I was using an ATM near my hostel in Armenia, & it took my card & never gave it back. No error message, just gone. Has anyone had this happen? Whats the fastest way to get it back? Any advice on who to call or what to do next?
My Mastercard was snagged by a VTB ATM on Abovyan Street. I immediately called the hotline printed on the machine and they said go to the nearest branch. Showed up with ID and they pulled it from their retention vault within 24 hours. ATM card recovery in Armenia is quite efficient if done with speed. I was surprised by how smoothly it worked. Always freeze the card right away and track which ATM you used - it makes retrieval faster.
It happened to me at a standalone Acba ATM near the hostel - silence and card gone. I found no contact details. ATM card retention in Armenia via non‑bank machines is unreliable. I had to cancel the card and use cash for the rest of my stay. Learned to grab cards only from visibly bank-owned terminals, especially those with cameras and staff inside. Backup cards and daily withdrawal limits saved me from worse.
My Revolut card was taken by a HSBC Armenia ATM late at night. I called the bank and their 24‑hour hotline confirmed it was retained in a secure vault. Visited at 9 AM with my passport and withdrawal slip - the staff returned it by noon. Swallowed cards in Armenia ATMs are often recoverable provided it’s in a bank lobby and you act fast. If it’s at a kiosk, the odds are slim. After this, I only withdraw from well-lit machines in branches.
Yes - an AraratBank ATM in Yerevan swallowed my Chase Visa without warning. I flagged customer service on site and called their hotline. They asked me to visit the branch with my passport the next morning. They retrieved the card from a retention safe and returned it after verifying my ID. ATM card recovery in Armenia can work well if the machine is located in a bank branch. Always freeze your card via app immediately and go in person.