Travelling soon and looking for best ATMs in Cameroon that work well with foreign debit/credit cards and dont charge crazy fees. Any recos will be highly appreciated.
During my last Cameroon visit, I mostly used Ecobank ATMs around Marché Central in Douala. My Visa card didn’t face any issues, and fees were reasonable, averaging about 3,000 XAF per withdrawal. The daily withdrawal limit at these ATMs was around 400,000 to 500,000 XAF. I avoided standalone ATMs in tourist spots as they often added extra fees. Always double-check fee info on screen before confirming any transaction to avoid surprises.
Quick heads-up: Societe Generale, Ecobank, and BICEC are the most foreigner-friendly ATM providers in Cameroon. Visa and Mastercard work well at their machines mainly in Douala and Yaoundé. Withdrawal fees were modest, usually a flat fee under 5,000 XAF, and daily limits maxed at about 500,000 XAF. I highly recommend notifying your bank before travelling and having a no-fee travel card as backup. ATMs at airports sometimes have higher fees, so plan accordingly.
Been to Douala recently and honestly, ATM fees can be a pain if you don’t know where to go. I tried my Mastercard at a few Ecobank and Afriland First Bank ATMs which typically accept foreign cards. The fees weren’t terrible, but some off-brand ATMs charged outrageous fees, so avoid those. Best tip is use banks in business districts and leave enough cash for smaller towns since ATMs are rare further out.
If you’re heading to Cameroon and need reliable ATMs that won’t charge you a fortune, stick to major banks like Societe Generale Cameroun and Ecobank. I used my Visa debit card at Societe Generale ATMs in Douala and Yaoundé, and fees were reasonable compared to smaller, independent machines. Daily withdrawal limits are usually around 300,000 to 500,000 XAF. For budget travelers, using multi-currency cards like Wise helped me avoid hidden fees and get decent exchange rates.