Why do ATMs and shops in Vanuatu just keep declining my wise card. It worked fine in other countries
Wise was pretty much useless on my trip to Vanuatu. Tried at multiple ATMs and stores, including at the Iririki Island Resort shop, and got declined everywhere. A hotel manager explained their systems don’t recognize most prepaid cards from abroad. I used my regular bank card instead, and that worked without a hitch. If you’re traveling there, bring cash and a backup card from a traditional bank.
My Wise card worked once at the National Bank of Vanuatu ATM in Port Vila, but only after selecting VUV as the withdrawal currency and using chip+PIN. The transaction took a couple of tries though. Didn’t have luck paying directly in shops, even at bigger stores like City Centre. Best advice: use Wise mainly for cash withdrawals at major bank ATMs and carry cash for everything else.
I stayed in Luganville and couldn’t use my Wise Visa at all. The ATMs at Westpac Vanuatu wouldn’t process the card, and shops in the main market kept declining it. I’d just come from Australia where it worked fine, so this was a surprise. I ended up transferring money via Wise to a local who withdrew it for me. Not the easiest workaround, but it got me through.
I was in Port Vila last month, and my Wise Mastercard kept getting declined at ATMs like National Bank of Vanuatu and ANZ. Tried paying at a cafe near the Harbor Market, but no luck there either. Locals told me that many digital or prepaid cards get blocked due to outdated banking infrastructure. I had to rely on cash-mostly USD-which is widely accepted alongside the Vatu.