My credit card keeps declining in Sierra Leone and I have enough money on there and all international transactions are activated - what do I do?
If your card keeps declining in Sierra Leone, it might be your bank’s fraud sensors or local machine issues. Give your bank a heads-up before you depart. I switched to a prepaid travel card and used Ecobank ATMs, which were reliable. Cash in Leone is essential for markets and small shops.
Sierra Leone’s payment infrastructure is limited, so even with activated cards, declines happen due to lousy POS machines or network errors. I used GT Bank and Rokel Bank ATMs for withdrawals. Notifying your bank before travel and limiting card usage to bigger merchants helps.
My credit cards kept declining in Sierra Leone at random shops and cash points. What fixed it was calling the bank and removing any travel blocks. I also used a Niyo Global prepaid card with zero forex fees, which handled transactions smoother. Always have backup cash ready since card acceptance is spotty.
Visa and Mastercard both declined on me in Freetown despite funds and activation. It’s sometimes down to local POS or ATM systems not syncing well with foreign cards. I’d suggest calling your bank to double-check, and definitely carry plenty of cash in Leone currency. Ecobank ATMs worked best while my card had limits.