Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Liberia or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
As a regional traveler, I avoid ATMs in West Africa after dark - Liberia included. Most places don’t have reliable lighting, and machines sometimes run out of money by evening. If you're traveling through Liberia, plan ahead. Withdrawing cash after dark should be your backup, not your strategy.
I stayed in Congo Town and went to a UBA ATM at night. It was attached to a petrol station, which gave it a sense of safety, but I still felt uneasy. The transaction was fine, but the surroundings weren’t. In Liberia, your best bet is always to withdraw cash inside malls or major hotels if you must do it late.
While volunteering outside Monrovia, I needed to withdraw cash late. The only working machine was at Ecobank on Tubman Boulevard. There was a guard, which helped, but the area was still poorly lit. Liberia isn’t dangerous per se, but after-dark ATM access is unpredictable. Most locals prefer to bank in the morning.
ATM safety at night in Liberia isn’t ideal. I stayed near Sinkor in Monrovia and once used a UBA ATM around 9 PM. It worked, but there was no streetlight, no guard, and a few people standing nearby watching. I was lucky, but honestly wouldn’t do it again. Everyone I spoke to advised making all ATM withdrawals during daylight hours.