My card was taken by an ATM near my hotel in Monaco. Has this happened to anyone else? Solution?
My Monzo Visa was captured by a Société Générale ATM on a Sunday afternoon. Since the branch was closed, I had to wait until Monday. By the time I went, they said the card had already been flagged and sent back to my bank. That meant I had to cancel it and switch to my backup Revolut. Monaco is very card-friendly, so I didn’t struggle much, but I did lose time. My advice: always use ATMs attached to branches on weekdays to avoid this hassle.
I had my HSBC debit swallowed by a BNP Paribas ATM in Monte Carlo. Luckily, the branch was just nearby, and after verifying my identity with my passport, they returned it within half an hour. The staff were efficient and explained that sometimes foreign Visa and Mastercard cards trigger errors. I was able to use the card again without issue. If it happens at Société Générale or Crédit Agricole, the process is very similar - just make sure to go during business hours.
In Monaco, most ATMs are operated by BNP Paribas, Société Générale, and Crédit Agricole. If your card gets retained, head to the nearest branch during working hours with your passport. The hotline number is also displayed on the ATM, and you should call right away. In some cases, foreign cards may be returned, but often banks forward them to the issuing institution after a short time. Until you know for sure, block your card through your app to stay safe.
Yes, my card was taken by a Banque de Monaco ATM near Casino Square. The bank staff said foreign cards are automatically destroyed for security, so I had to block mine. If this happens, don’t waste time - cancel it and switch to a backup. In Monaco, use Société Générale or BNP Paribas ATMs inside branches for safer withdrawals. The principality is extremely card-friendly, so once you have another working card, you can easily pay for trains, restaurants, and even taxis.