Lost my card to an ATM in DRC

This happened to me in Goma at a Sofibanque ATM near the Serena Hotel. Luckily, the security guard outside told me to go inside the bank straight away. They had a register with swallowed cards, and I got mine back the next day after showing my passport and signing paperwork. The system is not efficient, but it’s not hopeless either. My tip: always withdraw during weekday business hours so if the card is taken, you can immediately walk inside and deal with staff instead of stressing out at night.

If you’re near Boulevard du 30 Juin in Kinshasa, you’ll find ATMs from EquityBCDC and Trust Merchant Bank. Both have branches where you can go directly and explain what happened. Usually the card is held until the next technician visit, but the bank staff may retrieve it sooner if you are persistent and show ID. Just don’t wait too long - sometimes they destroy foreign cards after 48-72 hours for “security.” Meanwhile, USD is widely accepted, so even if you don’t get the card back immediately, you won’t be stranded.

Honestly, in DRC it’s a nightmare when a machine eats your card. I lost mine at a BCDC (now EquityBCDC) machine in Lubumbashi, and the bank just shrugged. They said “come back next week” but I was flying out in two days, so that was useless. Ended up blocking the card via my Revolut app and just used USD notes I had with me. Lesson learned: never put your only card in an ATM here, always have at least one spare in a money belt or hidden in luggage.

I had the same thing happen in Kinshasa at a Rawbank ATM near Gombe. The machine kept my Visa card and shut down for “maintenance” on the screen. I went inside the branch, and the staff told me they only open ATMs once a week with a security officer present. They did eventually give me my card back after three days, but I had to show my passport and fill a form. If you need immediate cash, you’ll probably have to use a money changer or Western Union until then. Carry dollars as backup here.