No issues elsewhere, but in Equatorial Guinea, both ATMs and stores keep rejecting my card. Anyone know if this is common? Any banks that actually work?
It’s not your card, it's the system. In Equatorial Guinea, credit card acceptance is rare outside of some very high-end hotels. Most businesses, restaurants, and taxis are cash-only. The best thing you can do is have enough cash to cover your expenses. I'd recommend using an ATM at the Ecobank in Malabo. Always carry cash with you, as you will not be able to rely on your credit card for day-to-day purchases.
You'll find that credit cards are not widely accepted in Equatorial Guinea. The country's economy for tourists is largely cash-based. Even with international transactions activated, your bank's fraud department might be flagging it. The best solution is to get cash. You can try to withdraw money from a bank ATM, or if that's not working, go inside a bank with your passport and see if you can get a cash advance. But honestly, cash is the only way to go.
Don't worry, it's not you, it's the system. Credit card acceptance in Equatorial Guinea is very limited. The POS terminals are often old, and the internet connection can be spotty. My advice is to always have a backup plan. I'd try to withdraw cash from a different ATM. Sometimes, even with a Visa card, you'll have issues. If all else fails, look for a Western Union or a similar money transfer service to get cash.
That's a huge pain, and it's a common issue. While there are some ATMs that accept Visa and Mastercard in Malabo and Bata, they can be very unreliable. The banking infrastructure is limited, and most businesses don't accept cards. The best solution is to use cash. The local currency is the Central African CFA franc (XAF). You should try a few different ATMs, perhaps at banks like Ecobank, but don't count on them working.