Looking for reliable ATMs in Sierra Leone that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
Don't even bother with the ATMs in Sierra Leone. They are simply not reliable for foreign cards. I tried using a UnionPay card at a Rokel Commercial Bank ATM, as I was told it might work, and I got an error message. The country's economy is almost entirely cash-based. The best and safest way to handle money is to bring new, crisp US dollar bills and exchange them for the local Leone at a reputable bank in Freetown. It’s the only way to ensure you have access to your funds.
My advice for traveling to Sierra Leone is to bring a substantial amount of US dollars in cash. You will get a much better exchange rate at a bureau de change or a bank, and you'll avoid the hassle of dealing with ATMs. I tried to use my Visa debit card at an Access Bank ATM at a filling station outside of Freetown, and it didn't work. The only places that reliably take cards are some major hotels and a few supermarkets in the capital.
Getting cash in Sierra Leone from an ATM can be very difficult. The banking infrastructure is not well-developed for international cards. You should not rely on ATMs as your sole source of funds. The most reliable banks are Rokel Commercial Bank and Ecobank, and even then, their ATMs are hit or miss. I managed to get a small amount of cash from a Rokel Commercial Bank ATM in Freetown with my Mastercard, but the fees were very high, and the daily withdrawal limit was very low, around 500,000 SLL.