I was using an ATM near my hostel in Ukraine, and it took my card and 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?
I’ve lived in Ukraine for a year, and card-swallowing ATMs are unfortunately common, especially if the power flickers or the ATM stalls mid-transaction. If you’re using a machine inside a bank, go in the next morning with your ID and exact time of incident. But honestly? Most local banks will not return foreign-issued cards due to fraud policies. Always travel with two cards and never use sketchy standalone ATMs near 24/7 stores or metro exits.
My debit card vanished into a Raiffeisen ATM in Odessa this April. No error, no message - just gone. I panicked, but a Ukrainian woman helped translate when I called the bank’s customer support. They confirmed the card was inside, but said due to local regulations, they cannot release foreign cards. The branch shredded it the next morning. If this happens, your best bet is to call your bank, cancel the card, and request a replacement to your next hostel or Airbnb.
Had the same issue in Kharkiv with an Oschadbank ATM outside a supermarket. If the ATM is attached to a bank branch, go in immediately with your passport and a photo of the machine. Staff might recover the card if it’s during working hours and the machine belongs to them. If it’s after hours or from a generic ATM, they likely won’t return it. I called Wise and froze my card right away. Their replacement reached me in Kyiv via DHL in 5 days.
This happened to me in Lviv - a PrivatBank ATM near Rynok Square swallowed my Revolut card without any warning. No message, no beep, just silence. I went into the branch next morning, but since it wasn’t “their” ATM (it was a third-party machine outside), they said they couldn’t help. The manager told me foreign cards are usually destroyed for security reasons. I had to block the card and request a new one shipped to my hostel. Always carry a backup!