your card until you know if it can be retrieved.
Yes, it happened at a Trust Bank ATM in Serrekunda. The machine swallowed my Mastercard with no error. Staff confirmed it would be destroyed. In Gambia, retrieval isn’t realistic. Cancel the card and use a backup. Stick with Ecobank or Trust Bank ATMs in Banjul or Senegambia area. Always carry dalasi cash, since hostels, taxis, and markets rarely take cards.