Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Mali easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
From my Mali trip-Amex was a complete no-go. I asked at Radisson Blu in Bamako and even they said no. Visa worked great though, especially at Ecobank ATMs along the main roads. Mastercard sometimes worked, sometimes didn’t, which was annoying. Restaurants in Bamako’s ACI 2000 district did take my Visa, but everywhere else wanted CFA. Out in Segou and Mopti, nobody even knew what a card terminal was-it was all cash. Best move: bring Visa, grab CFA francs in the capital, and don’t waste time trying Amex-it won’t happen.
Mali is definitely not the place to depend on Amex. It’s rarely accepted, even at hotels. ATMs are available in Bamako, but they’re not always reliable, and Mastercard is hit and miss. Visa is the one card you’ll want for withdrawals at Ecobank or Banque Atlantique. Restaurants and local shops are cash-only, and outside Bamako it’s almost impossible to use a card. Also, ATMs sometimes run out of cash, so withdraw when you can and don’t leave it until you’re desperate. Bring plenty of CFA francs for day-to-day life-cash is king here.
I was in Bamako last month and my Visa debit worked fine at Ecobank and BDM ATMs downtown. Pulled out CFA francs without problems. Some bigger supermarkets and restaurants near ACI 2000 also accepted my Visa credit card, which was a nice surprise. My Mastercard worked at one ATM but failed at another, so it’s less consistent. I tried American Express at the hotel desk-no luck. Honestly, if you carry Visa and back it up with cash, you’ll get by just fine. Mali is mostly cash-based, but I had a smoother time than I expected.
In Mali, Visa is the only card you can really count on. ATMs from banks like Ecobank, BDM, and Banque Atlantique in Bamako work reliably with foreign Visa cards. Mastercard sometimes works but it’s hit or miss, and American Express is basically not accepted at all. Restaurants and shops in Bamako are mostly cash only, though a few international hotels will let you pay with Visa. Outside the capital, expect cash everywhere. My advice: bring a Visa debit or credit card for ATM withdrawals and keep a stash of CFA francs for daily expenses.