The ATM just swallowed my debit card and didnt return it. This was in Central African Republic, close to where Im staying. Any idea if local banks can help? Help SOS how to get it back
It's a horrible feeling when that happens. In the Central African Republic, with a limited number of ATMs, it's a huge problem. Your card is most likely unrecoverable. The security procedures in place at banks there mean a foreign card that is retained is immediately put into a queue for destruction. Don't waste time going to a bank branch; they will just tell you to call your home bank. The most important action you can take is to call your bank right now and report the card as lost or stolen.
I've traveled all over and this is a common issue in many places with a less developed banking infrastructure. You won't be able to get it back. The best and only thing to do is to call your bank immediately. Tell them it was swallowed in Bangui. They'll disable the card to prevent any fraud and issue a new one. You should not expect a local bank to be able to help you as a tourist with a card from another country; it's a security and logistics issue. It’s better to cut your losses and just focus on getting a new one sent.
That's super stressful, and unfortunately, I've heard of it happening to others. In the Central African Republic, the banking system is not set up to easily return a foreign debit card to a traveler. The card is likely already flagged for destruction. Your priority should be to call the 24-hour support line of your bank-whatever is on the back of the card-and have them cancel it. You won't get it back from a local bank branch. For the rest of your trip, you'll need to use cash, so consider a money transfer from a friend or family member.
Oh no, that is a nightmare! In Bangui, a swallowed card is a major issue because local banks, even big ones like Ecobank, have security policies where they destroy foreign cards to prevent potential fraud. You will definitely not be able to get it back. The most important thing to do is to contact your home bank right away, like your Chase or Citibank. Use their international number to immediately block the card and report it as lost. You'll need to figure out an alternative for cash, maybe a Western Union if you can find one, as cash is essential here.