Is it safe to withdraw cash in Kiribati or not?
Withdrawing money in Kiribati isn’t unsafe, but it’s inconvenient after dark. I only saw two machines in my area, and both were cashless by evening. Planning your withdrawals during daytime is just part of traveling here.
My guesthouse in Bonriki didn’t have any nearby ATMs, so I went to a bank branch ATM earlier in the day. At night, most areas go very quiet, and there’s little lighting or foot traffic. Best to avoid any unnecessary night errands.
Kiribati doesn’t have a lot of ATMs - especially outside South Tarawa. I stayed in Bikenibeu and the local shop's ATM shut down at night. Locals advised me to withdraw early because machines may run out of cash or go offline after hours.
In South Tarawa, I used an ANZ ATM near Betio Market after sunset, around 7:30 PM. The street was nearly empty and the machine worked - but I felt uneasy standing there alone. ATM safety in Kiribati at night depends on location, but honestly, most people withdraw during the day.