I was using an ATM near my hostel in Northern Mariana Islands, & 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?
That's a classic. My American Express card was swallowed by a local credit union ATM. The thing about the Northern Mariana Islands is that the banking is very straightforward. Don't bother with the ATM phone number. Go straight to a different ATM and try your backup card, or just go into a bank branch and do a withdrawal with your passport. You'll probably not get the original card back. Just let your bank know and have a new one sent to your home address, or to a family member who can then forward it.
It happens all the time. My Bank of Guam card was eaten by an ATM at the Saipan International Airport. The fastest solution is to immediately contact the bank that operates the ATM. If it’s during business hours, go into the branch and ask them to open the machine. This is your best chance of getting the card back. However, if it's after hours, call your own bank to report the issue and request a new card. Don't panic; the banking system is robust, and your funds are safe.
Yeah, that's the worst feeling, especially when you need cash. I had my debit card retained by a Bank of Saipan ATM near my hotel in Garapan. The key is to act quickly. Go inside the bank branch and ask to speak to a manager. Since it’s a U.S. territory, the security protocols are pretty standard. They can usually retrieve the card for you, but be prepared to wait a bit and to provide your passport and other ID to prove the card is yours. It's much faster than trying to get a new card.
That's a total bummer, but it's a problem that's easier to solve in the Northern Mariana Islands than in most other places. Since it's a U.S. territory, its banking system is very similar to the mainland. Your best bet is to call your home bank first and foremost. They will lock the card for you to prevent any fraud. It's unlikely you'll get the physical card back, but because you're in a U.S. territory, getting a new one shipped to a friend or a P.O. box can be much faster and cheaper. In the meantime, you can withdraw cash from your account inside a bank branch using your passport.