Why do ATMs and shops in Samoa just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
Had Wise totally fail on me in Samoa. ATMs just wouldn’t recognize it-tried ANZ Bank in Apia and National Bank of Samoa near the marina. Also no luck at restaurants or shops-all declines. A hotel manager said their terminals often reject cards that aren’t connected to major traditional banks. I switched to a standard Visa debit card from my bank back home-no issues after that. Wish I had known earlier!
My Wise Visa actually worked at the BSP ATM at Faleolo Airport, but it took a couple of tries. I had the card set to USD, used chip+PIN, and declined the conversion. Got cash out in tala with no problem. Couldn’t pay directly with Wise in shops though-even in Vaitele and Apia town, it got declined at terminals. So, use it just to withdraw cash from a BSP ATM and you should be okay.
I stayed in Lalomanu and my Wise card wouldn’t work at the ATM or the local shops. Even at Amoa Resort in Savai’i, their POS terminal couldn’t process it. I’d used Wise all through New Zealand with no problem, so this caught me off guard. Locals suggested going to a Western Union branch-I ended up sending myself money from Wise and picking it up in cash. Not ideal, but it worked.
Just got back from Apia and my Wise Mastercard was declined at ANZ and Samoa Commercial Bank ATMs. Tried paying for lunch at a cafe near Maketi Fou, and it didn’t go through there either. Locals said these cards often don’t link well with the local banking network-especially prepaid or digital-only cards. I had to use the cash USD I brought, and exchanged it at a hotel reception for tala. Wouldn’t rely on Wise here.