Why do ATMs and shops in DRC (DR Congo) just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
Surprisingly, I had success at a Rawbank ATM inside the Grand Hotel Kinshasa. I withdrew in USD using my Wise Mastercard after setting the app to show funds in USD and enabling international payments. No success at local shops though-most still prefer cash. My tip: go early in the day, use ATMs at hotels or embassies, and make sure your Wise card is set to USD and chip+PIN only. That combo worked for me.
Wise failed for me in Goma and Kinshasa-both withdrawals and shop payments. I tried Banque Commerciale Du Congo and Rawbank ATMs but got declined every time. A friend working at an NGO said they also gave up on digital cards and just use prepaid USD cards or cash. Internet and network reliability in DRC is patchy, and it affects ATM authorizations too. You’re better off arriving with USD and exchanging in town as needed.
I was in Lubumbashi last month and couldn’t get my Wise card to work at any ATM. TMB (Trust Merchant Bank) declined it three times, and Ecobank wasn’t any better. My Revolut card didn’t work either. Apparently, some local banks just don’t authorize international debit cards-especially from fintechs. What saved me? Using a money exchange booth at the airport and paying everything in cash. Definitely bring enough USD with you.
Had the same issue in Kinshasa-my Wise Visa got rejected at every ATM I tried, including Rawbank, EquityBCDC, and FBN Bank. Even bigger stores like Shoprite and some electronics shops in Gombe wouldn’t take it. Locals told me foreign-issued cards often get flagged or blocked due to poor connectivity with international networks and fraud concerns. I ended up relying entirely on USD cash, which is widely accepted in the city anyway.